>>>>> Karen had Teev in a sidepull or a bit but when I got him home he >>>>> purely HATED a bit. maybe something to do with my hands?? I was >>>>> scared to ride him in a sidepull, afraid he would disregard me completely and do whatever he wanted. But i found he is perfectly responsive in a sidepull.
Yes, but you do know why I had him in a bit, don't you? I know that most people don't have that luxury, a true "horseman" as a best friend. I know full well that I can't know what will happen to my horses once they leave my care, so I try to s-l-o-w-l-y and meticulously expose them to lots of different experiences here in the comfort of our controlled environment, while I have such a good resource as a ground spotter and sometimes as the rider. Someone, Robyn I think, asked if we always start the young horses in a treed saddle. No, we don't ALWAYS, but I do like to expose them to both. Same with bits, bridles and sidepulls. Can you imagine a horse whose been spoiled by riding in a sidepull and no-weight treeless saddle, with tiny Shirley (or even tiny-framed-but-too-darned-fluffy me) up - then at some point having a big western saddle thrown on them and maybe a curbed bit put in their mouths? Ok, I'm not going that far - I won't be putting a 50-pound roping saddle on any of my Icelandics, nor will I use a long-shanked bit on them, but at least I will expose them to treed saddles and bits. >>>>I relaxed, he relaxed. That's the magic answer to a lot of equine mysteries. :) >>>>Now recently I tried him in Fox's bridle and he loved it and I rode him >>>>in a bit and he was great! Key being, I was relaxed, he was relaxed, >>>>mild D ring snaffle with a barrel. I may ride him in a bridle now, >>>>simply because he looks awful snazzy and a bridle with bling would >>>>really suit him... but its not a big deal anymore, i can ride him in >>>>either. And to me, that should be the goal, for both horse and rider: that it shouldn't MATTER if you ride in a halter, a sidepull, with a mild bit. You deserve a pat on the back for the relationship you've built with Tivar. If someons has a genuine reason for a bit - clarity of communication for using/training a particular skill, I'd say use a bit. If your horse doesn't need a bit, why use one? But if your horse goes fine with a bit, and your hands are soft, but you tense up and feel insecure without a bit, maybe it's better to use the bit. so you can both just relax. And if you want a bridle for the bling factor , just make sure your bit is mild and work on softening your hands... :) Karen Thomas, NC
