Hi > Doesn't TTeam use a harsh "roller bit" w/ 7 in shanks and a stud > chain? I was so confused when I saw that for sale on the TTEam > website > because I always thought that was such a gentle horsemanship > method. > Hope you can clear this up for me. :)
Thanks for asking about the rollerbit and chain lead. When I first saw Linda using the rollerbit I thought she had lost her mind. However, I have seen the difference the bit can make in terms of improving uneven gait, softness and lengthening through the poll, neck, back and pelvis; shying; relaxation, acceptance of the bit etc. We use the bit quite differently than most shanked bits. We always use it with two reins - the top rein has no leverage and the bottom rein is rarely used. The port has a roller with space for the tongue - when the tongue raised to roll the roller it softens the jaw, which softens the poll, which softens the back and pelvis. The shanks are loose which allows for lateral direction. I teach people to ride in it like they would a pelham with a slight slack in the top rein and loose bottom rein. I have written several articles about it over the years and will try to get some photos so you can see how even carrying the bit (without a rider or rein contact) can change a horse's posture. That being said I rarely use the roller bit on Icelandics, I have used it with maybe 10 and then usually just once or twice and then I go back to a snaffle. It can have a huge influence on the horse's posture and show him how to use his body in a different way. Any bit is as harsh as the hands of the rider and while we don't recommend this bit for beginner riders, there are also lots of very experienced riders that I don't like to see use the rollerbit because they overuse the reins and can crank a horse's head in. The lead chain also gets a bad rap because of the way many people have seen it used - either under the chin or over the nose, directly on the horse's cartilege. When we use it is over the noseband of the halter and attached to the upper ring on the opposite side from the handler - so any pressure is coming from the noseband of the halter. The configuration of either the chain or a rope (soft lead which is what I use 90% of the time) gives the handler very connected, precise signals that really come from the handler's feet through their body rather than really coming from the lead. Once again it is how it is used - I would never shank a horse with the chain - which I have seen done with a chain, a 'be nice' halter and with a rope halter which are all equally as bad in my opinion - and it is not how we teach people to use it. Sometimes just the weight of the chain will trigger a horse to lower his head and relax without any signal on the lead. As I said I tend to use the soft lead about 90% of time because I prefer the weight and the feel. I hope this answers your questions and thanks for asking. Robyn Icelandic Horse Farm Robyn Hood & Phil Pretty Vernon BC Canada www.icefarm.com
