Bits - Again!

[Mossy]

This morning I overheard a conversation which set me wondering. The topic was the tendency for the use of harsh snaffles as an excuse to avoid schooling, and the old chestnut of "It was never like this in our Day. We were not so competitive. Al the kids want to do today is win"

1 I am sure I remember the hordes of very competitive youngsters, and parents, going round the local show circuit, and to judge by our local show not much has changed there.

2 More seriously though I do not remember the advent of the flash noseband. It must have appeared on the scene in my small children therefore non horse phase. What I do remember is a greater degree of teaching of use of the curb family of bits, yet these bits are still compulsory in higher level dressage.

How is a rider supposed to learn the sensitivity essential with a curb bit if it is not part of their basic education?

On what criteria does an instructor decide that a pupil is able to "advance" to a curb bit, given that most school horses are not properly schooled in the first place? So how does a potentially promising young rider without their own horse get a leg up - sorry - through the system? Surely this encourages the elitest aspect of horsemanship.

Last but not least. Is the almost ubiquitous use of snaffle plus flash noseband, a combination which I hate, a result of folks not knowing how to use curb bits and therefore being scared of them? The curb family is seen nowadays as a "cruel bit". Personally I would not like to have my jaws strapped together so that no level of cooperation gave me release
I would appreciate folks' thoughts


[Edited by Mossy on 10th Jul 2000 at 05:44 PM]

[Allie]

I think you just have to keep looking until you find an instructor/barn that is knowledgable enough to teach the use of curb bits or double bridles. I have my own horses that I trail ride, but on top of that I take saddleseat lessons ans show at a barn using my trainer's horses. They are all ridden in a double bridle, so one of the main goals of the beginners lessons is to get people to have sensitive enough hands that they can use the double bridles. The horses are all show horses, none of them are just school horses, so they are very sensitive, and they let you know if they think you are being too rough with your hands. The use of a double bridle is the ultimate of refinement in riding, and I personally think it should be a skill taught to anyone of anything past beginner skill level.

I too hate the combination of snaffle and flash nosebands. This only covers up the problem of the horse not being receptive to the bit, and rather than strapping their mouth shut with a noseband, these people should work on getting their horse receptive and supple so that they don't need a noseband. I don't see curb bits as cruel at all, as long as they are not used simply to give you more leverage on an out of control horse. I completely agree with all that you have said, and I would be interested to hear dissenting opinions.

Allie