On Mar 24, 2008, at 2:51 PM, Judy Ryder wrote: > > > When we start a young horse riding, do we need to use a bit? should > we? > > What considerations should be taken into account? (such as dental, > wolf > teeth, new eruptions; shape of the interior of the mouth, etc.)
I wouldn't start a horse younger than 36 months, and then it would be in a bozal, jaquima, or bosal. I'm most comfortable with the bozal, since I've been trained in the Peruvian methods -- but all three serve a similar purpose. I'd also let the horse carry the training bit (a regular curb bit, no chain, or shanks) when being groomed and later when stalled and otherwise hanging out, during that same period so it gets used to holding the bit in its mouth, eating, drinking, etc. The normal vet checks would note any wolf teeth and the decision could be made as to extraction. (the only horse I've known with wolf teeth is my friend's Peruvian gelding, but the curb bit never bumped the wolf teeth and so they weren't an issue). New eruptions have never been a problem -- they appear to shed most of the baby teeth before training starts (I collect horse teeth from the feeders <g>) Lynn Kinsky, Santa Ynez, CA http://www.silcom.com/~lkinsky/ http://www.dslextreme.com/~napha/HighPoint/
