> My question to the group is: what kind of bits are those that one so > often sees on horses ridden in Iceland? In the Icelandic Horse > Quarterly, Issue One for 2008, on page 31 it looks like Bernie Wills is > holding one. Are they harsh? How do they work? Or is the long metal > piece just decorative?
I think a lot of people do not get the Quarterly. Is this the type of bit used (attached)? (if you can't see the picture, go here) http://iceryder.net/icelandicbit.html Yes, it is a harsh bit. A good horseman will not need a bit like this. This is a good example of the way things have gotten established in regard to tack and the Icelandic Horse. The icelandic-style riders and trainers are not educated in regard to equine biomechanics and the mechanics of tack. The ignorance has been perpetuated, with no one asking questions along the way. There is no horsemanship involved with this type of bit, in my opinion; it is used for domination / control and pain. Check out the Nanna videos; gaiting treeless, bitless, barefoot: http://iceryder.net/videogaitnanna.html Judy http://iceryder.net http://clickryder.com
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