Re: [RC] [RC] bitless and plenty of whoa - Beth Walker
I understand that.? However, if it works better than any of the bits I have tried, I'm interested.??
So far, I've used a hackamore (lots of head tossing), a French Link (no whoa), a Myler MB-36 (some whoa), and a Wonder Bit (more whoa).? Interestingly enough, he seems to like the Wonder Bit the best - less head tossing, easier bridling, and he doesn't have the "ouch" reaction if he trips and hits the bit by accident. ? ?However, he overbends in the Wonder Bit when being rated back in a group.? ?I'd like to find something in between.? (Enough woah, not too much bit).
On Mar 21, 2007, at 8:41 AM, Chris Paus wrote:
Please people, remember that a "bitless" bridle is just another tool in the toolbox. It's not magical. I've got one, have used it, but prefer a bitted bridle for most, not all,?of my riding.
Is it more humane than a bitted bridle? Um no. You simply are trading off where the apparatus puts pressure on the horse. The Dr. Cook's bridles put pressure on the poll and nerve points on the face rather than on the mouth.
ANY?bridle, heck, even a halter, can be an instrument of torture depending on how it is used. Use a bitless bridle if you want, or an "s" hack, or a vosal or bosal, or a bitted bridle, or whatever. But remember that there is no such thing as a headpiece that doesn't put pressure on the horse somewhere.
"Press on. Nothing can take the place of persistence," Calvin Coolidge
I've seen the website, and there is someone at my boarding stable that has one, I think.? Anyone else out there use one of these?
My guy (had him a bit less than a year)? is something of a Jekyl & Hyde:? when we are by ourselves, he is a dream - he will respond to the slightest cues, and we mostly work off of voice and seat.? Put him in company, however, and it is a different story.? ?We are working on his "I have to be first" issues, but it seems to require more bit than I really want to use on him.??He seems to have a pretty sensitive mouth, so I like the idea of using something like this? -- as long as I don't end up with a runaway..
Does this really give the rider control when a horse wants to move out?
My young (almost 5) Arab has only bolted a few times, but yesterday he added a couple of bucks for good measure as he fled whatever scary thing he saw down in the wash. But I got him stopped and turned around in a few strides - and no bit required.
?
Samurai absolutely hated the bit when I started riding him two years ago, so on the advice of an eventer friend with a former race horse, I ordered Dr. Cook's bitless bridle, and it made all the difference. It's about communication, not pain, and I highly recommend it.
