>>>> My goal is really to be able to ride this horse and feel like I have >>>> some control.
How do you feel about the thought that control can come from the mind (maybe mind meeting mind) and that a bit may not be the best way to control a horse? I think it's in the training. If you endeavor to "teach" the horse and he "learns", then you have accomplished something that will be with him lifelong. If he goes to a trainer who forces him to "behave" by mechanical means, he's not "learning". Possible he's even gathering physical and mental strength to fight that type of constraint in the future. >>>He is really quite responsive with the snaffle, but he hates the dropped >>>noseband even though I am keeping it very loose. Why use it? Have you read up on dropped nosebands and the mechanics? Also, did you see the recent video about possible problems from nosebands around the under jaw from tooth roots? Maybe he has a problem in that area, or possibly he has suffered in the past from the noseband and it's a memory that he can't shake. >>>I would love to show this horse in a tolt class as he does that very >>>naturally and without shoes or weights. Oh, great! Can you get a video for us? Judy http://iceryder.net http://clickryder.com
