> I was instructed to have contact because a loose rein allows the bit > to flop around and hit the horses teeth causing discomfort, yet > Western riders ride loose rein, so that doesn't make sense to me.
Exactly. It doesn't make sense. Ideally, you want the horse to pick up and carry the bit himself. We need to have trainers and owners who understand how to help the horse learn that behavior; to be able to use the bit for communication, and not force frame or stopping. Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
