The mouthpiece is fixed to a short upright arm. The bridle cheekpiece buckles to a small ring at the top of that arm, and the rein goes on a ring level with the mouthpiece. So the bit hangs from the bridle instead of resting on the rein, and that one difference explains almost everything about how it behaves.
It’s the stillest snaffle you can buy. Because the cheekpiece holds it in place, the mouthpiece doesn’t drop onto the tongue when the rein goes slack, and it doesn’t swing about when you change the contact.
When you do take a contact, the top arm tips slightly forward and the mouthpiece lifts a little, so it’s suspended in the mouth rather than pressed down into it. For a horse that’s sensitive to pressure across the tongue and bars, that can make a real difference.
What about poll pressure? There is some, because anything above the mouthpiece creates a little leverage. But the arm is short, and the effect is modest next to a universal or a Pelham. For most riders it’s a snaffle that happens to keep very still, and you’ll find several in our dressage legal range.
The horse that fusses with a bit that moves about is the obvious candidate, along with one that’s sensitive on the tongue. Young horses often settle in one too, because the bit stays exactly where they last found it, and that builds confidence in the contact.
It’s less useful for a horse that leans hard. A still, fixed bit gives him something to lean on, and a loose ring or Waterford is usually the better answer there.
For a straightforward start, the Shires Lozenge Hanging Cheek and the BR Single Jointed Hanging Cheek Soft Contact are both well priced.
If the tongue needs more room, the Myler Hanging Cheek Low Port Comfort Snaffle gives it, and the AB Mullen Hanging Cheek is the unjointed option.
For a horse who likes stability but tends to take hold, the Filet Baucher Waterford puts a mobile mouthpiece on a still cheek. And for a horse that prefers something softer than metal, there’s the Happy Mouth Copper Roller Hanging Cheek.
The full range is under hanging cheek and Baucher snaffles.
Because the bit hangs from the cheekpiece, its height is set entirely by the bridle, so take a moment to adjust it. Too high and it pulls the corners of the lips up; too low and it can knock the teeth. The Does My Bit Fit checklist covers what to look for.
The metal hanging cheeks above can be taken on a 30-day Bit Bank trial, which is the honest way to find out whether your horse prefers a still bit or a mobile one. The Happy Mouth is sold outright, as non-metal bits can’t go into the library. Questions about which to try? Call our Bitting Specialists on 01405 861800, option 3.