Re: starting at a ride

["Mary K. Krauss" <kraussberner@worldnet.att.net>]

Am I mistaken in thinking a Dr. Bristol is similar to but MUCH harsher than
a French snaffle? 

----------
> From: Lucy Chaplin Trumbull <elsie@calweb.com>
> To: Endurance list <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> Subject: Re: starting at a ride
> Date: Thursday, September 10, 1998 12:47 PM
> 
> Tina Hicks wrote:
> > 
> > ...Tony - who is 13, has been at this for 3 years, has yet 
> > to start with the pack and probably never will but who is 
> > now sane at the start
> 
> Karen Chaton posted a message a few months back (which can
> probably be found in the archives) about hand walking one's 
> fizzy-brained horse for, if necessary, the first hour of a 
> ride. Sound advice.
> 
> * * *
> 
> On the subject of french snaffles/hackamores/horses pulling -
> we've been working extensively on one-rein stops - because
> Provo is one of those horses who lures you into hanging onto
> his mouth - no matter how much you resolve to stay nice and
> light. 
> 
> Now, admittedly, at the fun ride we did a few weeks ago, 
> these weren't as effective as I'd hoped (he still jigged 
> for 13 miles), but I suspect that part of the problem was 
> my own tenseness and that, with continued use, he'd
> respond well. 
> 
> I'm riding him in a full-cheeked double-jointed french 
> snaffle (also called a Dr. Bristol) and am very happy - 
> but the more I pull, the more he pulls, so the one-rein 
> stops really helped break that bad habit/cycle.
> 
> (also worth noting, is that if I hang onto his mouth in
> that bad habit way, he'd respond in kind with extensive 
> head-tossing - quite a good reminder to me: "hey lady - 
> you hang onto my mouth, you'll get a bloody nose"
> 
> ...OK, fair enough... 
> 
> ...We're both improving as time passes. <g>)
> -- 
> **************************************************************
> Lucy Chaplin Trumbull - elsie@calweb.com
> Repotted english person in Sacramento, CA 
> http://www.calweb.com/~elsie
> 
> with Mouse and Provo
> **************************************************************