From: tracy@scoraz.resp-sci.arizona.edu (Tracy Scheinkman)
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: re: schooling vs. competition (was:mechanical hackamores
Date: 19 Aug 92 06:50:02 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

In Article 8280 deblev@nimoy.ipac.caltech.edu (Debbie Levine) writes:

>I think that the question of whether or not the horse and rider
>compete with the same bitting they school with is an individual choice.
>Even dressage riders don't necessarily use the SAME bitting, they just
>have to make sure it is one of the permissible snaffles.
	
	I know of no one personally that is doing this.  As to those
that do, see the note below.

>In fact, I have heard that some upper-level dressage riders school
>their young horses at home in a double and spend their training to
>fourth level time praying the horse won't figure out that the brakes
>got left home.  I've also heard that some riders won't bring a horse
>out until they can use a double. 

	And they are doing the training improperly and as a result it
is VERY obvious at the upper levels.  Dr. Rolf Vlatten an "I" level
dressage judge who does a column for our local Tucson Dressage Club
newsletter says that it is easy to detect.  I quote him from our
August Newsletter 
	"A large championship dressage show found some
disappointed competitors because their scores were below the 
expected level.  Judges from Europe and The United States with
considerable experience were responsible for these scores.
	"Nearly without exception the negative judgements were based
on the fact that the horses appeared to be distressed and restricted
by severe rein action and showed the probable use of drawreins during
their training.  The horses were restricted in the freedom of motion
of the shoulder joints while lacking engagement and impulsion for the
higher level tests.
	"There are no short cuts.  The training of a dressage horse
takes time.  True collection can not be created with the reins or
with drawreins.
	"Judges want to see horses with engagement and impulsion on
light rein contact with a swinging back and without resistance.  Then
you will see high scores."  
	The same applies to using improper bitting. 
 
>I would agree that it would be IDEAL if every horse and every rider 
>could safely and happily do anything anytime in a fat snaffle, BUT

	I do not feel that every horse should go on a fat snaffle, as
matter of fact in another post I point out that a fat snaffle can be
a very uncomfortable bit for most horses.  A horse must have a very
roomy mouth in order to wear one comfortably.  However there is no
reason why a horse that is doing well on one bit should be switched
to another simply because it is at a show.  If the horse gets hyper
bring it to a show to simply watch and get used to the surroundings
no pressure.  Many dressage people do that with their young horses.

>And, a horse that gets carried away cross-country (and MOST horses
>find it pretty exciting)  is a lot more dangerous than a horse that
>gets carried away in the dressage arena.  Most eventers use more bit
>for cross country than dressage, many use more bit for cross country
>than stadium, and many more use the cross-country bitting for stadium
>at an event but not at home. 

	Yes, however they school cross-country in those same bits, and
they school stadium in the bit they have picked for stadium, at least
the eventers I have talked to here do that.  You raise some interesting
questions perhaps some others on the group would like to comment also.

					Tracy and everybody