Re: TTeam Bit

["Duncan Fletcher" <dfletche@gte.net>]

Yes, but my off the cuff judgement without doing any calcs is that it would be insignificant. I leave it to those making the initial claim to show me the calculations to justify the original claim. To the extent that this had any effect, it would alter slightly the neutral position of the port (which would vary depending on the position of the horses head). The CG of the shanks is going to be approximately midway along the length and force produced by the shanks is going to be very roughly the same as a pull on the outer end of the shank of half the weight of the shanks straight down. The curve is going to alter that CG very slightly toward the outside of the curve, perhaps a fraction of an inch. Just don't see any significance.

Duncan Fletcher
dfletche@gte.net

-----Original Message-----
From: Glenn Foster <gfoste19@idt.net>
>
>That's what I was taught too, when the reins are being used and leverage
>is the issue.  Could it be though, that when the bit is just hanging on
>loose
>reins, the curve affects the center of gravity of the shanks, and
>therefore
>the angle at which it hangs, which might only matter if the bit has a
>port
>to encourage the horse to hold his head in alignment with the plane
>through
>the port.  With a straight ("mullen") I would agree there could not
>possibly
>be any effect.
>
>[snip]
>Glenn Foster
>SE Michigan
>