I really like the comparison you made with dogs. It really puts a much more clear perspective on things. I only ride my horse for pleasure and we are both very happy with the swivel-shank mild curb bit we use. He readily opens his mouth for it when I bring the bridle in front of his face to bridle him, and actually moves towards it with lowered head for me to put it on. I figure if we're both happy and it ain't broke... don't fix it! I find your videos very informative, and I really appreciate all your hard work. Thank you very much! 😉
You shouldn't be. There's no more or less potential for pain, or damage with or without a bit. Mechanical hacks are the most dangerous commonly ridden headgear out there, IMO, and they fall squarely into the bitless category. Your hands are absolutely the determining factor as to whether or not your horse is safe, happy, and under control. The particular inanimate bridle that you are using doesn't change that simple fact.
I really enjoy all your videos on bits. I have a 12 yr old quarter horse that I've had since August. He's had speed control issues ever since I got him, but worse since a very wet winter with little riding. I started off in a snaffle and graduated to a Billy Allen in late fall early winter. We finally have decent weather and I'm now riding him 3-4 days/week and focusing on training him to change speeds on my command. We had a pretty good day today in the Billy Allen...should I stick with this bit or go back to a Snaffle? Thanks.
Hard to say without seeing you ride him. Two thoughts for me: 1) if it ain’t broke... 2) getting good rate and softness is usually accomplished through laterally softening the horse, which would generally best be done in a single jointed snaffle. The Billy Allen is a great mouthpiece, but tends to stiffen one, so it’s best used after lateral flexion is mastered. That being said, your horse is 12 and not a blank slate, hence why I could say more if I saw you ride him and could gauge his responses.
I have watched many of your videos about bits (thank you) and have a question. I just purchased a barrel racing horse who will not be used for barrel racing as intensely as she was before. She is 14 years old. The owner provided me with her bridle and bit which is the gag bit setup. She claimed you MUST use this setup with the mare. I have done some research on the gag bit and as far as I can tell it is mainly a training and competition bit. Additionally, everything I have read discourages using it on a daily basis and for pleasure riding. However, I am at a loss as to what type of bit I should use since this is what has been used on her consistently for so long. Any advice you could provide would be appreciated. Thank you!
that's honestly pretty difficult to answer without seeing the horse go. I'd simply advise you to try the horse, in a controlled environment, with a few different bits. A gag bit is a fairly extreme thing to ride in on a regular basis and is mostly used on horses that don't respect the bit and try to push through the rider's hands. Good hands, good methodology, and good timing can nearly always get you a respectful horse that will ride in fairly basic, simply, bits. A gag bit is none of those things. I can understand in certain circumstances, like competition, where the adrenaline gets to flowing, but certainly not on a daily basis.
We recently purchased a 12 year old lesson horse and was given his headstall. He came with a correction bit. My two daughters, ages 9 and 11, who have only been riding for a year are trying to transition from riding with one hand to two hands for barrel racing. I noticed that the horse is beginning to foam at the mouth during their practice sessions. I am not a trainer. I did not grow up around horses. But I am trying to educate myself more to be an effective trainer for my girls, since our trainer retired. I wanted to try to use a snaffle bit, because I feel like my girls are yanking on the horses mouth too much. They do not have soft hands. The horse is also coming on top of the barrels when they are practicing, or he will begin to anticipate their pulling and get ratey by going from a lope to a trot before they are asking him to. Help!!! This may not be a bit problem. But would it help to move to a bit that would make my girls use their legs more and not reins? Thank you in advance for your help!
In your case, I would absolutely go to a snaffle. Not a bad idea to have them practice larger circles around the barrel too. Offers them more time and a chance to slow their hands down. As they improve make the circle go from 12 feet to 10, 8, 6...
@@DanielDauphin Thank you so much! Do you recommend a certain brand? Website… I have no clue where to get one besides the local tack store and I believe they will be the cheap ones you and others I’ve watched, say NOT to purchase.
I don’t get into endorsing certain brands. I would want a 7/16” sweet iron with copper inlay mouthpiece and I would want medium to heavy weight rings. That’s about all I’d require. It could be an o-ring, d-ring, eggbutt, etc. and they will all probably be fine since your horse knows his stuff. Never hurts to put them in a roundpen and have them drop the reins and practice rating and turning with their seat and legs. Over depending on the bit and balancing on the reins are some of the hardest habits to break once learned.
I bought my horse that has been ridden in a tom thumb bit for many years. I feel it might be too extreme for her? She is quite tolerate of anything. Do you have recommendations on what to start with on getting her out of this??
My 6 year old daughters mare gets barn sour with her but not me or my wife. It's like she knows she can get away with it and pushes through the bit. My daughter doesn't ride with spurs and doesn't have the strength in her boot to use her feet to persuade her horse otherwise. Any suggestions. She rides in a single joint leverage bit.
First of all, I want to be sure that your daughter is safe. As far as the horse is concerned, she does know exactly what she is doing. Rather than changing the bit, I'd think a switch or dressage whip would be the ticket. Again, though, I don't know the horse or your daughter's riding ability. There are certainly horses that would fight harder when disciplined and could potentially throw your daughter. If that may be the case, I'd simply ride along side her where I could guide the horse and help her control it. Snaffle bridles rigged with a mecate work wonderfully for this. I started my boys off by ponying them with the mecate tail, but they still had a rein of their own. I'd let them work at it, but could help to get them out of a bind if need be.
Tracy McElroy if you’ll go to our website, I just posted a couple of articles on that topic. One of our earliest videos is an excerpt from a clinic where we’re working on it as well.
