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Re: [RC] Bitless Bridle - Zephyr Arabians--- ebeyrider@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote: If your horse tries to avoid nose pressure by pulling and tugging on the nose or throwing the head up, definitely use a running martingale for the start of the race. If not, they can toss the reins over their head, even at a walk, and you are helpless. This probably isn't aimed at me, but lest my comments about choosing to use a bit at the start be misinterpretted... I use the bit (French link snaffle) at the start of a endurance ride on my mare that wears a sidepull the rest of the time not because she DOES pull or attempt to avoid the sidepull, but because I don't want her to get the idea that she COULD. She completely respects the sidepull and I want to keep it that way. At this point (her second year of 50s; 400 miles total so far) she still can be excited at the start with all the other horses so amped, and I don't want her even thinking that the sidepull can't actually stop her. :) For my gelding, who is a freight train (and learned how to root on his second 50, oh joy), I use a mechanical hackamore. He used to tug and pull and try to run through a bit even on training rides, used to make me crazy and kill my hands & shoulders (yet you should see his arena work, he's gorgeous). For him, the mechanical hack made all the difference in the world and he can go on a loose rein most of the time -- something that actually wasn't an option with the bit since he would never relax. He's still a monster at the start (see above about his second 50, which was just two weeks ago), but at least with the mechanical hack he doesn't actually run away with me. (If he didn't have so much training, and know to listen to me "a little" even when being a jerk, I know that NO piece of equipment could stop him.) IMO, the traditional sidepull is an outstanding piece of equipment for greenies, or for going back to basics like the original poster was talking about, or for the more "finished" horse who doesn't need more control. It gives clear, direct, uncomplicated, and unthreatening signals to the horse. There's no poll or jaw pressure, no pinching or poking or jerking. That's why it is such a traditional piece of equipment for starting young horses and teaching them to steer and stop before they've picked up any bad habits. :) ~Nicole Zephyr Arabians http://www.zephyrarabians.com KattWmn Web Design http://www.kattwmn.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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