The Shires French Link Eggbutt Snaffle is a kind, double-jointed bit designed for everyday schooling and hacking. It offers a much milder alternative to single-jointed bits, making it a staple choice for young horses, green horses or those with sensitive mouths.
Key Specifications:
- Premium polished stainless steel (durable, rust-resistant and tasteless)
- Mouthpiece Thickness: A slim 14mm profile across all sizes.
- Cheek piece dimensions: Built proportionally to suit the horse's head size (55mm height for 4.5", 75mm height for sizes 5", 5.5" and 6").
How it Works:
- No Nutcracker Action: The central flat bone link creates a double joint. This prevents the mouthpiece from folding upward into a sharp 'V' shape, entirely elimination the painful palate-pinching action associated with single joints.
- Ideal for Low Palates: Because it lies flat across the contours of the tongue rather than arching upward, it leaves maximum clearance inside the mouth. It is highly recommended for horses with shallow upper palates or fleshy tongues.
- Balanced Tongue Pressure: When the reins are engaged, the flat plate distributes even, mild pressure across both sides of the tongue and the bars of the mouth. This clear, gentle signalling encourages the horse to relax its jaw and accept contact.
- Eggbutt Stability: The fixed eggbutt cheeks keep the mouthpiece stable and centred in the mouth. This lack of sliding motion prevents the bit from pinching the corner of the lips, while providing clear lateral direction during steering.
This bit is fully legal under British Dressage (BD) and FEI rules.