Got Agitated At Saddlery Shop Today

[devilwoman]

Boy did I get wound up, there I was minding my own business (well sort of ) looking at supplements and right behind me in the same isle are the bits, I could hear a man & lady telling the sales assistant how they "literally could not stop this horse, he just takes off, throws his head up and is uncontrollable" so the sales lady gets them down a 3 ring gag and tells them that if they put the reins on the bottom ring and have a flash noseband on him he should go ok in that, the man must have been 25 stone and blathered on about how many times the horse tanks off with him and even he can't stop him, I lingered about listening to them, not once did I hear her ask if they'd had the horses back/saddle/teeth etc, checked just simply reccomended the bottom ring of a 3 ring gag and a flash noseband - isn't that wrong, should the sales staff not be trained to discuss other issues before selling harsh bits ?

 

[miss_bird]

I would expect the sales staff to ask many more questions before recommending any type of bit.
Maybe weekend staff trying to get their sales up, wrong i know but it does happen

 

[nativetyponies]

25 stone??!!??

I have to admit i have never, in 45 yrs being round horses, seen a 25 stone bloke on a horse.......

 

[intouch]

I used to work in a saddlers - luckily they were riders themselves and I often heard them counsel a bit of schooling rather than a harsher bit, but the torture devices that some people came in to buy were sad. One reason I left.

 

[abbieandfiona]

Thats bad they should have asked more questions and offered better advice.

 

[melxvengeance]

they definately should not have recomended riding the horse in a 3 ring gag with just the rein on the bottom ring. a gag should be ridden preferably in double reins, or alternatively with roundings, regardless of whether the horse has a back/teeth etc problem

 

[eggs]

I tend to think that we sometimes blame teeth/back/saddle for basic schooling/riding problems and that good instruction could solve a lot of issues that people have.

The problem with bitting is that a stronger bit if often recommended without investigating the underlying problem which is often a rider issue.

With the proliferation of on-line shopping though I am sure a lot of bits are purchased without any thought/knowledge of their action/purpose.

 

[OneInAMillion]

:S oh dear....

 

[mulledwhine]

!!!!! WTF, I really am speachless

 

[thatsmygirl]

I work in equine retail and it really can be hard.
You do go through a lot off training via the companies to make sure you understand the products to be able to sell them and advise as needed. And kept up to date with the lastest info etc.
I def would not have recommended what that lady did and tbh the owners sound like they haven't a clue but I expect most tack shops employ staff for little pay and young girls who have little experience but love horses. I'm lucky I'm in sole charge off the equine dep so well known and will ask questions and advise which sometimes the owners don't like but I wouldn't advise those people on bits without making my worries clear but I do sometimes wonder if I go to far, Some people really are gratefull off help and others will get funny.
You really would not believe how some people haven't a clue and the questions I get asked, some I can not believe.