The extra slot in the cheekpiece is confusing me, whats the proper way to do the roughcheek setting with a glory bit please?
Thank you!
I’m going to take a shot at describing this because it’s a rein setting I use all the time with my Glory bits. Using this for reference:
http://www.horsetackinternational.com/glory-competition-driving-bit.html
Bring the billet end around the bit shank just below the bit bar and buckle it.
In looking for pictures of the Glory bit, I see there is a version that has an extra slot and I wonder if this is what you have:
http://www.horseloverz.com/Coronet-Glory-Competition-Driving-Bit---5-pr-206431.html
That extra forward slot must be for the rough-cheek setting on that version. Mine are all swivel-cheeks and don’t have that extra slot. If yours does then it appears to me you would have the option of buckling the billet as described above OR passing it through that forward slot and then buckling it.
Anyway, that’s alll probably as clear as mud. :lol: A picture is worth 1,000 words and I sure wish I had a picture to show you of how I do rough-cheek. It’s really very simple!
lol! thanks for your help!
this is the exact bit I have in a 5", swivel cheek: http://www.drivingessentials.com/pop%20up%20pages/bits_glory_swliv.htm
With the possible two spaces, I wasn’t sure if the billet should pass through one or not, and which.
thanks!
Well, duh. I just realized the two photos I posted were taken from different sides of the bit! If I had looked at the position of the curbstrap attachment, I’d have spotted that! IOW, my bit does have that ‘extra slot’ but it’s on the back of the bit, not the front, just like yours is. :lol:
So, this is a different situation altogether. If you attach your reins to that other, smaller slot that would be a snaffle setting, with no leverage. i.e. it’s a direct attachment, versus the rough cheek setting which, because the rein billet goes around the bit shank, gives you a small amount of leverage.
Clear as mud again?? :winkgrin: This is what I really like about the (Liverpool) Glory bit. It’s a versatile, mild bit and even if you use the first curb slot slot (which I do when driving a pair) it’s still a quasi-snaffle setting because the slot is close to the bar and within the snaffle ring.
http://www.drivingessentials.com/lp_rein_settings.htm
this is a nice illustration of where the reins are placed on a typical liverpool bit
It does not show the Glory bit slot on the snaffle ring. I like this position as it keeps the rein from sliding around on the ring.
It does not show the Glory curb slot up next to the bridle cheek attachment slot. This takes the place of the curb chain hook for a leather curb strap
Also the Glory bit top cheek slot IS the rough cheek position
Here is a video on using the liverpool bit
http://videos.apnicommunity.com/Video,Item,70936664.html
and this is a nice pictorial of bits and mouthpieces
http://www.coachmansdelight.com/CGuidePage.asp?pg=GUI46&k=42
Drive NJ, I am confused by your post. If you are referring to the top slot on the SHANK of a Glory bit, that as I understand it is a curb setting by definition.
Working from top to bottom in your Driving Essentials photo, smooth cheek i.e. snaffle setting, is shown first and rough cheek second. With my Glory bits on rough cheek setting, I have the billets buckled as shown in the second photo, around the bit shank. For smooth or snaffle setting on the Glory bit you could either attach the rein to the ring or to the smaller slot on the back of the ring. I can see where the small slot would be useful to keep your rein from moving up and down on the ring.
Attaching the rein to the top slot on the shank of a Glory bit would be the mildest curb setting.
That’s my understanding of the Glory bit. I haven’t personally seen any description of it where the top shank slot was considered rough cheek. I’ve always considered it, as I said before, a quasi-snaffle setting. I’ve also seen other Liverpool bits where the top slot on the shank was likewise within or close enough to the ring to exert only a very mild curb action but a curb action nonetheless. There is leverage when rein pressure is applied.
[QUOTE=Drive NJ;5381379]
Also the Glory bit top cheek slot IS the rough cheek position[/QUOTE]
ah HA! Now I see.
Thank you so much, and thanks for the excellent links!
thats what rough cheek is meant to be, no? a quasi-snaffle, lightest possible curb?
Thank you both so much!!
RAH
To clarify “my” use of teh Glory bit “rough cheek”
There is not enough room on my Glory bit to place my rein around the shank between the bitring and the mouthpiece. It fits best THRU the top slot which the snaffle ring bisects. Therefore IMO the top slot is kind of a chimera roughcheek/first curb setting
I actually use the slot ON the bitring - and like it as it keeps the rein in place as opposed to sliding around
I was probably being too literal in interpreting it to be one and the same
I always laugh now whenever we get into bit discussions
with our old horses it was pretty much -“here’s your bit, lets go” and I thought bit discussions were excessive . . .
NOW however, with new younger horses, we have actually played around with bits and I like reading bit discussions
In the old days you basically had The Liverpool - straight bar mouth with smooth side or rough side - no other choice unless you made a custom bit ($$$) Now you can find almost anything - How times change
[QUOTE=Drive NJ;5383574]
There is not enough room on my Glory bit to place my rein around the shank between the bitring and the mouthpiece.[/QUOTE]
thats exactly what I noticed on mine too, hence my enormous confusion! I was looking at rough cheek photos on regular liverpools and saying to myself, 'everyone else can, why can’t I?":lol: Thank you so much for explaining.
NJ, as long as you’re here:cool:… I came across this article the other day (trying to read up on half halts… cough cough… if anyone has anything to share on that topic…) and I found this article:
http://www.carriagedriving.net/index.php?m=a&a=6
this snippet here summarizes what bothered me about the article
because a horse that can never fully relax his body - which a curb bit does not allow -
Do you have thoughts on this? I know I know, it depends, but reading this made me a little depressed.
I have cabin fever. bad. :lol:
As with any training theory, there are some parts that are good and some parts that are more confusing.
Heike Bean was a great advocate of using only the snaffle bit. If you couldnt drive in the snaffle then you were not ready . . .
Conversely, there are thoughts that a broken mouthpiece is too strong (pinches the tongue) and a solid mouth communicates better with the longer leverage of driving reins
There were (and are) many who disagree with all of Heike’s principles when applied to the driven horse.
Heike makes a good point about using one hand while driving with a curb action bit as it evenly distrubutes the pressure. Its a good skill to learn and know. I have to admit that I learned onehanded but no longer drive that way.
IMO read and learn as much as you can from everyone you can and apply what works for you and your horse.
Thank you so much for all your help!
The ground was finally thawed enough yesterday for a ground drive school sporting our new glory bit on the cheek slot… and he loved it. I am so pleased as he’s hated any mullen mouths in riding bridles in the past, and this is our first bit with any curb action so I was curious what he’d think of that. But, I got two hooves up on our new driving bit, and some nice reaching into my hands. I couldn’t be happier.
If temps stay above freezing overnight might try a short drive tomorrow.
A friend said she saw some daffodils poking up through the snow this morning, come on spring!!
