wrt sidepulls and no bit -- stjarni was taught an "emergency one-rein stop", according to his trainer. i've never had to use it. but since his head is as big as my whole torso and his neck probably weighs more than i do, *if* he was spooking and i was trying to do an emergency stop, i suspect i'd really want the extra leverage of the bit (even if his is only a french-link snaffle). the middle of a bad spook is not the time to wish you'd used different tack...
(nota bene, i have ridden stjarni through mild startles, such as having the neighbors' basketball suddenly bounce down right in front of him in the riding ring. he goes about six inches sideways. but i don't after only six months presume i've seen every behavior in his repertoire :) --vicka
