Events
Groups
Rider Directory
Market
RideCamp
Stuff
<SNIP>
> So, change bits or go from bit to vosal or vosal to bit but I bet you find,
> as I did, that after they truly learn what you expect in a given situation
> (and you have given them the tools thru a solid foundation of education in
> the aids) it won't much matter what they are wearing.
I think you have a very valid point -- one which also cuts both ways.
Getting your horse into a snaffle or halter for trail riding is an
excellent goal -- but on the way to that goal, you have to take the
necessary steps to protect yourself and your horse from uncontrollable
flight situations. Like Cheryl said, about not judging her for using a
curb now when you don't know the background of the horse she's riding --
it took her time to get where she is now, and will take her time to get
even father than that (if she chooses) -- but in the meantime, you gotta
have something that will help you and the horse work through an
intermediate level -- safely.
I completely agree that the best calming, training effect on a horse is
achieved by miles and miles and miles of riding. Again, while you're
putting on the miles that will get you where you want to be, you have to
be using a safe alternative. Certainly not all horses need this; it
depends a lot on their background. The curb bit I use on Lakota is much
softer than the curb bit his former owner used. In the beginning we had a
few runaways, but as I have put miles on him every single day, and taught
him that a slow-to-medium canter will be a part of our normal ride every
single day, he has calmed down a lot. I think in a few more months I
might go down to a snaffle with him -- but maybe not. I still like having
that "emergency brake" even if I never use it again.
With respect to the discussion here about pain, hurting the horses, rodeo
background, etc., I wanted to point out a basic assumption under which I
operate when reading and posting to this list. (Now, I KNOW what they say
about assumptions :) I assume that everyone on this list is a pretty safe,
responsible rider who truly cares for his/her horse, a rider "a cut above"
the average of all individuals who own and ride horses. I cannot believe
there is one person on this list who uses a "cowboy riding crop" (a soft
pine 2x4). Therefore, when I and others talk of "pain" on this list,
using pain the get the horse's attention, I'm thinking of pain that
registers 1 or 2 or maybe 3 on a 10-point scale. The kind of pain that is
as necessary for discipline and training as a spanking is for a child:
who has never slapped the hand of a child reaching towards a hot stove?
The slap hurts less than the burn would, just as a jerk on the mouth
hurts less than getting hit by a car would -- or slapping an hysterical
person in a crisis situation to force him/her to regain his senses. I
would be shocked to learn that anyone on this list truly causes their
horse _real_ pain, debilitating pain that can scar a horse (mentally or
physically) for life, in a deliberate fashion for training or discipline
or any other reason.
Maybe I'm naive, but I simply expect more from this group than that, and
read and write all messages operating under this basic assumption. I
believe others on the list do as well, but not all, which is why we
sometimes have fairly gross misundersandings -- when two individuals are
operating under different basic assumptions. So, Ridecampers, let's pat
ourselves on the back and raise our standard pole for one another, eh? I
think the people on this list are the cream of the crop when it comes to
truly caring for their horses. Let's keep that in mind when a message is
posted that could be read two ways. Let's give the benefit of the doubt
to the one who is posting, and not automatically assume that he/she is an
incompetent rider with an untrained horse.
Glenda & Lakota
opinionated, outspoken endurance wannabes on the Alabama Gulf Coast
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Events
Groups
Rider Directory
Market
RideCamp
Stuff