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Re: [RC] bitless bridle- late night musings about bridles and bits from a designer - Stephanie E CaldwellJonni, Yes, some bits / hackamores are deemed more sever in general. But, even a simple ring snaffle, in the wrong hands, or if caught on something, can do permanent damage to a mouth (or nose / jaw) of a horse. Yes, but in my experience I've not seen major, permanent damage from regular snaffles. I think one of the worst things I see on the endurance trail is riders going along, with a snaffle, having to pull, tug, and as you said "balance" on the reins. I think they are doing MORE damage, than if they would find a bit they would not have the horse hauling against all day. I think there's a difference in pulling and tugging and balancing against the reins. When I picture balancing against the reins it's the people who have no seat and can't ride and get clingy on the reins. Pulling and tugging I picture the horse trying to root the reins out of the riders hands. My riding buddy commented the other day when my horse unexpectedly jumped a creek that I dropped my reins and grabbed mane, it was a cardinal sin to balance on your horses mouth where I learned. Yes, accidents happen. Horses can get away from their riders, and get reins caught, or stepped on out on the trail. But, (at least in my case) that is fairly rare. I've only seen it happen once, horse went down on the rider and when the horse got up and ran away he "tied" himself by standing on his reins. :) Even so I wouldn't ride my horse out on the trail in her double bridle or other assortment of severe bits I've tried over the years. Looking at the design of the "bitless bridles" (the type that cross under the jaw figure 8 style) I would think if a horse stepped on the reins if he got loose with those, and the bridle did not break (such as biothane) that the horse could end up with a bruised jaw, bruised poll, and be sore. They can catch most pieces of equipment they wear. Most all tack, caught on something in an accident, can injure a horse. I do wonder how many accidents and loose horses might have been prevented if the rider had more control in the first place....there's a study for Truman. <wink> I wonder how many accidents happen because the horse is *over* bitted? I've tried a large assortment of bits with my Star, and we're progressively getting less severe. About four months ago Star started having rearing problems whenever I would take any kind of contact, so I swapped from her cutting horse bit to a Kimberwick and it solved that problem. Now we're going back down to a snaffle once she's rideable, but she doesn't neck rein well in a non-leverage bit, since I'm lazy she'll probably always wear a Kimberwicke! Steph =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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