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RE: [RC] FW: Thought you might find this interesting - Terry Banister - Kristen A FisherThe article needs to be taken in a bit of context as Dr Cook was the inventor of the bitless bridle - obviously he wants to sell more of them. Fine. I am also fine with trying to get NGBs to allow alternative tack in competition. But remember that this guy is out for his own ends. Have a look at this article, one excerpt of which is "There are nothing but cons for shoeing and nothing but pros for barefoot." http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12778 He is zealous in his efforts against shoes and bits [at one CT ride recently someone put up a big banner repeating his premise that shoes and bits are cruelty to animals]. He echoes that sentiment in the article, as well as using a lot of terms like "always" and "never" that typically don't apply with horses. Kristen in TX -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Born Country Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 11:48 AM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC] FW: Thought you might find this interesting - Terry Banister Uh, in this I will have to disagree! I have been riding my gelding in a bitless for several years, and we have been in some MAJOR "fight or flight" situations, such as an 8 point buck running into his rear-end (not once, but twice, caught a glimpse of the critter while Chagalle was madly dashing in a circle). Have also run into ground wasps and Chagalle was stung at least twice. Again, it was the mad circle dash. The bitless is NOT for every horse. My husband's mare totally ignored it. But for Chagalle, it's perfect. He respects the bitless, and I do have control even in really bad situations. A horse can run away with a bit in it's mouth, too. It's the training they (and you) get in preparation for a dire situation. One rein stops, going in circles, etc., so the response is automatic when something "fight or flight" happens. Esther and Chagalle, who is happy to go down the trail with no bit. "Life is a canvas, throw a lot of paint on it" Danny Kaye (January 18, 1913 - March 3, 1987) ----- Original Message ---- From: "Kitley, Carrie E Civ USAF AFSPC 30 MDSS/SGSLF" <carrie.kitley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 12:36:56 PM Subject: [RC] FW: Thought you might find this interesting - Terry Banister I bought one of these a couple years ago and thought it would be the answer to my prayers. Well, like everything else in the tack realm, it works for some horses and not for others. I have not ventured to try it on my crazy mare after all, which was my initial intent, (I prefer to keep her in the Myler). I did try it on a sweet gelding I used to have and he simply ignored the pressure and pushed right through it and I ended up with far less control, and once he realized this, it was futile. Had to go back to a bit with him. However, my husband is now using it on his gelding that used to fight a metal bit and it works fine for him. I will say though, if you're ever in a dangerous 'fight or flight' situation with a horse in a bitless, you will likely be ignored and reduced to a flailing sack of potatoes on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Carrie "A SIMPLE ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS IN EQUESTRIAN SPORT On 31 October 2008, during the annual conference of the Certified Horsemanship Association held at the Kentucky Horse Park, Dr. Robert Cook, a veterinary researcher, gave a demonstration of relevance to the improvement of welfare and safety for horses and humans. The demonstration took the form of a scientific experiment in front of witnesses. Four volunteers, all of whom were CHA certified riding instructors, rode four horses that were offered by owners for the purpose. A four-minute, exercise test was first completed using a bitted bridle (jointed snaffle). Immediately afterwards, the same rider/horse partnership repeated the test using the BitlessBridle. Prior to the demonstration, none of the horses had ever been ridden in a crossunder bitless bridle. The horses' behavior and performance were evaluated and a videotape recording supplemented the 'laboratory notebook.' An independent judge scored the tests on a scale from one to ten, for each of the 27 phases of the test. The average score when bitted was 37% and, when bitless, 64%. It was a revelation for the horse's owners, riders and spectators that such a significant improvement in performance could be achieved in four minutes by removing the bit and replacing it with a painless method of communication. The experiment also demonstrated that the transition from bitted to bitless was instantaneous. The results provide further evidence of the need for rule change proposals to be submitted in order that the crossunder bitless bridle, a safer and more humane method of communication than the bit, is made available as an option for competition. In the past ten years, the crossunder bitless bridle has been thoroughly tested on horses of all types, temperaments and stages of schooling; by riders of all ages and ability; in nearly every discipline; and under diverse conditions, worldwide. The scientific, humanitarian and practical equestrian reasons for providing such an option are compelling. The option should not be denied on the grounds of tradition. The bit is a Bronze Age invention. Horsemen now have a better way to communicate with their horse's head. Use of the bit triggers over 100 negative behaviors and causes 40 different diseases. Members of pony clubs, national equine federations, the international equine federation (FEI), and administrators of racing are urged to submit the necessary rule change proposals in order that the rules, for all disciplines, embrace this historic advance in welfare and safety for horse and rider. The Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) has led the way by approving the crossunder bitless bridle for dressage and for certain driving competitions. The South African National Equine Federation (SANEF) launches a year's trial for separate bitless dressage competitions, starting in 2009. Much suffering, many accidents and a host of diseases could be avoided if other federations would follow their example and introduce this simple administrative reform. Committee officials now have a chance. A stroke of the pen will make horses dance. For additional evidence visit www.bitlessbridle.com or contact Robert Cook FRCVS, PhD, Professor of Surgery Emeritus, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Massachusetts, USA; Chairman, BitlessBridle Inc. Present address: 206 Birch Run Road, Chestertown, MD 21620 USA Email: drcook@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Telephone: (443) 282 0472" -- Daniel E. Hofford HHCS www.hoofnexus.com equsnarnd@xxxxxxxxx "Our gold does not chink and glitter. It gleams in the sun and neighs in the dark." Chief Joseph "Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower." Albert Camus "Happiness is a decision you make and a commitment you keep, not something that just happens to you." Daniel Hofford --------------------------------------------------------------- --------- -------- Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills. 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