With my slow dial up, I can't really watch You Tube (Broadband coming next 
month), but I have been mostly successful teaching horses not to fight the bit 
by helping them to find a "happy spot".  If you keep hauling on their mouth, 
they never know when they've got it right.  If you consistantly reward with 
soft 
giving hands, they almost always learn to enjoy being right.  I don't like to 
use any gimmicks, just a plain round snaffle..
 
Just so you know it doesn't always work, my TWH is the fussiest horse with 
his mouth I've ever worked with.  He doesn't fight, he fusses, chews, fidgets.  
I had his teeth worked on (nothing significant there) switched from my 
favorite round snaffle to a kimberwick and finally gave up and put him in 
something 
the Arab endurance riders call an S-hack - nothing in his mouth.  It's really a 
kick.  Even with no bit, his mouth is going constantly.  My guess is that it 
is a habit and he will not give it up any time soon.  He is, however, much 
more relaxed with no bit at all.
 
I have been a snaffle bit purist.  I really have never used any other bit, 
but ...
 
Nancy



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

Reply via email to