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Weymouth and Bradoon guide
Our Guide to Weymouths and Bradoons; The Fager Perspective!
Here at Fager our approach is to choose a Weymouth from the individual horse’s perspective and consequently the Bradoon from your own. All Fager Weymouth and Bradoons are designed to maintain a light and flexible feel in the hands, taking up less physical space inside the mouth; ultimately creating a noticeably engaging connection.
Size guide
We always recommend fitting the Bradoon in the usual snaffle size of the horse whilst fitting the Weymouth in one size bigger. The reason behind this is due to the Bradoon being a jointed bit; if it is fitted in too big a size, it has the potential to cause injury from the joints sliding from side to side in the mouth and coming into contact with the bars and palate. This undesirable action could cause rubbing and sores, whilst also hindering any communication from the reins. The Weymouth should sit to the outside of a correctly fitted Bradoon. A straight mouthpiece doesn’t create the same risks as a jointed one and it will also be stabilized by the Bradoon to prevent it from sliding across the mouth. When fitted correctly, the Weymouth will leave enough space for the upper ring to swivel freely over the Bradoon.
Which Weymouth?
We have three recommendations to bear in mind when choosing the correct Weymouth
1. The bend and angle of the mouthpiece.
2. The raw material used.
3. The length of the shanks.
1. Bend and angle of the mouthpiece.
Port or no port
No port = bar relief
Fagers weymouth without a port gives less pressure on the bars
Good for horses with a low palate and sensitive/sharp bars
Good for horses that can overreact when you take the reins
Good for horses that can trow their head and be worries in the mouth
With port = tongue relief
Fagers weymouth with a port gives less pressure on the tongue
Good for horses who have a sensitive tongue
Good for horses who can open their mouth
Good for horses who can pull the reins down and forward
Wide port or shaped port
Wide port/U shape
A Weymouth with a wide port, also called a U-shaped port, gives tongue relief with smooth pressure divided evenly over the mouth.
This will give you more consistent contact and can be suitable for horses who can overreact when you take the reins.
Suitable for horses who can fall behind the bit or show discomfort with their bit.
More gentle pressure on the tongue
Shaped port/V shape
A Weymouth with a shaped port, also called a V-shaped port, gives tongue relief with more space on top of the tongue but still adds pressure on the side of the tongue.
This will give you a quicker reaction when you take the reins and more precise signals.
Suitable for horses who can be strong and lean on the bit, where you want a lighter feeling in the hand.
Shop weymouth with V-shape
90-degree angle or 45-degree angle
90° angled mouthpiece
This port is designed to have a 90° angle over the tongue, offering tongue relief when you have a light contact.
When you take the reins, the tongue will get most of the pressure rather than the bars as the bit lifts up from the bars to protect the sensitive bars.
The 90° angled port will give you a quicker response when you take the reins than the 45° angled mouthpiece. How quick of a response you get depends on whether you have a V-shape or a U-shape.
This angled mouthpiece is more gentle on the bars and works well for horses with a sensitive tongue and bars.
45° angled mouthpiece
This port is designed to have a 45° angle over the tongue, offering tongue relief both when you have a light contact and when you take the reins.
When you take the reins, the angle of the mouthpiece allows the port to tilt over the tongue throughout the whole movement of the bit, offering maximum tongue relief.
The 45° angled port will make the horse stretch down and forward to the bit.
This mouthpiece is gentler to the tongue, but you need to be aware of the increased pressure on the bars as they are more sensitive to pressure.
Suitable for horses with a big, overly sensitive tongue.
Shop weymouth with 90° angle
2. Material
Sweet Iron: Daniel, Philip, Sebastian and Charles.
Sweet Iron encourages the horse to take up the bit and accept the contact. It is especially suited to a horse who lacks confidence, is young, or is unbalanced.
Titanium: Diana, Felicia, Sofia and Charlotte
Titanium gives the rider a light feeling with a more responsive contact.
Sweet gold: Lincoln
Sweet gold will encourage the horse to take up the bit and accept the contact. It is especially suited to a horse that lacks confidence, is young, or is unbalanced.
3. Length of the Shank
A shorter shank, 5cm, will give the rider a more uplifting effect. The shorter shank is suitable for horses who need to loosen up through the shoulders and come up in front. The shorter the shank; the easier it is to create bend and flexion.
A longer shank, 7cm, encourages the horse to follow the bit's contact forward and down. This is good for horses who can get high in the neck and strong.
Bradoon
Once you have decided on your Weymouth, it is crucial to source a well-balanced pairing with a Bradoon which also meets your requirements. A number of Fager’s Snaffles, Fixed and Loose Ring, also function as a Bradoon; the main difference being simply the size of the rings.
We recommend that you consult with your specific Country’s Annex to see if there are any additional rules for the use of Bradoons.
When choosing your Bradoon we recommend you consider the following:
1. The shape of the mouthpiece.
2. The design of the sidepiece.
3. The raw material used.
1. The shape of the mouthpiece
Single jointed vs double jointed? Basically, the more joints you add to the equation, the more flexibility you will create. Using combinations of different shaped joints and designs can significantly alter the amount of movement.
For a horse that is unsteady in the contact yet responsive, consider a single jointed Bradoon. This mouthpiece creates a clear signal down each rein; for left and right rein as the individual bars of the bit will apply tongue pressure to each specific side, pushing upwards and over the tongue. This helps to create a more equal and secure frame.
Double-jointed Bradoons breakover towards the outside of the tongue, creating a softer feeling in the hand. They are also more forgiving to an uneven contact, whilst creating a more flexible feel down the reins. This feature makes this mouthpiece suitable for a horse that requires more movement to soften the mouth, without becoming too unstable.
Which types of joints you choose also make a difference
Smooth joints
Fagers smooth joints are designed to never press against the sides on the palate or create uneven pressure over the bars
Smooth joints make the pressure more gentle on the tongue
Good for horses that can overreact when you take the reins
Gives a more consistent, stable contact
Centerpiece with a roller & shaped joints
A bit with shaped joints and a roller will give more dynamic, flexible, point pressure than a bit with a flat centerpiece and shaped joints
This will give you a quicker response, more flexible feeling and a lighter feeling in the hand
A bigger roller will have more effect than a smaller roller. Fager's rollers are big enough to provide a significant impact without being uncomfortable on the tongue.
It is suitable for horses that can become too fixed, stiff, and unresponsive to a bit and lean on it. It will make the horse lighter in the forehand
Bradoon with smooth joints
Vertical/standing joints
Vertical joints will give an increased pressure on the tongue and palate than horizontal joints
This will give you a quicker response when you take the reins, and can be good for a horse that can get unresponsive
Horizontal/laying joints
Horizontal joints will lay flat against the tongue and palate to give a more gentle pressure on the tongue than vertical joints
This will give you a more consistent contact, and can be good for a horse that can overreact when you take the reins
2. Sidepiece; taken from our Sidepiece Guide.
Loose rings
Loose rings are designed to move independently to the mouthpiece, allowing the horse more freedom and enabling them to use their tongue to place the mouthpiece higher or lower in the mouth. This allows them to disperse pressure to where they feel more comfortable.
Loose rings allow the mouthpiece to works more independently than with fixed ring designs.
The hole in the mouthpiece where the ring goes through should sit just outside the flesh at the corners of the mouth. To avoid any pinching, we recommend using our Mouth corner tape.
Loose rings are a sensible choice for a horse who has a tendency to lean on the bit and can feel stiff in the hand. However this will also depend upon the choice of mouthpiece; for a playful tongue, you might consider using something more stable.
Fixed rings
Fixed rings are physically attached to the mouthpiece, creating a rein contact which is more stable towards the mouth. Fixed rings encourage a horse to keep the contact towards the bit and create stability for both horse and rider; how much contact and stability you achieve will depend upon which mouthpiece you choose.
Fixed rings also assist with any steering issues and can also calm a horse who consistently plays with the bit.
3. Material
Sweet Iron: Milton, Jesper, Jenny and Ludwig.
Sweet Iron encourages the horse to take up the bit and accept the contact. It is especially suited to a horse who lacks confidence, is young, or is unbalanced.
Titanium: Mary, Jasmine, Stephanie and Vendela
Titanium gives the rider a light feeling with a more responsive contact.
Sweet gold: Elin, Celice
Sweet gold will encourage the horse to take up the bit and accept the contact. It is especially suited to a horse that lacks confidence, is young, or is unbalanced.
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