Subject : RE: Re: [IceHorses] speaking of bits
What type of driving bit Bia? That's what I'm using on Gusti. A mullen...
Wanda
Wanda, this is a straight bar with a kind of a shank that has 3 places to
move the reins for leverage... I have the reins on the middle circle right
now. It has a curb chain also but I don't keep it tight at all. Danny, the
mule guy, says that generally speaking, mules don't really like ported bits.
Hazel, my mule, has a very shallow mouth...wide head but a shallow mouth
inside. A mullen, which I looked at there, has a slight upward curve so he
suggested I not use it but use the straight bar. It seems to be very
comfortable for her. I don't have heavy hands at all... in fact, she is so
much a direct rein creature that I need to be more forceful with my signals
than I am used to! Weird because usually I'm always telling people to be
easier in the hands... LOL.... He also said that black mules can be more
stubborn than the sorrels and bays... That was a new one for me! She is a bit
stubbourn about leading...she is a follower so I will have to work on getting
her to go out first, alone, whatever... All in all though, she is turning out
to be a very sweet although very large animal! I'm not used to riding up so
high and I'm a bit intimidated by that. Danny said, "don't let her know that"
so I am breathing alot and saying my mantra while I'm up there so she doesn't
feel my nerves. At night before I go to bed, I go out and hug her and whisper
to her and say things to her that I want her to remember as praise and
relaxing words so when I am on her back and feeling nervous, I can say those
words in that tone and hope she undersatnds that everything is ok. She
listens very closely to my voice. I'm taking it all very slowly with her
because I am not used to such a big ride. Anyway, probably more info than you
wanted! Sorry! Bia
