That happens on second career situations like yours. Bits for a speed horse have completely different roles than bits on a pleasure horse, which you seem to have found out. Lots of retraining needed there. She may go in a snaffle nicely once retrained, but as you found out, do what she needs at this point in her learning.
Severe bit or not?
- Thread starter KaileeTheKool
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With so many mouthpieces available for snaffle bits it should be possible to find one for most horses IF they're correctly trained and ridden. Yes a bit is as harsh as the hands that use it, but the fact remains that once you start adding leverage any faults or mistakes are magnified. Twisted or square mouthpieces and the like have no place on any bit. I do find it interesting how pressure mapping has shown some of what we thought was wrong, for example french links are actually quite harsh while Dr Bristols that were thought to be harsh are milder, or that hanging cheeks/Bauchers reduce rather than apply poll pressure.
I appreciate I'm looking from an English riding view where I have to say many people don't seem to understand the bits they use and furthermore have the dreadful approach of strapping the mouth shut if a horse evades. Western is different, but I'd still want a rider to understand what they were using and be sure the horse had sufficient training for a long shanked bit.
I appreciate I'm looking from an English riding view where I have to say many people don't seem to understand the bits they use and furthermore have the dreadful approach of strapping the mouth shut if a horse evades. Western is different, but I'd still want a rider to understand what they were using and be sure the horse had sufficient training for a long shanked bit.
So what is the point of having a bit as harsh as that in a horses mouth when no pressure is put on it? Why not have a simple snaffle in the mouth if you are neck reining?
@Doodle92 I know Dr Bristols aren't allowed, but it's interesting that the recently developed pressure testing is now showing they're less severe than thought. My understanding is that BD as now banned french links, but it's a recent change. Maybe I'm wrong though, I never checked it in the rule books it's just what a bitting person said when I was watching a session she was doing.
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It’s to refine the very light aids given. Leverage amplifies what ever pressure is put on it, so you can use very little pressure or movement to communicate your message, the weight of the rein being lifted can be felt. A bit like the use of spurs in dressage, it’s not about increasing the force, it’s about refining the communication. Neck reining is subtle, done wrong it actually pulls on the left side of the bit in a right turn, giving wrong signals.
Bd have just brought out that new guide. They seem to change every 6 months tho
And apologies @carthorse I didn’t actually read your post properly
And apologies @carthorse I didn’t actually read your post properly
The bit in the OP is used on a neck reining horse with a very small cue. Think of it like orange juice concentrate. You only need a small amount of concentrate. A snaffle "waters down the cue" which is not appropriate if you're expecting a reaction to a draped neck rein, which you are if using this bit. Sometimes playing the piano with gloves is appropriate, sometimes it's not.
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It's lack of education and training that causes the issue. A boucher (hanging cheek) does not apply any poll pressure at all, unless it's used upside down, which is not correct, again lack of education. A Dr. Bristol angles the plate into the tongue which is not a snaffle function. It's a different cue, not a harsher one. A french link is mild if used properly. It's about the education of the rider and the horse to determine the correct bit and it is not always a snaffle. Bits have functions, just as any other piece of equipment. Not all functions can be done with a snaffle effectively and not all horses mouths, or mentalities are constructed for a snaffle bit.
I should add, a horse should always be started in a snaffle, and rideable in one before progressing to a curb. Curbs are finishing bits not an easy answer to a strong horse, that’s just lazy horsemanship.
This conversation is way above my pay grade but it is very educational. Thank you all!
I remember running across a blog entry by an American lady whose favourite reining mare had just died. The lady was in the habit of keeping the bridles of all her departed horses.
The blog entry was about this horse's bridle, which had an astonishingly severe spade bit. Honestly, it looked like an implement of torture. The mare was a much loved, very sensitive and highly trained horse who required hardly more than a thought of pressure on the rein, and she went best in this bit. It was a very interesting read.
I remember running across a blog entry by an American lady whose favourite reining mare had just died. The lady was in the habit of keeping the bridles of all her departed horses.
The blog entry was about this horse's bridle, which had an astonishingly severe spade bit. Honestly, it looked like an implement of torture. The mare was a much loved, very sensitive and highly trained horse who required hardly more than a thought of pressure on the rein, and she went best in this bit. It was a very interesting read.
I’m just finding it ridiculous that BD has banned the mildest of bits, looks like I won’t be doing any dressage anytime soon then as I refuse to change a bit that Faran is happy in just to go do a series of movements that he does happily on his French link snaffle at home.
He doesn’t like single jointed bits (neither do it) and finds a lozenge too bulky so where do we go from there
He doesn’t like single jointed bits (neither do it) and finds a lozenge too bulky so where do we go from there
Going back to the op I wouldn't use anything other than a snaffle on a twenty year old horse.
Looking at your posts you are trying to teach sliding stops to an older horse who is more than likely wanting a quieter life, and will have arthritic changes.
Enjoy your time with each other, have fun together, but leave the western curbs, stops and tight turns for your next younger horse.
Looking at your posts you are trying to teach sliding stops to an older horse who is more than likely wanting a quieter life, and will have arthritic changes.
Enjoy your time with each other, have fun together, but leave the western curbs, stops and tight turns for your next younger horse.
When I googled it said no bit with a plate including French links
so I’m very confused right now.
newrider.com