FWIW...the Lutke show harness I had was equipped with TILBURY tugs; that is what Portia told me to order. These operate pretty much as a French tug, because they definitely DO snug down around the shaft, but do not have the metal lining nor the 'hinge' of the French tug as pictured in this thread by Klein. I used this harness for all my AMHA showing for all the years I had it, used both types of Jerald show carts during those years, never had tug stops on either one of them, and never had any issue( and I am not a lightweight driver!). The Tilburys were of a more flexible leather than the ones pictured in this thread; they would pull down QUITE snugly around the leather-wrapped portion of the Jerald shafts--so much so that I soon put black electrical tape over the glove-soft leather shaft wraps to protect them from tearing due to the Tilbury tugs.
I have to add that I don't know that I would use any sort of 'snug-down' tug loops,if without breeching, with an EE metal cart...seems to me that it's likely you'd be asking the horse to pull the whole rig off his back, which could itself cause discomfort for the horse, if not outright pain. I cannot see the video---it never loaded w/ my slow dial-up---so haven't actually seen how the horse was acting re: the bit, but I do want to ask...is that some sort of 'draw rein' arrangement in the pic of you driving at the trainers? I seem to be seeing some sort of 'doubled-back' rein set up, but hard to tell exactly what it actually is...? In any case, I wouldn't use a twisted wire mouthpiece, either...perhaps you could look at a decent French link w/ 'bean' center joint? I know Iowa Valley Carriage has a nice selection of decent bits, at reasonable prices, too. I got a Butterfly w/ such a mouthpiece for my green B sized gelding; I use it on the top ring, so it has minimal leverage action, and the horse is comfortable and relaxed in it, even though the previous owner said he 'wouldn't go in' anything but the clunky, FIVE INCH! liverpool she sent with him!
Finally...I'm afraid 'high-powered'breed ring driving horses fairly frequently can present 'issues' for novice drivers. IMO, such horses often are 'finessed', to use a relatively polite term,through their breed ring classes, but don't really have the 'depth' of training to be suitable/adaptable for someone just starting to drive and/or wishing to simply drive for their own pleasure.My suggestion would be to get him out of that twisted wire bit, read up on and build yourself a rein board to practice your rein handling with, let him wear the new bit in his stall(with you nearby, of course)to become accustomed to it, then very slowly and quietly introduce him to pulling you and the cart while wearing it...keeping it at a walk, then a quiet trot, for awhile. Both you and he are supposed to ENJOY this partnership, not be stressed by it!
Good luck!
Margo
Figure 4 – This is a French tug, in the open and closed positions.
