The Evolution of our 45 Degree angled mouthpieces
In this lesson we will discuss the 3 corresponding 45 degreed angle mouthpieces, these mouthpieces use the principle of the 45 degree angle to create a variation of functionalities to accommodate different horses that accept different pressures.
The 45 degree angled mouthpieces that will be discussed:
Control Plate
Cable Control Plate
Preferred Contact
Why a 45 degree angle?
The 45 degree angle has quite a bit of importance when it comes to bitting and functionality of bits. When observing a horse that is engaged, it will be noted that their head is carried at a 45 degree angle. This means that a mouthpiece that has been set at a 45 degree angle will sit across the tongue and not into the tongue.
Control Plate
Key Features:
- Made of Sweet Iron material
- Pressure is spread across the tongue and bars.
- There is squeeze on the bars due to the double-jointed nature of the mouthpiece.
- Tongue pressure is applied by the plate, the plate sits across the tongue as it is angled at 45 degrees.
- The Plate covers a large surface area, decreasing overall tongue pressure created.
- The Plate is a smooth surface and will not push into the tongue, preventing the creation of a centralized and focused pressure point.
- Recommended for horses that accept tongue pressure
Cable Control Plate
Key Features:
- Made of Sweet Iron and Cable material
- Pressure is spread across the tongue and bars.
- The squeeze on the bars is limited as the cable has a spring-back action.
- The cable mouthpiece will take the shape of the horses mouth.
- Any pressure points that would have been created by joints are removed as the cable connects the mouthpiece.
- Tongue pressure is applied by the plate, the plate sits across the tongue as it is angled at 45 degrees.
- The Plate covers a large surface area, decreasing overall tongue pressure created.
- The Plate is a smooth surface and will not push into the tongue, preventing the creation of a centralized and focused pressure point.
- Recommended for horses that accept tongue pressure and dislike bar pressure and squeeze on the bars.
Preferred Contact
Key Features:
- Made of Moulded material
- Pressure is spread across the tongue and bars.
- The Preferred Contact mouthpiece will take the shape of the horses mouth.
- Tongue pressure is applied by the center pad, the pad sits across the tongue as it is angled at 45 degrees.
- The pad covers a large surface area, decreasing overall tongue pressure created.
- Due to the flexible nature of the Preferred Contact, when engaged the pad will pop up and over the tongue creating tongue relief without adding pressure onto the bars.
- Recommended for horses that are a combination of tongue and bar sensitive
Here is a video of Claire discussing the progression from the Control Plate to the Cable Control Plate to the Preferred Contact.