From: tracy@scoraz.resp-sci.arizona.edu (Tracy Scheinkman)
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: re: mechanical hackamores
Date: 15 Aug 92 10:02:16 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ


In Article 8241 in rec.equestrian: dbwebe@bb1t.monsanto.com writes:

>>Tracy writes:
>> I applaud the communication comment.  But if you are communicating so
>> well then why are (were) you using a mechanical hackamore only in competition??
>> My thought is you should be able to compete well in whatever you use
>> to school at home and if you can't then something is wrong with your
>> schooling or communications.
>> 
>> 				Tracy and Bruce (beautiful man) and


>	This is true of most competitive riding events, but not in
>	performance 'speed' events. A competitor riding barrels on 
>	a national level will normally ride their animal at home in 
>	a variety of "low control" hackamores and bits that encourage
>	bending. Sidepassing, rollbacks, two tracking, circle work 
>	(including corkscrews and tipping the nose in and out of the circle 
>	etc.), are common exercises done when not in competition (as well as
>	conditioning work, of course). The horses who are winning or placing 
>	these days are those that have been trained to run the pattern on
>	their own with little assistance, HOWEVER, it is common practice
>	to ride with headgear that affords greater control in competition
>	than when in practice. When you are heading at a stationary object
>	at 30 mph 3 times in ~16 or so seconds, it is important to have 
>	a great deal of control if needed. These days, barrel racing is
>	so competitive, one bauble can cost you hundreds, and sometimes
>	thousands of dollars.

	Back when I was barrel racing my first horse, we rode in whatever 
I happened to be using on the trail at the moment.  At different times
that meant a mild Western curb bit, a mechanical hackamore, and a
bosal.  I noticed no difference in my mare's performance based on
any of those head gear choices and we cleaned up on the local barrel
races I entered (which was limited to those I could ride her to as
I didn't have a trailer nor did I know anyone with a trailer).  My
point here is that many things are said to be true because that is
what people are doing now.  So and so wins a big purse and they school
in a snaffle and race in a curb bit and everyone thinks that must be
the right way to do it.  Many speed sports, Thoroughbred racing for
example, tend to use the same head gear when schooling as when racing.
It may take several tries to see what works best for a particular horse
but when they find it that is what they stick with.  I dare say cutters,
who require much in the way of the same agility and speed as barrel 
racers tend to use the same head gear when practicing as when performing. 
Certainly eventers try to use the same head gear, though it differs
depending on which section of the event they are doing, and that is most
assuredly a 'speed' performance event.  
	While you will always find a few people who will change head gear 
from practice to performance you should not assume that all people 
competing do the same or even that it is the best way to compete.

					Tracy and everybody 
 
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian