I think Swales Bits should be banned from the show ring.

sarahsum1 said:
I think she must be joking. OR a member of the 'riding horses with mind power, even though they don't read minds and won't leave the yard because the mind messages are not getting through' CULT Suprised you haven't heard of it :D:D
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I have tried riding by mind power but being schizophrenic I get interupted to much!!

Apologies now to all the schizophrenics on this thread I am only joking.:)
 
My challange is for any of the 368 people who are watching this thread who uses a swales bit to justify it.

anima said:
Sure they do have their reasons,but doubt anyone who does use one would be willing to come forward in a thread that clearly has anyone using one painted as the devil ;)
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Are they are man (or women) enough to put their point of view. I am challanging the practice not the person.

The worse that can happen is that they get heckled.
 
Persephone said:
When I bought my mare she had been sawed into an oitline for 3 months and her reaction to me asking her to flex was to open her mouth, head up and tilted to the left. In this position I think she felt in charge.

My Instructor put her in a Swales pelham for I would say 10 minutes which was long enough for her to realise that flexing was actually fine and I wasn't going to force her head down with sawing and a grip of steel.

She is now beautifully soft and trusting in a KK Dynamic loose ring. We are both happy.

I think those ten minutes in a Swales actually saved us both a lot of discomfort and stress tbh.

So under expert instruction and guidance along with good hands it was very helpful for us.
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Would you feel it correct to continue using the swales bit, get one made with extended shafts and then show in it for all of your horse's showing career?

I guess not but many do.
 
Haha! No I wasn't being serious, I ride my horse in a myler combination bit, the evilest bit in all the world mwhahahaha! Oh and I do use a saddle (Arab with a razer wither is just incomfortable otherwise) and I do try mind power but find a kick in the ribs gets us further :)
 
Silverspring said:
Haha! No I wasn't being serious, I ride my horse in a myler combination bit, the evilest bit in all the world mwhahahaha! Oh and I do use a saddle (Arab with a razer wither is just incomfortable otherwise) and I do try mind power but find a kick in the ribs gets us further :)
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Lol! Aww I thought you were a member of the fore mentioned cult! :D:D
 
antagonist said:
My challange is for any of the 368 people who are watching this thread who uses a swales bit to justify it.



Are they are man (or women) enough to put their point of view. I am challanging the practice not the person.

The worse that can happen is that they get heckled.
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:rolleyes: Boy! You did choose an appropriate forum name! We're you born aggressive or have you just been practising hard? :D
 
Silverspring said:
Haha! No I wasn't being serious, I ride my horse in a myler combination bit, the evilest bit in all the world mwhahahaha! Oh and I do use a saddle (Arab with a razer wither is just incomfortable otherwise) and I do try mind power but find a kick in the ribs gets us further :)
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I do sell a range of electric shock halters, that I have adapted from the ever popular dog collars, perhaps you might want to buy one.

I find using them appeals to my aggressive side!

(PS I don't know if I was born aggressive as I butchered my mother on my first birthdays so never got a chance to ask her)
 
Do you not think that people are using more severe bits in their urgency to "produce" show horses to a high standard, instead of giving them more time? The majority of show horses have been broken with the intention of being show horses, so surely it should have been done properly in the first place using only a mild bit. Everyone seems to want results yesterday, with no effort, instead of taking things a bit more slowly and quietly....personally I don't like showing.....someone else's opinion of the perfect horse isn't my idea of horse ownership....
 
antagonist said:
I do sell a range of electric shock halters, that I have adapted from the ever popular dog collars, perhaps you might want to buy one.

I find using them appeals to my aggressive side!

(PS I don't know if I was born aggressive as I butchered my mother on my first birthdays so never got a chance to ask her)
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WIERD!!!
 
I can imagine this is a joke post and instead of sitting in a chair deadly serious they're laughing their head off!!

Here's a strong bit: http://www.pointernet.pds.hu/lovaglas/lovaskep/Mikmar Combination Bit.jpg

I was reading a book (a 'story' book) and the main character thought a four ring snaffle was 'serious and would hurt the horse a lot' :rolleyes: not compared to the bit above.

It's better to use a strong bit gently than hauling on a snaffle, even if the rider is amazing you still get horses that need a stronger bit than a snaffle..
 
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jumpinghorse said:
I can imagine this is a joke post and instead of sitting in a chair deadly serious they're laughing their head off!!

Here's a strong bit: http://www.pointernet.pds.hu/lovaglas/lovaskep/Mikmar Combination Bit.jpg

I was reading a book (a 'story' book) and the main character thought a four ring snaffle was 'serious and would hurt the horse a lot' :rolleyes:

It's better to use a strong bit gently than hauling on a snaffle, even if the rider is amazing you still get horses that need a stronger bit than a snaffle..
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Yeah I used to ride our 2 year old in one of those :p:D
 
Seriously, Antagonist, might I suggest that if banning these bits DOES matter to you, then you would get a more favourable response by putting forward a reasoned argument and keeping the aggressive side zipped.

All that will happen here is that you will raise people's hackles to voice a counter argument simply to push your buttons in return. And as you are obviously NOT thick, you must therefore be aware that the way you post will not achieve what you set out to do ie ban these bits.

So I don't really see the point. Unless winding people up IS the point, of course.... perish the thought:rolleyes:
 
I agree with several ppl on here in saying that in the correct hands it's fine. Noone likes to see someone sawing at the mouth,even in a snaffle its dreadful.

I ride in a double bridle in the ring and occasionally at home. Never used a swale.
 
Rebelzmum said:
Do you not think that people are using more severe bits in their urgency to "produce" show horses to a high standard, instead of giving them more time? The majority of show horses have been broken with the intention of being show horses, so surely it should have been done properly in the first place using only a mild bit. Everyone seems to want results yesterday, with no effort, instead of taking things a bit more slowly and quietly....personally I don't like showing.....someone else's opinion of the perfect horse isn't my idea of horse ownership....
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Going back to being serious, is the show horse community running the risk of becoming a victim of public opinion. (Think panorama and crufts).

Surely they should strive to put thier own house in order by looking at responsible use of bits or whatever other fad comes along. The risk is a public opinion back lash that will rub of on the rest of the equine community.

If the show horse community wont put thier house in order then sure the wider community should put pressure on them.
 
jumpinghorse said:
Lol well i suppose if the horse really needs it it's ok :p
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Oh yes indeey, at 2 he was in one of those bits :D flash noseband with an added grackle over the top for good measure, standing martingale, draw reins, I wore spurs and used to thrash him with a schooling whip. All good experience for the youngsters :D:p
 
Antagonist, have you some kind of problem with showing? You sound like you are out to get the showing community. Perhaps you'd prefer to join Horsegossip, as there are a lot more showing people on there who I am sure will clearly answer your queries re. swales.
 
Hello Femanchu and watchers

Would any of you like to take the oppertunity to put a point of view on weather the use of a swales bit with or without extended shafts is an acceptable way to show a horse in a show ring when you are demonstarting its mannerlyness.

We have heard i about its use in training but no one has debated its use in the show ring.

This is not an attack on any person but trying to open a debate on this practice, and I will apologies if anyone feel otherwise.
 
To be honest i dont think bitting has any effect on mannerlyness, if a horse wants to be naughty and take of round the ring with you it will regardless of what bit you have in its mouth.
I get that this bit is obviously stronger than a snaffle but wouldnt you rather just be able to give your a little check on the rein that will probably go un-noticed when you feel him/her wanting be naughty rather than pulling and hauling around on a snaffle? I know which i would prefer.

I dont think people who are really inexperienced would use this bit anyway, i would consider myself to be quite knowledgeable about bitting and ive never seen one. However if it is becoming a trend it will probably die out and another trend will be along soon. I dont think it is anything to worry about to much, after all if a horse really really didnt like what was going on its mouth its not going to put up with it.

I do agree that showing should have stricter rules on bitting though and what bits are allowed on the childs ponies especially.

I hope this come across the right way
 
Well i'm not afraid to say that i rod emy old pony in a swales - that what she came with, thats what she went best in & was happiest in, so thats what i kept her in!!! I only used it in the ring, & at home she was ridden in a snaffle etc, but she pullded & threw her head in a simple snaffle - she just didn't like it - yet in her swales - she was happy. I've got light hands & never yanked on her mouth or anything, so much prefered her benig happy in a swales, than uphappy in a snaffle.
When you get people who aren't sure what they're doing trying bits that they don't know the purpose of, or understanding what their horse needs, then any bit can be inappropriate - but if your horse goes well in a bit, then use it!!!
 
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