>>>> Does he have a sidepull or bit in his mouth? Do you know if he was ridden >>>> with the sidepull then? I've only had it on him a few minutes at home. I >>>> do recall riding him in the ring next to the barn with the sidepull and we switched him to a bit for better steering
Good eyes, Anna. Yes, he's modeling a sidepull in the saddle picture, but Liz did use him for her bit demonstrations too. I rode him in both at different times, including a couple of different bits. When he first came here, he was already, a solid dependable trail horse, but still very green on what I call the "finesse" issues. In other words, he knew to stay on the trail, but his steering wasn't very precise in an open field or for maneuvering around agility type obstacles. We used one of the peanut-center French link snaffles on him. Once that was better with his steering, I'd ride him in the sidepull - that one in the picture I think is my old Lyndell. He never really "needed" a bit for brakes. I remember once he trotted a little ways unexpectedly with me in the field - maybe 50 feet, and that was about the most excitement he ever gave us... :) When my nephew started taking lessons, we first used Reddi, but then I sold Reddi, so Falki's number came up. My nephew was little, I think six at the time, and even a good horse can unseat a little kid pretty easily, especially if they learn they can grab grass. At that point, when my nephew would ride him, we used the very short-shanked mullen mouth Pelham - my nephew would use the reins on the curb ring, but we'd put the reins on the snaffle ring for adults. Liz thought when she picked him to model bits that he'd be like many Icelandic's and have a low palate, but his is pretty normal. I'd say he's not too picky about his bit, and pretty easy to fit. I think you used a Myler comfort snaffle on him at the clinic? Whatever, he seemed happy with it. A horse in new surroundings can always revert to a slightly lesser trained state, but for what it's worth, he was ridden on the trail some with the sidepull. Oh, the other thing...I think I'd just started back with the sidepull when he started seriously offering me his foxtrot, so I switched him back to a bit then. I think for the subtlest communication for gait training a bit works better, but that's just me. A better rider than me could probably do the same in a sidepull. I guess I'd say he had at least a good exposure and introduction to a sidepull, even though we rode him with a bit more often. Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.2/1224 - Release Date: 1/14/2008 5:39 PM
