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Re: [RC] bitless bridle- late night musings about bridles and bits from a designer - SullivanI use the bit that suits the horse the best, for the control I desire. Currently one is in a simple, plastic happy mouth bit, that is about as mild as one can get. The other, I am now changing to a shanked hackamore, with wide biothane curb strap. You can never generalize any piece of equipment will work on ALL horses, with ALL riders. Find what works best for you. Ask to borrow one before you buy, to see if it will work. (as the one rider wanted to try the S Hackamore recently) Or, you can just buy it, and if it does not work, hang it up, and renew your membership to the bit of the month club! <grin> Jonni in TX Jonni, These are words of wisdom. I would rather ride on a totally loose rein on the trail, instead of trying to maintain any kind of contact. It seems counter productive, as when you start trying to collect the horse, it loses the total relaxation that gives the fast, head-bobbing walk or free trot. I have a lot of faith that a horse can, with sufficient miles and muscling, learn to carry himself and a rider efficiently without the rider messing with some sort of collection, or contact. . The horse is capable of learning how to maintain whatever gait you want on a loose rein, until you give another cue to slow or speed up. I am also lazy and would much rather do this with voice commands anyway... As for bit, I get fed up with sanctimonious folks who claim every horse should be ridden in a snaffle. This just is not the real world. I have had horses that just detest linked bits. I have had horses that REQUIRE severe curbs, but go along on a loose rein. Having eneded up with several horses with somewhat checkered pasts....you don't know what was done, or what didn't work. I too, hate to see riders going along hanging on the reins or the horse pulling on a snaffle. Current two horses go in mild Kimberwicks....my daughters Arab can be ridden in a rope or web halter, even in groups. Youngster is in a happy mouth baby snaffle for training...no telling how she will end up. I used to ride my Appy in one of those "awful" mechanical hackamores, however, we went along on the trail on a loose rein, me slumped bareback, and had a great time. Karen =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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