This message is from: "Warren Stockwell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Now all will know my lack of knowledge in the show ring. my experience is pretty limited so this conversation is very interesting but a "bit" over my head. Probably shouldn't even pipe in : ) I got my riding knowledge from the school of hard knocks. In other words the horse thought me. I did take some lessons as I got older. I learned to work WITH the horse, not against. I was also told that the bit is a tool for fine tuning not controlling. I was told that if you cannot ride the horse without the bit you have more training to do. I learned that if you have to use a bit to stop, you need to stop! I learned that it is a complement if you can get what you want with the less or no bit. So I have always thought that I should ride and show in the bit that is the least but most complementary to the performance. I know that this is not the reality. I just don't understand how/why some one judging the performance who knows not my horse, should have a say in what equipment works best for my horse. Other than abuse issues. With all the knowledge on this list maybe I can get cleared up on this. However it may not change my way of doing things. So when you see me (or my poor daughter) riding with the wrong bit, it's cuz I generally get the best performance with that equipment. And honestly I don't know any better : ) Roberta MN
