I just bought a Robart truly pinchless french link full cheek snaffle?
I don’t have much experience with bits but I have heard there should be two wrinkles. Well when I put two wrinkles my mare really seems to chomp on the bit but if I only put one wrinkle she leaves it alone. Can I stay with the one wrinkle? What difference could it make? Thanks.
I never go with two wrinkles, unless it is with a young horse being accustomed to holding a bit and it is done to discourage the colt from getting into the habit of getting his tongue over the bit. For a horse that is already bitted, one wrinkle is sufficient, and for a seasoned horse, I just fit the bit snug but with no wrinkle. By seasoned, I mean a horse who has been sufficiently trained to reach for and accept the bit, or come onto the bit. The seasoned horse can feel your signals more effectively with the bit seated slightly lower in his mouth.
You could even try with no wrinkles, and just be sure the bit still fits snug into the corners of her mouth. Go with up to one wrinkle in order to assure a snug fit. Remember that if you are using keepers, the bit will elevate more in her mouth, so the bridle cheeks can be adjusted slightly longer than when there are no keepers. Anyway, it’s fine to try without any wrinkles, and don’t go any tighter than one wrinkle. this usually seats the bit where it should be placed midway across the tongue.
Hilary Clayton’s dynamic bit studies revealed (surprisingly) that virtually all horses get their tongues over the bit periodically anyway.
RL Ranger with an alternative to the full cheek snaffle