Re: RC: Re: Bit advice wanted (was Control and Courtesy)

[Linda Cowles <lindac@gilroy.com>]

Kirsten Foruria wrote:
> 
> I have also been searching for a new bit for my older
> horse. 
...
> Anyway, he rides best in a plain old short cheek, medium
> port curb with 6 inch shanks.  However, we've been trying to
> work on lateral control and collection so I had been looking
> for a similar curb bit with swivel cheeks.  No luck so far.
> One other consideration I have is a Tom Thumb. 

Someone already said this, but I never advise using a Tom Thumb because
of the nut-cracker action it has... I'm sure people make it work (they
are sold, right?!) but there are many better bits.

What I did in this situation with Cammie a few years back was to use a
mullein mouth pelham (the mouthpiece is a slightly curved bar) with two
sets of reins. I didn't want to mess with both reins on the trail, so I
either rode on the snaffle ring and bungied the "brakes" rein to the
saddle for use in emergency, or held both reins with no tension on the
curb rein.

  -- Linda

-- 


  Linda Cowles                        408.847.3531 - Office
  Lion Oaks Ranch                     408.390.0728 - Cell
  5355 Hecker Pass                    kadence@ix.netcom.com
  Gilroy CA 95020



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