Re: RC: advice on bits for hard pulling wanna go fast horses

[Teresa Van Hove <tvanhove@uswest.net>]

April,  I would not trade the hackamore for a curb bit.  Doubt you'd 
get much diffenent effect from the bit.  I agree with Karen that its
more of a training issue - you must not play the pulling game if you 
want to stop it.  However I grew up on a cattle ranch and thus with
the philosphy that you don't get off the horse.  I personally don't like
to deal with an agitated horse from the ground - however if you were 
starting a horse FOR me I'd want you to teach it good ground manners,
but still wouldn't want the horse taught that acting out - pulling on
the bit or whatever is going to get me off his back.  OK for one time,
not as a regualar deal in MHO.  

I'd use a snaffle bit - In the stories and articles section of the ridecamp
web page is an excellant post by Kat on bits.  What I think
a snaffle will give you in this situation is an opportunity to pull 
the horses head to your knee for a time-out when they start pulling
on you.  You can also add a german martingale if you've got some stiff
necks, or head tossing behavior.  (definition of martingale follows.) I
don't like to use a german martingale a lot (don't like to deal with
any extra gear) but they are great for teaching a head tosser that 
tossing that head means bumping themselves on the bit without the rider
needing to have perfect hands and will also prevent a horse from raising
its head to gain leverage.    

 A german martingale attatches to the breast collar or has its own 
neck piece. The 2 ends of the V are extra long and come through the bit
rings and attach to special rings on the reins. The action is this,if
the horse leaves its head within the range of the martingale setting -
no action.  If the horse puts his head up or its nose way out the 
martingale is taking the tension rather than the end of the rein 
between the martingale to rein attachment and the bit. In effect a
pulley action which will double the pull from the riders hands, plus
part of the pull is coming from the midpoint of the chest.  
 Becuase of the pulley action they should not be used with a 
severe bit (I've never used one other than with a generic
 D-ring - I would not combine with a shanked bit.)  But since
they are attached to the reins they only act with the riders hands, 
they do not force the horse into any head position on their own and
the rider can let the horse have more rein if they want to let
the horse put its head higher or its nose out for a given situation. 

guest@endurance.net wrote:
> 
> april battles arabnracer@aol.com
> Hello-just wondering what some of you use-my main problem is always training solo-horses respond to a light touch on hackamore-no problem at home or on training rides-get them to a ride and they go nuts with horses leaving-tired of them pulling on me for 30 miles-kimberwick or mild curb? email arabnracer@aol.com
> thanks
> 
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-- 
Teresa Van Hove
Co-Manager Long X Rides
"http://www.users.uswest.net/~tvanhove/LONGX.html"