ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: re [endurance] team bits

Re: re [endurance] team bits

Jude Hall (hall@cc.denison.edu)
Mon, 29 Apr 1996 16:30:03 -0400 (EDT)

>On April 29, Nancy_E._Smart wrote:

>I have used the Tteam bit on two of my horses, For the first one, it was
absolutely terrific -- the answer to any number of problems (the most
pressing of which was his tendency to go down the trail looking me in the
eye! -- and don=B9t tell me about working dressage in a snaffle in the ring=
--
been there, done that -- he simply turned into a wild man on the trail, and
all the dressage, responsiveness and everything else training went away.)
>
>Zara, on the other hand, absolutely HATED the Tteam bit. He went down the
trail with his head tucked firmly into his neck, desparately trying to get
away from it, even when he was on a completely loose rein. He now works very
well in a kimberwick.
>
>I always used two reins with the Tteam bit. I know some people use only the
curb rein, but it didn=B9t make sense to me to always have to use the curb,
particularly since just HAVING it there, and never touching the rein, was
all that was needed, even with my wild man. But obviously having a rein
just on the snaffle ring was silly.=20
>
>So I guess the bottom line is: as with anything else, it=B9s what works for
you and your horse.
>
>One more thought -- I would NEVER recommend the Tteam bit for anyone
without extremely skilled, soft, experienced hands. It can be very harsh in
the wrong hands. (Someone can flame me for that, but I am convinced of it).
>
>Nancy and Zara from Maryland

I saw the Tteam bit at Equine Affaire in Ohio last month and was surprised
that it *looked* like
what could be considered a pretty severe bit....considering all of her very
gentle ways with the
horses, I was surprised at the bit she recommends. =20

So, I could easily believe that it could be pretty severe in the wrong
hands. She says that it
allows the horse to 'balance itself' - do you know what that means? I was
interested in the=20
bit but it kind of scared me off, looking at it. I have one too that is
just OK, you could
put a child on with a string on the halter at home in a ring, but on a ride?
Wildman would be
a fair name for him too....;-)

Jude Hall
central Ohio
(Kentucky Redbud & Pride's Pure Angel)
>