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Post by Joy on Sept 29, 2009 15:43:00 GMT 1
Hi to Avril and all forum users, Just wanted to post a thread to ask if anyone else uses a bitless bridle and what Avril thinks of them!! I am riding both Bella & Dolly in Dr cooks bitless bridles and they respond beautifully to my asks!! In fact Dolly, who has been head shaking through the summer seems so calm and happy in her bridle!!! I certainly find them easier to ride out than when they were in their french snaffles!!
I am interested to see if any other safecobbers ride out in a bitless or hackamore!
Thanks Joy
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Post by avril on Sept 30, 2009 19:04:34 GMT 1
Hi Joy, you've written an interesting question here, and one that I could expand on forever. From a training perspective I find that over 90% of horses come in with bridling or bitting diffictulties due mainly to a lack of understanding throughout their lives of the mouth, the action of the hands, and the consequences of using a bit. It's no surprise to find this could be linked to forms of discomfort such as headshaking,snatching, and pulling etc.
I don't believe there is anything wrong with bits when they are correctly and sensitively used, but since this seems to present a general difficult within horsemanship as a whole, there is a case for going bitless.
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Post by Joy Griffiths on Sept 30, 2009 19:30:27 GMT 1
Hi Avril Thanks for reply- As I am newish to horses-(only been riding for 3 years at tender age of 48) I feel that perhaps I have not aquired the old school way of working with horses having stocked up originally with Monty Roberts, Kelly Marks and Pat parelli, and applying a mixture of their methods when I am with my girls!
I know that I did have loads of advice from horsey people which I did take some of and lived to regret, in some instances! Some was also very helpful!
My girl Bella is an exceptional horse in that she is so kind and looks after me so well-we go out most days now on our own and she always seems aware that she can trust me as the relationship, on the ground, has been put first.
I never thought I would be the proud owner of two beautiful horses and if asked maybe 5 years ago, I would have said that horses did 2 things, bit at one end and pooed at the other!!! How wrong I was(although in theory its true!!!!).
I still see lots of people who have been around horses all of their lives, kicking and pulling and smacking their horses as though there is no other way!! It makes me feel really sad when I see this, and I hope that in time most horse people will see that there is a better way with more natural horsemanship incorporating kindness and trust! I feel that bitless bridles will also come into their own eventually!!
Anyway thanks for your reply!
Kind regards Joy, Bella & Dolly
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Post by liz on Sept 30, 2009 23:36:12 GMT 1
Hi, Joy I had a lovely, lovely horse a few years back who I bought from a dealer in Devon. I knew he was green when I bought him - that was obvious. He was supposed to be 5, rising 6, and had done some showjumping but was not good enough for the man who was a showjumper (pretty low level, I should think!) As soon as I rode him when trying him, I knew he couldn't possibly have showjumped beyond a clear round. He had his head in the air and really didn't know anything but he was such a genuine and kind chap that I bought him. He hadn't been with me more than a few months when he shed his caps He was rather younger than I was told! I got his mouth checked and all was OK. He still didn't like a bit. I enlisted the help of a friend who ran a natural horsemanship yard and we changed to a german hackamore and the change in his way of going was miraculous. He started using himself more and became a very free moving and forward going horse. My friend and I started from scratch. I did a lot of free schooling and even did a join up - that was easy! Once he was responsive to work on the ground, my friend started the ridden work and he was wonderful. Eventually we tried a bit again and found an american colt bit that he accepted happily. However, light hands were an absolute must with this horse and if I was a bit heavyhanded he told me!! I always used a neckstrap so that I had a handle if I felt less than secure whether I was riding him with a bit or a hackamore. By the end of his re-schooling, it was defintely possible to ride him without a bridle at all - but not recommended for insurance purposes! I have to say that I believe that ALL bitless bridles require good hands and many probably even more so than a bitted bridle. The hackmore is a VERY severe tool in the wrong hands. Many horses go exceptionally well in a pelham bit (2 reins required!) and I know that Heather Moffett, a wonderful rider, of Enlightened Equitation uses them a lot. Again, as with any bit, they are as good as the hands that use them!
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Post by lisandsaf on Oct 1, 2009 12:38:21 GMT 1
Hi Joy I havnt riden Saf in a bridle with a bit for well over a year now, as you know i adopted the parelli way and I ride saf in one of his halters on a long loose rein, even at a strong three quarter pace i just sit back and relax and let her ride under me,, i do get odd looks when i pass other traditional riders out and about and occassionally they ask why i ride in a rope halter, i love it and it suits us both,,, We have a riding school near us and on more than one occasion i have seen pupils pull the bit through the poor horses mouth and out the other side as the horse trys to nibble a tree as it passes,,, it makes me sssoooo wild and cross,, and the instructors take no notice what so ever,,, how sad,,
Happy parelli Lisa and Saf
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Post by Joy Griffiths on Oct 1, 2009 18:57:45 GMT 1
Hi Thanks for feedback which is very helpful and constructive!
It is nice to be in touch with such kind people who put their horses first!
I do go on a bit about my perfect Bella but she does have one bad habit! She will not pick her front right hoof up for me to pick out-she is a typical left brain introvert-stubborn and lazy!!!!She will sometimes pick it up for me for all of 5 seconds and then put it down and lift her back as if to say-next!!!!! She is fine with picking up all the others!!!
My husband has to hold her and shift her weight to her left side to help me get her to pick up- we have had her vet checked and he says that their is no problem with that leg!
I have tried the parelli way of tapping the leg until she picks up then stopping- it does work sometimes!!
Anyway, that is a minor problem as she is a star!!!
Anybody who has any tips for getting her to hold her foot up would be most welcome!!!
Thanks for feedback, Kind regards Joy, Bella and Dolly
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Post by erika and george on Oct 1, 2009 23:09:34 GMT 1
Joy, I would get her back checked perhaps? Maybe she has some stiffness which makes it difficult to pick up that foot? Let's face it their feet do weigh alot! Is she alright with the farrier?
Erika & George
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Post by lisandsaf on Oct 2, 2009 15:12:54 GMT 1
Hi Joy Saf is also a LBI and was a complete monkey to lift her feet when we first got her,, try using a lead rope around her fetlock and applying the friendly game starting at phase 1 i.e the very very soft pressure and steadily increase the pressure on the rope until she responds,, remember to reward the slightest effort on her part, have patience and try often on all her legs,, eventually you will only have to slighlty touch the leg with your fingers and she will lift the foot for you,, If I stand in front of saf and lift one of my legs she will copy me with her corresponding front leg and I dont even touch her,, our party trick..
Keep us posted as to how you get on Lisa and Saf.
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Post by joy Griffiths on Oct 2, 2009 19:25:42 GMT 1
Hi Erica And Lisa,
Thanks for advice-we will get vet to check her back on next visit but I do feel that you are right Lisa and I will use the technique on her which you advise as I know that LBI take a lot of patience and time -maybe not an hour but a day or a week or a month etc!!!!
Thank you both for advice!! Kind regards Joy,Bella & Dolly
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Post by lisandsaf on Oct 3, 2009 21:16:20 GMT 1
Hi Joy Parelli says it "takes the time it takes" and patience is a virtue with LBI's you must also bear in mind alot of people thing that LBI's are lazy but again they are often misunderstood and come across as stubborn, often their brains are just not engaged and they are bored,, Saf is a very intelligient animal as i beleive all aimals are,, but she learns so quickly her dancing trick took me less than a week to teach her,, hopefully bella will also respond quickly .. Regards Lisa and Saf
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Post by avril on Oct 7, 2009 20:28:45 GMT 1
Joy, a little bird told me it's your Birthday today. So we would like to wish a very Happy Birthday from all of us at Mysafecobs. Pity it had to rain so hard, but at least it keeps the pollen count down.
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Post by Joy on Oct 8, 2009 15:43:55 GMT 1
Hi Everyone Thanks for birthday wishes Avril! Bella & I had a lovely hack out together! Thanks to everyone for all the helpful advice!
Kind regards Joy
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Post by lisandsaf on Oct 8, 2009 21:17:57 GMT 1
Hi Joy many happy returns of the day Regards Lisa and Saf
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Post by lisandsaf on Jun 14, 2011 13:31:17 GMT 1
Hi Joy
Long time no hear,, how are you getting on with your girls,, ru still "Parelling"..
Hope your well
Regards
Lisa and Saf
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Post by anakin14 on May 3, 2012 17:18:39 GMT 1
I've just seen this post about bitless!
Its definitely something I would consider trying. I've always had anakin in a snaffle and I'm lucky that he is so soft in his mouth, we've never had a need for anything else. Sometimes however, for a few days after a dentist visit for example if I'm worried he will be sore I ride in a headcollar and you would be suprised how well they respond to it so I'm sure a purpose built bitless bridle would be even better, must remember to give the rope ones a try
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