From: tracy@scoraz.resp-sci.arizona.edu (Tracy Scheinkman)
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: re: full bridles
Date: 12 Nov 92 23:17:10 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ


	There are many rules regarding EXACTLY what bits and bridles
are allowed for dressage horses at certain levels.  From Training
level (what I ride right now) to 3rd level the requirement is for
an ordinary snaffle bridle, no double bridles allowed, and the
snaffle must be of one of the approved types with a mouthpiece of
at least a certain thickness (I think it's 1/4" or 3/8") to prevent
the use of thin painful bits, and the mouthpiece must be all of
one metal or alloy (the cheeks may be a different metal) no mixed
copper and steel or whatever bits.  There are only certain types
of nosebands permitted, an ordinary caveson, a flash caveson,
a grackle or cross noseband, and a crescent noseband are allowed,
no tack or rope nosebands are permitted.  All of this is designed
to encourage the rider of a young horse to train the horse properly
in the basics and to get REAL bit acceptance before moving on to
the higher levels.
	The double bridle is only permitted at 4th level and higher
(Prix St. George through Grand Prix).  And again the type of bits and
the length of shanks and thickness of bit are strictly controlled.  The 
reason the double bridle is required at these levels is because of tradition.  
Dressage developed out of military training techniques, these military units
most commonly used the double bridle, thus the double bridle used in upper
level dressage.  This information was told to me by Dr. Max Gahwyler, "I" 
dressage judge.  In his opinion dressage should require the upper level rider 
to do the tests using only a standard snaffle bridle with no whip and no spurs 
as too many riders he sees rely on these pieces of equipment too much and 
therefore haven't trained the horse properly.  His own Hannoverian stallions 
are schooled by him at Grand Prix level using only a standard snaffle bridle.
(By the way he still takes lessons twice a week with two different 
instructors.)
	I have seen a wonderful pair of riders at some local schooling
shows here doing 4th level and Prix St. George tests, hor de concors,
which means for no score, using only a standard snaffle bridle.  Their
horses really showed true bit acceptance and tremendous willingness without
the cramped neck that we so often see in a horse that has been stuffed
into a full bridle too early in its training.  There is also one upper
level test, the Prix St. James test, which is not done very often at
shows, that requires the rider to use a standard snaffle bridle.
	Finally, the difference that often confuses saddleseat riders
about dressage vs. saddleseat riding is that the saddleseat style
asks the horse to back off the bit in order to achieve the light response
that the saddleseat rider seeks.  As a result a saddleseat horse often
has a great deal of trouble switching to dressage where not only is the
back required to be round instead of inverted, but the horse which had
up till that time been taught to back off the bit is now asked to go
on contact with head lower and stretch down into the bit.  This is not
meant to be a flame just to explain the difference.

				Tracy and Bruce (beautiful man) and
				Cachet (7 year old Arabian mare, mother
				of Mithril) and Mithril (2 year old 
				Arabian filly) and The Cats