Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

hi folks, remember, there are always two sides to every story.  that riding instructor might have had a legitimate reason for asking you to use a bit.  it would depend on your horse, your riding, and the specific thing she was trying to teach at the time.  if you are teaching a horse to flex and do one rein stops,  a snaffle bit usually works best in the initial stages of training.  once you and your horse get good at these excercises, then you might do them in the headgear of your choice.   it is a matter of using the right tool for the job at hand. and sure,  you are paying the instructor, so you might think you are entitled to some decisions.  but if you are using an instructor, then you also need to be openminded, and willing to listen.  earlier this year, i participated in a three day clinic with a well known horse trainer.  there was a young lady in the clinic who just would not listen and follow his instructions.  she thought she knew what was best. she was disrupting the clinic and taking time away from the other participants. the second day of the clinic, the instructor offered her money back if she would leave the arena.  she said she wanted to stay and would do better. i will get flamed for this next remark, but the woman was a dyed in the wool horsehugger and her horse was spoiled rotten. that was the biggest problem.  the third day, she was back to the same whining and complaining and would not listen to reason,  so he told her to get out.  if this young lady had been willing to listen, take instruction and try, like the other 14 participants, none of this would have happened. we were there to work and learn.  so,  be openminded, try to learn some things.  there might be a good reason that your instructor wants you to do certain things.  and of course, check out any instructor's reputation and credentials before using that person.  by the way,  i have bitless bridles, hackamores, snaffle bits and some other types of bits.  i use them all.  different horses, different levels of training and different circumstances dictate what i use and when i use it.       ed