Re: RC: Bitting Question - Trail vs Dressage Usage

[Abby Bloxsom <goneriding@snet.net>]

Truman Prevatt, PhD wrote:
> 
> Can't you show in dressage with a snaffle with a solid mouth piece?  
Yes, you can.  I use a mullen mouthed egg butt snaffle, but I've had
less-than-stellar results with that on gaited horses.  For that matter,
though, are you showing dressage with a TWH?  I've never found a horse
who wasn't comfortable with it, but I know 2 gaited standardbreds (out
of 2) who hang on it for support.  I don't know how a TWH would handle
it.  

I'm also having excellent results in general with a french link snaffle
(sometimes referred to on RC as a 3-piece snaffle) - got a perfectly
suitable one last year from Dover Saddlery for $28.  You might try a
Baucher, which has a small amount of leverage over the poll, but
essentially a direct pressure applies on the bars & tongue.

As far as switching bits, most horses get the idea that you're doing
different things with different bits.  OTOH, I think I'd wait on the
kimberwicke until I had the horse moving the way I want in a snaffle,
but that's my classical training showing ...

-Abby
>
-- 
* * *
Abby Bloxsom
ARICP Certified Instructor
Level III Recreational and Distance Riding
Colebrook, CT USA
dearab@horsecom.net
goneriding@snet.net