SCENARIOS

1. An Event Horse who is very fast across country and most of the time virtually out of control, middle aged, fit and in good health with good conformation.

I watched both riders ride their Horses months apart on different un-related yards. I watched the Horses work listened to what the riders had to say and the description of how the Horses went across country. We spent an hour or more discussing the sort of feel the riders needed on the end of the rein and chose Bits to suit, and then spent time fitting and transitioning the Horses into the new Bit and riding them away to see if we had made any improvement. In both cases the Horses lightened in the Bridles relaxed their jaws and a lot of the muscled structure in the head neck and chest. This was carried out in Walk and Trot and Canter in outdoor schools under controlled conditions. Both Riders said what a difference it felt to ride their Horses who felt much lighter to the hand and appeared to go in a much softer and lighter way.

At this point I stressed that the Bit was an aid to make the Horse more comfortable giving much clearer signals and improving the communication and there fore control. But I said that in my opinion if a Horse runs over fences it is not a natural thing to do they are not silly and don't want to intentionally hurt them selves the fact that they are almost out of control has to probably indicate that the Horse is not thinking clearly. A Horse works on repetition if is has been allowed through training to get stronger and stronger it thinks that all cross country has to be jumped very fast. It is not until you possibly change equipment and then school the Horse into a better way of going cross country so that over time the Horse goes more steadily that you can make an improvement.

At the end of a Bitting session I always say the same thing " if I was you I would spend time working the Horse on the flat and allow the muscles that have held it so tensely for months possibly years to relax and build into a new sustainable frame. Don't jump straight away allow the Horse time to come out every day and work in this new lighter way and then introduce jumping gradually and steadily so that the Horse no longer rushes". And "time" if the Horse has been going in a particular way for months or years can mean months of re training.

The interpretation:

Rider 1 a semi professional rider teaching and competing her own and other peoples Horses, rang after three days and said she had been cross country schooling and the Horse was brilliant over the first few fences and then had got stronger and stronger could I suggest any other Bit. I was speechless I thought I had genuinely had a good reaction to all my suggestions and there was no doubt that the Horse on the school had gone beautifully. I said to the rider that she had told me this was the Horses last chance and did she not think that time and schooling should have been her way forward. She told me the Horse was entered into a competition which I already knew and had suggested if the Horse eventually went very well it had years left to compete, that to pull it out of one competition for the greater good might be a good idea. She had a poor attitude to my suggestions and appeared on reflection to have not after all understood any of my day with her.

Rider 2 a younger rider with possibly fewer years of experience doing her own Horses at home. This is what she sent me: I would just like to say a massive thank you for your help as the new bits have transformed my life!!!! and I think the horses are happy too!!! I must admit it has taken a long time training in the bits but things really have improved not to say the least I actually now can control my strong Horse. The difference is amazing please look at the attached photo and do not have a heart attack as YES she did go Show Jumping and Cross country in her dressage legal hanging snaffle!!!!! Double clear, inside the time & 9th!!!!

To me there was no real difference in these two Horses only the riders' attitude and perception of what a change in Bit will do and their commitment to the Horse and to change things through good training and riding. I hope this has been interesting to read and has made a point I am not in the trade to just sell bits and hope they work, it has to part of a process where there is commitment on all sides. On my part do as good a job as I can with the given circumstances and from the Riders and Owners part to use the information and equipment wisely for the good of the Horse.

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