Brambridge04
Well-Known Member
I think i'll just stick to honey and putting it in for a few mins a day for time being x thanks guys
Shocked and horrified!
- Thread starter Brambridge04
- Start date
Kokopelli
Well-Known Member
You'll be suprised how common this idea is in all cultures!
Someone who shows her ponies to a high level teached them manners by putting the bridle on and cross tieing in stable for 3 days!!
Someone who shows her ponies to a high level teached them manners by putting the bridle on and cross tieing in stable for 3 days!!
Brambridge04
Well-Known Member
i want her to look forward to being ridden n being hacked, not fear it incase i leave her with bridle on for days lol x
SuperSonicMare
Well-Known Member
I knew someone years ago who used to turn out in a bridle, no noseband or throatlash, using the bit as a "grazing muzzle" (before they were around!). She did it for years with several horses, they got the bridle off occasionally but she never had any injuries. I imagine it wasn't the nicest thing for them, but it was effective! That said, I wouldn't even consider it for any of mine!
AndySpooner
Well-Known Member
I have to say that I am quite suprised on reading this thread by the amount of predudice and lack of knowledge or understanding displayed by some of the posts.
I feel that the suggestion of putting the bit in the pony's mouth and turning it out, or leaving it in for hours in a stable could easily have come from an English style rider as well as someone with a western saddle. I've heard people say the same all over the place.
Personally, I wouldn't do that. I am not a fan of leaving head collars on in the field either, but sometimes I can see why you may need to. The rules are not hard and fast and with horses, one needs to be flexible.
With regard to riding in a rope head collar or a bosal, these are obviously very different to riding with a bit or hackamore and you need to know what you are doing before you attempt to ride in any of these, as you should when riding in a bit.
The proper use of the bosal was to train young horses, and a horse would be ridden in a bosal for years before any attempt was made to use a bit. Many horses would be eight or nine, and used daily for ranch work, before a bit was introduced. The idea was that a progression took place where the horses mouth was kept soft, before the horse was experienced enough to be ridden, first in the softest of bits and working through to the more advanced. The horse should have been responsive enough to have needed only the lightest hand on the rein before progressing to a bit.
This way of training horses was in an age where time didn't really matter, and you could take the time it took. People, however, are in a hurry to get their horse bitted and riding so things change and horses are bitted and trained that way. We are now in an age where to ride bitless is not the norm, and most people are un happy riding without one.
I feel that the suggestion made by this western rider or 'cowboy' should be taken for what it is, just bad advice, and no one should jump to the conclusion that it is based on any real training expertise.
I feel that the suggestion of putting the bit in the pony's mouth and turning it out, or leaving it in for hours in a stable could easily have come from an English style rider as well as someone with a western saddle. I've heard people say the same all over the place.
Personally, I wouldn't do that. I am not a fan of leaving head collars on in the field either, but sometimes I can see why you may need to. The rules are not hard and fast and with horses, one needs to be flexible.
With regard to riding in a rope head collar or a bosal, these are obviously very different to riding with a bit or hackamore and you need to know what you are doing before you attempt to ride in any of these, as you should when riding in a bit.
The proper use of the bosal was to train young horses, and a horse would be ridden in a bosal for years before any attempt was made to use a bit. Many horses would be eight or nine, and used daily for ranch work, before a bit was introduced. The idea was that a progression took place where the horses mouth was kept soft, before the horse was experienced enough to be ridden, first in the softest of bits and working through to the more advanced. The horse should have been responsive enough to have needed only the lightest hand on the rein before progressing to a bit.
This way of training horses was in an age where time didn't really matter, and you could take the time it took. People, however, are in a hurry to get their horse bitted and riding so things change and horses are bitted and trained that way. We are now in an age where to ride bitless is not the norm, and most people are un happy riding without one.
I feel that the suggestion made by this western rider or 'cowboy' should be taken for what it is, just bad advice, and no one should jump to the conclusion that it is based on any real training expertise.
Brambridge04
Well-Known Member
i didnt mean to sound prejudice, he is a nice man and was trying to help. However i have met him once, never seen him ride, and didnt feel comfortable enough to challenge his views, when he so clearly seemed to think it was the correct thing to do!
I will however try stabling her with a bit in, while i poo pick, norm takes 15 mins, and see how that goes......
I will however try stabling her with a bit in, while i poo pick, norm takes 15 mins, and see how that goes......
Tinypony
Well-Known Member
Andy, not all western horsemen use the bosal before the bit. I used to think that as well, but have found that some vaquero horsemen do the opposite. Having ridden in a bosal a bit, I can see the point, so I'm aiming to ride in the rope halter, then a simple snaffle (Rockin' S) then the bosal. I must say, the bosal really helped my horse's head carriage, in that it seemed to make him a bit more "thoughtful" and that meant his head was a bit steadier.
Tinypony
Well-Known Member
Brambridge, just be really, really careful that there's nothing in the stable the bit can get hooked up on. Or outside for that matter, like hooks on the handle of the door bolt. If you do this then it might be better with a bit that has straight sides (is that a fulmer? I'm crap about bits), avoid a bit with rings.
Kao
Well-Known Member
It's a very old fashioned way, but certainly not uncommon.
If he's one of these "British Cowboys" pitching ideas like this proves he's a wannabe. Again, not uncommon
But, I'd steer clear. If he's any kind of proffesional (western or otherwise) which he most likely isn't, then he'd have ruined a great deal of horses with this method.
This is the kind of idea that people used to use when humans never knew better.
Advice. Don't listen to him, you understand the horse, and if there's an underlying problem or anything, shoving a metal bar in her gob without getting to the base of her problems isn't going to solve anything.
If he's one of these "British Cowboys" pitching ideas like this proves he's a wannabe. Again, not uncommon
But, I'd steer clear. If he's any kind of proffesional (western or otherwise) which he most likely isn't, then he'd have ruined a great deal of horses with this method.
This is the kind of idea that people used to use when humans never knew better.
Advice. Don't listen to him, you understand the horse, and if there's an underlying problem or anything, shoving a metal bar in her gob without getting to the base of her problems isn't going to solve anything.