From: AS.GGG@forsythe.stanford.edu (Gwyn Gordon)
Subject: re: mechanical hackamores
Organization: Stanford University, California, USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 21:17:24 GMT

>'Fraid not, Gwyn.  You and I are just bound to disagree over training methods
>and what constitutes proper schooling and competing.  I tend to believe
>in the dressage concept that you school the horse properly and when you
>show them they will do what you ask.  Many dressage horses get very
>high at competitions, yet they still are asked to compete (if lower
>than 4th level) in a mild snaffle bit.  An "I" level judge I once
>talked to said that he felt that Grand Prix horses should also be
>required to compete in a snaffle.  The reason for this is to assess
>the horse's obedience to the aids.  I have also done a little jumping
>and feel very much that if the bit you compete in would
desensitize
>the horse if used daily then it is the wrong bit for that horse.
>Ultimately the problem is that the horse is ignoring or resisting
>your aids something that must be corrected with proper training
>and schooling using the equipment you will use in the show ring.

>More often than not if the horse resists the bit then either the
>riders hands are unsteady or rough, or the bit is uncomfortable for
>the horse.
>
>                                Tracy and everybody


You're right: we disagree.  This last statement ignores the fact
that a horse has a past, and one that may or may not be ideal. If
you came across a 15-year-old jumper that had tons of talent but had
been misused in the past, would you put it out to pasture because it
wouldn't do the jumpers in a hollow snaffle?

Horses do not only resist bits because of the current rider's
hands, or because of a bit that is uncomfortable.  Horses learn by
rote:  they memorize situations and cues and respond to them.
Sometimes, unfortunately, they are "taught" the wrong thing by
inexperienced or inconsistent riders.  Once they learn, they learn
forever, or at least for a long, long time.  You know how hard it is
to break a horse of a bad habit.  It's not because they're being bad
or even stubborn...it's because they learn that way, and they have
to unlearn just as slowly and consistently.

What I mean to point out is that it's easy to say "ultimately the
problem is that the horse is ignoring or resisting your aids...."
Yes, of course that's the problem.  And the IDEAL is to have every
horse going around on the bit, lightly, with split-second reaction
times to our every whim.  But the reality is that not all horses
have had perfect lives, and lots of horses need different schooling
aids to teach them to do it the right way, here and now.

I agree with your idea that all dressage horses, regardless of
level, should be shown in snaffles. It would really separate out the
ones that are truly responsive. But then again, it would also
eliminate some of those horses who have a little extra "brilliance"
that needs to be corrected once in a while. (This is out of my
league, not being a dressage person, I'm just bringing it up as an
interesting issue. I'd like to hear what other Netfolks have to say
about it. Especially after the Olympics -- what bits were being
used there? Where the top-ten-types using all sorts of bizarre
bits? Or are snaffles the norm at this highest level?)

As to whether horses are different at shows than at home, well, if
you believe that they are exactly the same that's fine. Again, we
disagree. If you can compete with the same bit you use at home,
that's great, but I don't think it makes it "right." Especially with
the outrageous variety of horses, riders, competitions and attitudes
out there.

Um, I think it's good that different philosphies can coexist in the
same sport. It's not so easy in a sport like, say, football, where
you do it the accepted way or you don't get recruited.  I'm glad for
a Net where we can all challenge each other's opinions -- it makes
me THINK.

Can we quit now? Thinking is tiring.

-gwyn.gordon@forsythe.stanford.edu
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian