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Re: [RC] bits and hackamores - Ed & Wendy Hauser"...It depends on the amount of force applied..." Training of rider and horse is the key. My first endurance horse was trained extremely well by a western trainer. I used a very severe thin, long shank curb bit on him when I rode. I don't think I ever used more than a few oz. on the reins. He only needed signals, and that is what I provided. He eventually learned to work 80% off of legs and balance for turns and voice to stop and change gaits. A true joy to ride. Ranger is getting there also and I have just began work on Stevie I had a thick mouth, short shanked curb with a padded curb chain I used on him if I loaned him out, because I couldn't trust others to have gentle hands. It is my feeling that there are two consistent mistakes that many riders make when confronted with a horse that ignores commands: 1. We are by nature tool makers so we look for a "Magic" bit (or other bridle), especially if it has the possibility of producing more pain. I think the opposite is required, use a rig designed to produce less pain. 2. We exert a steady pull on the reins to slow the horse. The result is the horse learns to deal with the discomfort and we go back to solution #1. Natural horsemanship teaches better ways to stop a horse, but I have had good luck by giving short corrections of escalating severity as many times as needed to produce the effect. Ed Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower Road Victor, MT 59875 ranch@xxxxxxxxxxx 406.642.6490 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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