Re: RC: Fw: bit or bitless

["Erin McCrary" <emac_hubbs@hotmail.com>]

Laurie---You make a great point about training and "hardware".  However, 
Bob, my husband's horse, not only had his tongue cut off by a bit, but he 
has a short mouth witch caused the bit to lay across his canine teeth.  The 
vet refused to pull the teeth.  Instead he floated them and created bit 
seats, but Bob still did not like the bit and I don't hold it against him at 
all.  I would not want a piece of metal banging around on my teeth either.
Another important factor you brought to up was that your horse still does 
better in a hackamore than a bit.  Given your horses past experiences and 
training perhaps he has developed his own preference for the hackamore 
because you have made it a more enjoyable experience for him.
When making my decision about going bitless or not I will consider training 
as well as my horse's preference, physical make-up, and my riding 
capabilities.
Thanks for the info.  Erin

>From: "Mike and Laurie Hilyard" <PFmorabs@toast.net>
>To: "ridecamp" <ridecamp@endurance.net>
>Subject: RC:  Fw: bit or bitless
>Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2001 06:28:40 -0500
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Mike and Laurie Hilyard
>To: ridecamp@endurance.net
>Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2001 3:56 AM
>Subject: bit or bitless
>
>
>I ride in an english hackamore (very short shanks) with a padded noseband 
>and leather curb strap.  It took my ex-racehorse about a year to understand 
>that I did not always want him to go faster, and after six years, anything 
>in his mouth still makes him shift as much weight as possible to his 
>forehand.  I love hackamores and have ridden with them most of my life.  I 
>guess I always figured it was training, not hardware, that taught the horse 
>to submit!
>Laurie and Revy

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