Jointed Full Cheek Bit

A Full Cheek bit (also called a "Full Cheek Snaffle") is a fixed-cheek bit design with long, straight bars (cheekpieces) extending both above and below the mouthpiece ring on each side.

Design

• The mouthpiece sits on rings, similar to a standard snaffle, but rigid bars extend upward and downward from these rings, parallel to the horse's face.
• The upper bars typically have small "keepers" or loops through which the bridle's cheekpieces can be attached, holding the bars upright and flat against the face.
• The reins attach either to the main ring itself or sometimes through slots in the cheek bars, depending on the design.
• Unlike a loose-ring snaffle, the mouthpiece cannot slide side-to-side through the horse's mouth because the fixed cheeks prevent it.

Function

• Framed, stable feel: The sidepieces give the bit a "framed" quality in the mouth, helping the horse feel steady and secure in the contact.
• Lateral/turning support: The long cheek bars act as a visual and physical guide. When rein pressure is applied on one side (e.g., in a turn), the opposite cheek bar presses gently against the side of the horse's face, reinforcing the turning aid. This makes it especially useful for steering and bending, and helps keep the horse's shoulders in place through turns.
• Prevents pulling through the mouth: The bars stop the bit from sliding sideways or being pulled through the mouth, which can happen with loose-ring snaffles on horses that evade contact by turning their head sharply or leaning on one rein.
• Protects the mouth corners: The fixed sidepieces prevent the mouthpiece from pinching or rubbing at the corners of the mouth, a common irritation with bits that can slide or rotate more freely.
• Mouthpiece stability: Because the cheeks are fixed, the bit sits more quietly and predictably in the mouth compared to a loose-ring design.
• No poll leverage: Like the Baucher, the Full Cheek has no lower shank/curb chain combination, so it does not create true leverage or added poll pressure — it acts on the same direct, non-leverage principle as any snaffle.

What it's good for

• Green or young horses: The visual/physical cheek support helps teach steering and lateral cues, since the horse gets a clear tactile signal from the cheek bar pressing against its face during a turn. It's considered a great, comfortable starting bit for a youngster.
• Horses that struggle with straightness: The lateral guidance helps riders reinforce direction, useful for horses that tend to drift, bulge through a shoulder, or evade turning aids.
• Horses that root or lean, or try to pull the bit through their mouth: The fixed cheeks resist this kind of evasion better than a loose-ring.
• Horses with sensitive mouth corners: The stability and corner protection make it a comfortable option for horses prone to rubbing or pinching.
• Driving/harness horses: Full cheeks are traditional in driving because they help prevent the bit sliding through the mouth when direct rein contact isn't always available (as with long driving reins), and offer better steering cues without a rider's leg aids.
• Young horses in lunging or early ridden work: Often used with "bit keepers" (small loops connecting the upper cheek to the browband/headstall) specifically to reinforce the "give and take" steering response horses are taught early on.

Competition legality

The Full Cheek is FEI-approved, including for dressage, making it a permitted option at all levels of affiliated competition.

A note on safety

Full cheek bits carry a practical risk: the protruding cheek bars can catch on equipment, fencing, or other objects. For this reason, they're almost always used with bit keepers — small leather loops attaching the upper cheek to the bridle's cheekpiece — to keep the bars stable and reduce the chance of snagging.

Summary

The Full Cheek is valued for its steering/lateral assistance, mouth stability, and comfort, making it a popular, FEI-legal choice for young horses learning directional cues, horses needing extra straightness support, or driving horses — rather than for any leverage or "stronger" stopping power, since mechanically it functions as a direct-pressure snaffle.

This combines the classic single-joint mouthpiece shape with a soft, flexible polymer material — offering the same simple, direct signal as a metal single joint, but with the comfort and acceptance benefits polymer is specifically known for.

Design

• The mouthpiece consists of two bars joined by a single center hinge — the same basic structure as any single-jointed snaffle, producing the classic "nutcracker" fold when rein pressure is applied.
• Made of "space age" polymer, often apple-scented, molded around an internal stainless steel core for strength, though the steel isn't in direct contact with the mouth.
• Unlike rubber, polymer tends to be firmer and more consistently shaped, holding its form well while still offering more give than plain metal.

Function

• Softened nutcracker effect: The underlying single-joint mechanics are unchanged — the two halves still fold upward at the center hinge under rein pressure, and the joint can still rise toward the palate. But because the mouthpiece is polymer rather than rigid metal, the sensation is considerably gentler, even though the fold itself is identical to a metal version.
• Warm, consistent contact: Polymer maintains a more neutral temperature than metal, avoiding the "cold bit" sensation, and offers a smooth, non-abrasive surface against the tongue, bars, and lips.
• Encourages acceptance: The pleasant scent and soft material are specifically designed to make horses more willing to accept and mouth the bit, often reducing head-tossing or resistance associated with a plain metal single joint.
• Direct, simple, softened signal: As with any single joint, there's no additional link or plate diffusing the pressure — the rider's cue stays clear and direct — but the polymer takes the harsh edge off that directness.
• No leverage or added severity: As with any single-jointed snaffle, this works purely on direct pressure, with no shank or curb chain.

What it's good for

• Horses apprehensive of metal or resistant to a plain metal single joint: A useful option for horses that need the clear, straightforward signal of a single joint but respond poorly to hard metal contact.
• Young or green horses starting bit work: The scent and soft material help create positive early associations with contact, easing the introduction to bit pressure.
• Horses with sensitive lips, bars, or mouth corners: The polymer's give reduces the risk of pinching or bruising compared to a rigid metal mouthpiece.
• Cold-weather riding: Polymer stays at a more consistent, comfortable temperature than metal, which matters for horses sensitive to a cold bit, especially in winter.
• Riders wanting simple, direct communication with added comfort: Suited to horses that respond well to the clarity of a single joint but benefit from a gentler material than stainless steel.

A note on comparison to rubber

• Polymer tends to be more durable and holds its shape better than rubber over time, particularly with horses that are moderate chewers, though it's still not indestructible — persistent or strong chewers can still cause wear or damage, which typically isn't covered under warranty.
• Compared to rubber, polymer is generally firmer, so while it's gentler than metal, it may give slightly less than a soft rubber mouthpiece — meaning it's somewhat less likely to invite leaning in horses prone to pushing into a very yielding mouthpiece.

A note on classification

• The overall lateral action still depends on the cheek style (loose-ring, D-ring, eggbutt, Full Cheek, etc.) this mouthpiece is built into.
• This is generally considered a mild-to-moderate mouthpiece — softer than a metal single joint due to the material, but still carrying more of a "fold" sensation centrally than a French Link, lozenge, or mullen mouth, since the single-joint mechanics remain unchanged underneath the polymer.

Summary

A Single-Jointed Polymer bit keeps the classic, direct communication of a single-hinge mouthpiece while softening its typical harshness and adding a taste- and material-driven acceptance boost — making it a popular, comfort-focused option for horses that respond well to a single joint's clarity but need gentler material, particularly useful for young horses, sensitive mouths, or those wary of metal.