The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread NINE

See our "who's who" page! ^

[Beaker]

By no means is it easy to stay balanced on a horse, and I'm not trying to nag or preach to you or knock you down, but are you working with your trainer to develop a more independent seat? I only ask because in the long run it will be easier on you and your horse, and it's a great confidence booster. No one will have any fun if you're knocking eachother out of balance! :-)

[Beaker]

It certainly does neither one of you any good if you're sawing away on a snaffle. It'll p!ss both of you off! Were you riding Bay in the kimberwicke up until now?

[HairOfTheDog]

Yeah - I got the Kimberwick last year as a step up from the regular snaffle. It was better, He'll come down with it, and he doesn't ~bolt~ on me ever, he just gets strong, and we end up "sawing", like you said. When we were Hackamore shopping for ecurbh, I decided to give it a try for me too. It's not real proper in English tack, but I've still got my Kimberwick on days I want to look proper and collected ;~D.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Whoa!!!!!! Big/Good surprise at the end of 24 tonight:)

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

I hear! I'm still an hour and 45 from the start! ~impatient~

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I'd rather use a strong bit softly than a soft bit strongly.

Me too. I'm just not liking the way his head is coming up with the bit I've been using. I've been reading that that kimberwicke I posted lowers the head if the reins are in the bottom hole. But I have wondered about the amount of stop I'd have with it.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

I'm kind of teaching myself and if I get stumped on something I find her. The difficulty is a little physical too. I have a messed up pelvis which causes one leg a little shorter than the other. It's not noticable on the ground unless I'm tired but it sure is on a horse. I tend to be hip heavy on one side but I've learned with a little adjustment to compensate. Also, I'm short so my arms are short. It's very easy to get in the habit of sliding back and forth on the reins instead of taking my arm forward which gets tiring. So.. I "dork" tie. I stop at the knot:')

[HairOfTheDog]

There isn't a ~lot~ of leverage with the kimberwick if he tends to pull back, but I'd call it medium. Do you ride with a noseband? A noseband clamping him shut gives you more leverage, but I don't like that for all day on trail, I don't think it's comfortable for him...

[Duchess47]

I love the flower graphic.

Well, you'll beat me to retirement, I won't make it until July of 07.

[Duchess47]

I love the flower graphic.

Well, you'll beat me to retirement, I won't make it until July of 07.

[Duchess47]

Why don't you like Tom Thumb bits?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I think they feel stiff. It's probably just me. It's been years since I've tried one. LOL, I think I ride a little better now then I did back when I used one. I might have a change of heart now:)

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

UUMMMM, I'm with you, I wouldn't use a noseband. I'm sorry, I just think those things are horrible. I guess we all have our prejudices:).

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

It's very easy to get in the habit of sliding back and forth on the reins instead of taking my arm forward which gets tiring. So.. I "dork" tie. I stop at the knot:')

You shouldn't fear adjusting the reins back and forth. Different gaits, different levels of tension or collection, and different situations all have need for different rein length. I don't like 'stop a the knot'. Better to learn how to feel the right amount of contact than be stuck with some arbitrary setting.

[HairOfTheDog]

They're OK to keep them from opening to avoid the bit in schooling. It's just not appropriate to be clamped tight all day. I left it rather loose so Bay could easily move his mouth and drink. So in that case, it's purely cosmetic.

[Beaker]

How do you mean, sliding back and forth on the reins?

[CindyDawg]

Fear? Ha:'). I've got room to slide back and forth. I go too fsr back though and it is hard to rein them in when you need to. For me anyway. Too much slack. The point past the knot is too far for me to have good control. Hard to explain. Maybe someday I'll show you.

[CindyDawg]

I keep my hand in front of the horn. Probably a mid contact point. I extend my arm a little to give her slack sometimes sliding a little back on the reins. You do it different?

[Duchess47]

I used to ride my mare in a Tom Thumb is why I asked. To be honest, I never paid much attention to it since I neck rein but use my legs mostly. Riding Dusty, (which is very seldom now) I use a D-ring snaffle.

It is really just curiousity on my part I guess. I used to ride years ago with a bosal which I liked but Lady (my old mare) had at one time been trained for western pleasure and with a bosal her head went down to her knees. I hated that.

[CindyDawg]

Hello