we would consider a training session. A training session usually means that we're going to
incorporate some type of a snaffle bit. If we were taking her to the show ring, there
would probably be a different bit, something a little more competitive, shank style. But
we always like to work with our horses in the most simple method here at home.
So I
have here a snaffle bit. It does though incorporate some leverage, which gives me a curb chain
so that I can talk about and describe some of the different parts as we bridle. I'm going
to take this horse's halter off, and let it be free of her so she can't step in it, I'll
place her rings around her neck. I have the advantage that I know this horse is going
to be a quiet and easy horse to bridle.
If I had something more difficult, I might have
to be in the enclosed area of a stall perhaps. But I don't want to keep her tied, because
if she were to pull back with that around her neck, it may frighten her enough to put
me in some kind of harm. My bridle needs to be positioned. I like to do this in this fashion.
There are a number of ways to bridle a horse, this just happens to work best for me and
for the students that I work with.
It's positioned, so everything is straight and ready to apply.
I take my right hand and I stroke her nose gently. It not only makes it a pleasant experience,
but it kind of tells her she needs to stay right here within my arm. Then I can replace
my right hand with my left, which continues to put a little pressure on her, just enough,
and then I inch this up to her mouth. Sometimes horses are reluctant to open their mouth,
and my right thumb is positioned in a spot where I can easily get her to open her mouth
as I bring that bit up.
I have to share, she had her teeth floated yesterday, which she's
usually real easy and drops her nose right in there, I think she still feels and is reminded
of that procedure. Once we have the bit in place, and it fits her well, I've got two
things I need to consider. I have a throat latch strap that's going to go fastened here
behind her jaw, and we're going to put that in place in a loose way so that I can still
get a hand in there. And then my curb chain needs to be lying flat.
So I may have to twist
it to create a flat shape there against her jaw. This is what provides the leverage to
any bit that has any kind of what we call a shank to it. So this bit requiring a little
bit of leverage, I'm going to use a curb chain as I put this in place. So with that I check
my keepers, make sure everything is neat and tidy, take my reins up, and we're ready to
go on and start our session..
No comments:
Post a Comment