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<< (I think it was Suzy) said so well, when that happens, a little pain is
the only way to get the horse's attention back, to re-engage his brain
and his training. I consider the curb to be my "emergency brake" used
only in emergency situations -- when my horse's flight instict is putting
both of us in danger. >>
I rode my arab/quarter gelding Tash in a curb for 20 years, for this same
reason. If I knew when I bought him what I know now, i might have tried
retraining him to the snaffle. But I didn't, and maybe it is a good thing,
'cause you know what--that horse went, and still goes i might add, absolutely
happily in his curb, and as a trail horse puts the best to shame. (As long
as the trail doesn't go by any pig farms, Tash does not like pig farms!)
I'm training David in the snaffle, using John Lyons methods combined with a
bit of dressage. So far it is going well, and I feel no need to go to more
bit--but I've been around horses long enough, and ridden enough of 'em, and
seen friends get hurt because they wanted to be "kind" to their horse by
putting them in a "real gentle" bit (without the horse or the rider properly
schooled to it)--when the animal would've stopped for a curb it was used
to--that I don't feel qualified to blithly state, "no horse who can't be
safely ridden in a halter belongs on the trail" or "no horse needs more than
a snaffle" etc.,etc.,--
A bit CAN be an instrument of torture. But just because someone ain't ridin'
with what I do, does not mean they ARE torturing their horse--they might just
know something about that animal Idon't!
Trish & "pretty David" (who says:mom, there is something you don't know about
me--I'm allergic to any distances which end in 50 or 100, yep, allergic.
Better ride Tash.)
& Tash (who says:that does it, I'm gonna whup that kids' butt again--)
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