ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: [endurance] Vosal info
Re: [endurance] Vosal info
Satori3@aol.com
Fri, 19 Jan 1996 14:56:10 -0500
I also use a vosal with a biothane headstall. I bought my horse, Chance,
last spring. A "very young" five-year-old. I went through six bits
(including a "Happy Mouth" bit). Nothing worked. Oh, yeah, he did what I
asked of him with all the bits, but he kept chewing on the bit (sounded like
I was spending the day trail riding with an old man with loose dentures) and
he'd shake his head periodically in an effort to get it out of his mouth.
He's a frisky little critter, and I was afraid that if I used a vosal, bosal
or hackamore I couldn't control him and I'd be off down the trail on the ride
from hell. At my wits end with the incessant chomping and headshaking, I
finally coughed up more money for the vosal and biothane headstall designed
for it. Guess what? The darn thing worked like a dream! No more chomping;
no more headshaking. He "listens" to the reins far better than he ever did;
and he'll stop on a dime. I agree with Karen, though, you have to watch that
you're not too rough with it. It has a nutcracker-like steel mechanism
underneath the chin. When you pull back on the reins, my guess is that it
jabs right into the soft underpart of their mouth. (Sorry, I'm no engineer.
Maybe someone else can give you a more technical explanation of how it
works. All I know is that it does work.) The vosal comes with adjustments
(cheap leather--on mine; I recommend get the biothane adjustments and take
the leather ones off) so you can crank it down if you feel you need more
control or loosen it, as the case may be. Also, as Karen said, it leaves the
horse free to drink and eat. Hope this helps in some little way. (Hey, it's
always worth a try; there's nothing like the rider and horse being "happy
campers.")