Two questions re. Ben Maher...

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http://www.samanthabond.net/5_female.html?profile=61

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Bl00dy hell! Shes stunning!!
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Much as I loved him, I think when Alvin's horses entered the ring their noses near enough touched their chests..... Diester, I think, was a funny sort who did go in plain bits, but I think he was the exception.
 
cant remember where it happened, but the "broken bit" incedent PS had with him, D was definitely wearing a pelham...
 
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... but I would argue that it takes the same amount of control to ride a 2ft clear round at your local Gymkhana as it would to jump 5ft around a Derby. If control is what we are discussing here....

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WHAT????
Sorry, I disagree

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Think about it. I'm talking about riding properly, not just about some 8 yr old kid tugging a pony round vs. a seasoned professional jumping at Hickstead. The height of a fence should not matter; if you are going to get your strides right, judge your distances correctly and produce a round that is fluent, stylish and accurate, you need control - at 2ft or at 5ft. Okay, I myself have never jumped round Hickstead, but I have jumped 4ft tracks and can honestly say that I would hope to maintain the same amount of control and fluency then as I would when jumping 2ft.
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I remember him in a snaffle & a pelham, horse never looked like it was going anywhere but slithered over the fences & looked completely dead in the mouth.
Paul wasn't anywhere as nice looking as Alvin either... there was a yummy SJer.
 
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I remember him in a snaffle & a pelham, horse never looked like it was going anywhere but slithered over the fences & looked completely dead in the mouth.
Paul wasn't anywhere as nice looking as Alvin either... there was a yummy SJer.

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Didn't Deister also go in a German Hackamore too though ? Funny horse that one...used to screw and twist over everything...but won loads in the process
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Not directly comparable, no - but I would argue that it takes the same amount of control to ride a 2ft clear round at your local Gymkhana as it would to jump 5ft around a Derby. If control is what we are discussing here....

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Oh good heavens no!! I saw THIS young man jump round 70cms (2'3") last weekend without a SCRAP of control (I couldn't help clapping my hands over my eyes!).

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He made a mistake on the course and was eliminated, but he was clear until then and was leaning on the saddle at every jump
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He only got round because the horse was a SAINT and jumped on autopilot (regardless of dutch gag)
 
Yes yes yes.....I think I havent explained my point well enough. Maybe I should have said 'should' instead......what I was trying to get across is the idea that if you want to ride a nice fluent, accurate round, you should have optimum control over your horse, regardless of the height of the fences. Arrrrghhhh, I think my brain is scrambled. I know what I mean, but I havent explained it very well
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Well, when you're jumping 2ft, or 3ft you have MUCH greater leeway as to what is an acceptable take off point for each fence than at 5ft. Also, at 5ft the distances will be made more tricky precisely to challenge the skill and control of the rider.
So I still diagree, but I get your point
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OK. I'll agree that it's horses for courses(or rather bits for horses
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). Ben and his trainers obviously think that's the right combination for that horse and I can imagine a horse being quite strong and flighty round that Derby course. I think the debate we got into was whether people are using the right bits for their horses, most people are but there are those naive people who will put a big bit in their horse's mouth because it looks good. I think I have been quite lucky to always have horses with snaffle mouths(apart from of course my fell who was spoilt with a driving bit, and a section C I used to ride who the same thing happened to!) I'm sure that's going to change when I ride my Haflinger as she's a strong cow already, but she is being started in a snaffle. So I haven't had the same experiences with strong horses and different bits. I will admit that I was shocked by the thing when I saw it on Ben's horse but if he has got quiet hands then I'm sure it's the best thing for the horse
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Well, when you're jumping 2ft, or 3ft you have MUCH greater leeway as to what is an acceptable take off point for each fence than at 5ft. Also, at 5ft the distances will be made more tricky precisely to challenge the skill and control of the rider.
So I still diagree, but I get your point

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Exactly, me and Badger (sometimes) look to be fluent and accurate round a 3'6'' course, but if they were a foot bigger (apart from me not having the skill and him not having the canter
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) then even in our current tackle he would not be sensitive enough to my aids to be accurate enough to jump that height... if that makes sense!!
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Also remember that these combinations are not always used week in week out and depends on the class. Hickstead and puissances are unique classes with very big fences.
Alot of these combinations are specially made for horse and are very expensive and unique.
 
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I seem to remember a while ago there was an article in H&H about bens Bit. It was one of those 1/3 page thingis on "what is that"



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Blimey - I didn't think H&H normally covered that sort of material - I thought that kind of stuff was reserved for late night tv?!
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LOl.... don't I have such a wonderful turn of phrase.....
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