French Link Loop Ring Gag Bit

A Loop Ring Gag (sometimes called an "Elevator" style gag) is a running gag variant with a distinctive continuous loop-shaped ring on either side of the mouthpiece, rather than the separate holes-and-cheekpiece system of a traditional running gag like the Cheltenham or Balding.

Design

• Each side features a rounded, loop-shaped ring through which the bridle's cheekpiece and the gag rein both pass, with the mouthpiece attached at a point along the loop.
• As with other gags, the cheekpiece portion of the loop connects up to the bridle's headpiece, while the rein attaches at the lower part of the loop.
• The mouthpiece can vary — single-jointed, double-jointed, French link, ribbed, or rubber/synthetic — independent of the loop-ring cheek design.
• The loop's continuous shape gives balanced, symmetrical cheekpieces on both sides for even pressure distribution.

Function

• Mild lever action: When the rein is engaged, the cheekpieces tilt forward, lifting the mouthpiece up in the mouth. This causes the horse to feel simultaneous pressure on both the poll and the mouth — the core gag mechanism.
• Encourages head-raising and rebalancing: As with other gags, this lifting action discourages a horse from dropping its head, leaning on the forehand, or getting heavy in the hand, encouraging it to rebalance back onto the hindquarters.
• Comfort-focused design: The balanced, rounded loop shape is designed to sit evenly against the face, aiming for comfort alongside the leverage action, rather than the harder edges of some other gag styles.
• Two-rein or Pelham-strap use: As with most gags, it's commonly used with two reins — one attached directly to the bit ring for ordinary snaffle-style contact, and one to the gag portion, engaged only when the lifting/rebalancing action is needed. It can also be used with Pelham straps to simplify to a single rein.
• No leverage limit: Like all gags, there's no built-in stop to how far the bit can rise in the mouth with sustained pressure, so use requires good timing and release.

What it's good for

• Horses that lean, rush, or get strong, especially in faster or jumping work: The lifting/rebalancing action helps riders manage horses that get heavy on the forehand or pull hard, particularly over fences or in open galloping work.
• Horses that walk or work "behind the bit" or need encouragement to raise the head: The lifting mechanism can help correct a horse that drops too low or curls away from contact.
• Riders wanting a milder-feeling gag: Compared to some other gag styles with more rigid cheeks, the loop ring's rounded, balanced design is often marketed as a more comfortable option while still providing the core gag benefit.
• Show jumping and eventing: Common in these disciplines where quick rebalancing and extra control are useful, especially in speed classes or cross-country.

A note on use

• Not suitable for inexperienced riders — as with all gag-style bits, the leverage action requires good hands and timing to use effectively and fairly.
• Using two reins is strongly recommended so the gag action can be applied only when necessary, rather than constantly engaged.

Competition legality

Like other gag bits, the Loop Ring Gag is generally not FEI dressage-legal, and is used instead in disciplines such as showjumping, eventing, and some hunter/jumper or cross-country contexts where stronger control is accepted.

Summary

The Loop Ring Gag offers the classic gag benefit — lifting the mouthpiece to apply combined poll and mouth pressure, encouraging rebalancing off the forehand — in a rounded, balanced ring design aimed at comfort, making it a popular choice for horses that lean, rush, or get heavy in faster work, best used with two reins by an experienced rider.

This pairs the French Link mouthpiece — widely regarded as the mildest common double-jointed shape — with stainless steel, the most standard, low-maintenance bitting material.

Design

• The French Link consists of a double-jointed mouthpiece with a flat, rounded center plate (lozenge) between two outer sections, rather than a single hinge.
• The center plate lies flat against the tongue, with no angled edge, unlike the Dr. Bristol's offset plate.
• Stainless steel is durable, tasteless, and non-rusting — it stays neutral and consistent over time, with no natural salivation-boosting properties (unlike sweet iron/blue steel or copper).

Function

• Eliminates the nutcracker effect: Because the center plate is flat rather than angled, the French Link removes the sharp, pinching action of a single-jointed bit almost entirely, distributing pressure smoothly across the tongue and bars instead of concentrating it in one spot.
• Even, predictable pressure: The flat lozenge spreads contact evenly, offering a comfortable, non-aggressive feel — this is considered the mildest, most straightforward of the common double-jointed mouthpiece shapes.
• More independent rein action: With two joints instead of one, each side of the mouthpiece has some independent movement, allowing clearer, more precise communication when using one rein at a time.
• Neutral, consistent material: Stainless steel doesn't oxidize, stain, or develop a taste of its own, so unlike blue steel or copper, this combination doesn't offer any built-in salivation-boosting effect — the mouthpiece's mildness comes purely from its shape, not its material.
• No leverage or added severity: As a true snaffle, this bit works entirely on direct pressure — no shank, curb chain, or poll pressure involved.

What it's good for

• Horses with fleshy or sensitive tongues: The flat lozenge follows the tongue's contours comfortably and offers more room than a single joint, making it well liked by horses with larger tongues or general tongue sensitivity.
• Young or green horses learning about contact: As one of the mildest jointed mouthpiece shapes available, it's a popular, reliable choice for introducing horses to bit contact without overwhelming them.
• Horses with narrow or sensitive bars: Because pressure is directed more onto the tongue and less sharply onto the bars compared to a single joint, it can suit horses with sensitive or narrow bars.
• Riders wanting a dependable, low-maintenance, all-purpose mouthpiece: Stainless steel's practicality (no rust, no staining, easy to clean) combined with the French Link's comfort makes this one of the most common, versatile "default" choices across nearly every English discipline.
• Horses that don't need extra taste-based encouragement: Suited to horses that already accept contact reasonably well and don't require the additional salivation stimulation that sweet iron, blue steel, or copper mouthpieces are designed to provide.

A note on classification

• As with other mouthpiece combinations discussed, the overall lateral action and stability still depends on the cheek style (loose-ring, D-ring, eggbutt, Full Cheek, etc.) the French Link is built into — this mouthpiece provides the tongue/bar pressure profile, while the cheek determines steering support and mouthpiece movement.
• This is generally considered a mild, standard, all-purpose snaffle mouthpiece and material pairing — comfortable and predictable, without any added acceptance-boosting or control-enhancing properties beyond its basic shape.

Summary

A Double-Jointed French Link Stainless Steel bit offers the gentlest, most evenly distributing of the common double-jointed shapes, paired with the most practical, low-maintenance, and widely accepted bitting material — making it one of the most popular, dependable, all-purpose choices across disciplines, particularly well suited to horses with sensitive tongues or bars, and to riders who want a simple, comfortable, no-fuss mouthpiece without needing a specialized taste or acceptance boost.