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RE: [RC] FW: Thought you might find this interesting - Terry Banister - Kristen A Fisher

The article needs to be taken in a bit of context as Dr Cook was the
inventor of the bitless bridle - obviously he wants to sell more of them.
Fine.

I am also fine with trying to get NGBs to allow alternative tack in
competition. But remember that this guy is out for his own ends. Have a look
at this article, one excerpt of which is "There are nothing but cons for
shoeing and nothing but pros for barefoot."
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12778  He is zealous in his
efforts against shoes and bits [at one CT ride recently someone put up a big
banner repeating his premise that shoes and bits are cruelty to animals]. He
echoes that sentiment in the article, as well as using a lot of terms like
"always" and "never" that typically don't apply with horses.

Kristen in TX

-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Born Country
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 11:48 AM
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [RC] FW: Thought you might find this interesting 
- Terry Banister

Uh, in this I will have to disagree!  I have been riding my 
gelding in a bitless for several years, and we have been in 
some MAJOR "fight or flight" situations, such as an 8 point 
buck running into his rear-end (not once, but twice, caught a 
glimpse of the critter while Chagalle was madly dashing in a 
circle).  Have also run into ground wasps and Chagalle was 
stung at least twice.  Again, it was the mad circle dash.  

The bitless is NOT for every horse.  My husband's mare totally 
ignored it.  But for Chagalle, it's perfect.  He respects the 
bitless, and I do have control even in really bad situations.  
A horse can run away with a bit in it's mouth, too.  It's the 
training they (and you) get in preparation for a dire 
situation.  One rein stops, going in circles, etc., so the 
response is automatic when something "fight or flight" happens.

Esther and Chagalle, who is happy to go down the trail with no bit.

"Life is a canvas, throw a lot of paint on it"  Danny Kaye   
(January 18, 1913 - March 3, 1987)



----- Original Message ----
From: "Kitley, Carrie E Civ USAF AFSPC 30 MDSS/SGSLF" 
<carrie.kitley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 12:36:56 PM
Subject: [RC] FW: Thought you might find this interesting - 
Terry Banister

I bought one of these a couple years ago and thought it would 
be the answer to my prayers.  Well, like everything else in 
the tack realm, it works for some horses and not for others.  
I have not ventured to try it on my crazy mare after all, 
which was my initial intent, (I prefer to keep her in the Myler).
I did try it on a sweet gelding I used to have and he simply 
ignored the pressure and pushed right through it and I ended 
up with far less control, and once he realized this, it was 
futile.  Had to go back to a bit with him.  However, my 
husband is now using it on his gelding that used to fight a 
metal bit and it works fine for him.  I will say though, if 
you're ever in a dangerous 'fight or flight' situation with a 
horse in a bitless, you will likely be ignored and reduced to 
a flailing sack of potatoes on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.
Carrie


"A SIMPLE ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM
TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS IN EQUESTRIAN SPORT

On 31 October 2008, during the annual conference of the 
Certified Horsemanship Association held at the Kentucky Horse 
Park, Dr. Robert Cook, a veterinary researcher, gave a 
demonstration of relevance to the improvement of welfare and 
safety for horses and humans.

The demonstration took the form of a scientific experiment in 
front of witnesses. Four volunteers, all of whom were CHA 
certified riding instructors, rode four horses that were 
offered by owners for the purpose.
A four-minute, exercise test was first completed using a 
bitted bridle (jointed snaffle). Immediately afterwards, the 
same rider/horse partnership repeated the test using the 
BitlessBridle. Prior to the demonstration, none of the horses 
had ever been ridden in a crossunder bitless bridle. The 
horses' behavior and performance were evaluated and a 
videotape recording supplemented the 'laboratory notebook.'

An independent judge scored the tests on a scale from one to 
ten, for each of the 27 phases of the test. The average score 
when bitted was 37% and, when bitless, 64%. It was a 
revelation for the horse's owners, riders and spectators that 
such a significant improvement in performance could be 
achieved in four minutes by removing the bit and replacing it 
with a painless method of communication. The experiment also 
demonstrated that the transition from bitted to bitless was 
instantaneous.

The results provide further evidence of the need for rule 
change proposals to be submitted in order that the crossunder 
bitless bridle, a safer and more humane method of 
communication than the bit, is made available as an option for 
competition. In the past ten years, the crossunder bitless 
bridle has been thoroughly tested on horses of all types, 
temperaments and stages of schooling; by riders of all ages 
and ability; in nearly every discipline; and under diverse 
conditions, worldwide. The scientific, humanitarian and 
practical equestrian reasons for providing such an option are 
compelling. The option should not be denied on the grounds of 
tradition. The bit is a Bronze Age invention. Horsemen now 
have a better way to communicate with their horse's head. Use 
of the bit triggers over 100 negative behaviors and causes 40 
different diseases.

Members of pony clubs, national equine federations, the 
international equine federation (FEI), and administrators of 
racing are urged to submit the necessary rule change proposals 
in order that the rules, for all disciplines, embrace this 
historic advance in welfare and safety for horse and rider. 
The Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) has led the way 
by approving the crossunder bitless bridle for dressage and 
for certain driving competitions. The South African National 
Equine Federation (SANEF) launches a year's trial for separate 
bitless dressage competitions, starting in 2009. Much 
suffering, many accidents and a host of diseases could be 
avoided if other federations would follow their example and 
introduce this simple administrative reform.
Committee officials now have a chance.
A stroke of the pen will make horses dance.

For additional evidence visit www.bitlessbridle.com or contact 
Robert Cook FRCVS, PhD, Professor of Surgery Emeritus, 
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, 
Massachusetts, USA; Chairman, BitlessBridle Inc. Present 
address: 206 Birch Run Road, Chestertown, MD 21620 USA
Email: drcook@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Telephone: (443) 282 0472"

--
Daniel E. Hofford HHCS
www.hoofnexus.com
equsnarnd@xxxxxxxxx
"Our gold does not chink and glitter. It gleams in the sun and 
neighs in the dark." Chief Joseph "Autumn is a second spring 
where every leaf is a flower."  Albert Camus "Happiness is a 
decision you make and a commitment you keep, not something 
that just happens to you." Daniel Hofford



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Carrie Kitley
30th Medical Group, Vandenberg AFB
DMLSS Database Sustainment Specialist (DSS)
CACI International Inc, www.caci.com
DSN:  276-1077
Fax: 805-606-1179



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Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

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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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Replies
[RC] FW: Thought you might find this interesting - Terry Banister, Kitley, Carrie E Civ USAF AFSPC 30 MDSS/SGSLF
Re: [RC] FW: Thought you might find this interesting - Terry Banister, Born Country