> And--today in my riding lesson I questioned if I could use a side pull > on my lesson horse because I feel my hands aren't that great--my coach > then said that I'd never learn to have great hands unless the horse > has a bit, and the bit is for communication which you don't get with a > sidepull. > > So--of course I want to know about everyone elses experiences--can one > communicate equally without a bit?
At THIS point in your horse life (and probably for almost all of us here), a sidepull is what we *should* start riding in (taking the opinion that only an experienced rider and experienced horse should have a bit between them). We can communicate enough of what we want thru a sidepull. After all, we're not doing pirouettes, Spanish pole dancing, Prix St George, or anything that needs specific high-level intrique communication. I think the thought that you need to have a bit to get great hands is backwards.... more real horsemen will tell you that you need to prove your hands before you ever get a bit! Having a bit allows riders to "control" their horse through metal and pain, rather than learning to "talk" with the horse through body communication (aids and cues). Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
