Hi Wanda >>>Oh, I hadn't even noticed that. You're right. I was too busy looking at his feet...Just imagine what that horse could do if he was given more of his head.
Actually I didn't point it out for that reason. There is nothing wrong with contact, it depends how it is used. I think your first impressions - no ewe neck is very important. The rider is connecting the horse, sitting in balance and has a light contact, or so it looks (ideally there could be a little more slack in the rein but it is easy to pick it apart from the sidelines : )). If the rider sits behind the vertical it would be a different feeling for the horse's back - even a small amount. It is after all a competition, and while for some that is a bad word : )), I think that the way to help promote empathetic ways of doing things is to show that it can be done without harm to the horse. That is what we used to do when we competed. BTW Wanda - I have the 22" girth and will ship it today. Robyn Icelandic Horse Farm Robyn Hood & Phil Pretty Vernon BC Canada www.icefarm.com
