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Re: [RC] Bitting, shallow mouth - heidiOh, wow~! I think this might be what's wrong with my appy mare, she is shallow mouthed and hates the snaffle, but I've just finally started thinking about trying the curb. What a well-timed email! I'll give it a try and see what happens. Thanks, laura Hi Deby, My sweet gray gelding, Zabbie, also has a shallow mouth. My goodness what horses teach us! I was for years in the camp of "if you can't ride in a snaffle, then something's wrong with the rider." Zabbie taught me about horse mouths and shapes and bit comfort. He turned what I thought to be true upside down. We solved the same problem by going to a French-link snaffle. I really don't want a curb bit on some of my horses--they just don't need it, and I still want to be able to use a direct rein. We've had several fuss about regular snaffles, but not a one fuss about the French link. It's the only snaffle we use now. When I do go to a curb bit, I use a solid port-mouthed loose-shanked pelham called a Hartwell pelham. Hard to find them anymore. They like the mouth, and the short, loose shanks make it not out of the question to use a direct rein if need be, even if one is only using the curb rein. Heidi ============================================================ I still prefer what it is that BH100, Tevis, The Duck's Soup of Endurance, etc. has to offer...but, to see a horse canter over sand for those distances...Good Lord, it humbles me. ~ Frank Solano ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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