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Post by Lynne on Mar 9, 2003 19:51:15 GMT -5
do you use? Just curious. I've had Crazy far too long to only have done less than ten rides but we went for a long one today. Of course,when I went to catch her she did the rip from one side of the field and back again thing several times, bucking and leaping and chasing dogs , before she finally walked up to me and went "okay, what's up?". We did a long (for us) ride and even did some small (like the size of a pinky toe nail) ride through the woods and she crossed through mud, went over a small creek and was so so so sane despite her lunatic antics in the field. Anyway, I have an "arab/cob" bridle (cheap one from stateline) that is still too big for her. The bit bobs in her mouth, literally. I like the fact that she will let me ride her in it and that I never have to put any contact in her mouth really, but I sort of would like something that would fit better. AND!!! When are you coming this way for a ride? There's a CTR in Big South Fork each spring....wontcha come do it?  |
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Post by chrisnstar on Mar 9, 2003 23:31:44 GMT -5
Arabs are so hard to fit for bridles! They have really wide foreheads so need horse size brow bands, but their faces are so much smaller than other horses, that every bridle must be taken up a lot! I use biothane bridles on my horses for distance riding and ease of cleaning... but I've had a terrible time getting really good fits. Believe it or not, one of the best fitting bridles I ever put on Star was a cheap black leather raised snaffle bridle from Jeffers. I think the bridle and reins together cost less than $30. But, it fit! The best fit on Zab has come from our local farmer's coop that sells a limited amount of tack.. they have some nylon braided tack.. I bought a headstall there and it fits him pretty well... The biothane bridles you see in our pictures, I've made some homemade adjustments to so they'll fit better. Distance riders are forever tinkering with tack, LOL... Here's some links to some places where I shop for stuff.. they have bridles in beta, biothane and other good stuff... The Distance Depot www.thedistancedepot.com/cgi-local/store/commerce.cgi?product=PacksLong Riders Gear www.longridersgear.com/Sportack www.sportack.com/sportstore/chris |
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Post by chrisnstar on Mar 9, 2003 23:33:22 GMT -5
Oh... Lynne.. .the CTR at Big South Fork is a NATRC ride.. I don't do those.. too many rules, LOL... but there is an endurance ride there in the fall. I've really been wanting to go to it, but something always comes up. I have several good friends from Tennessee who I want to party with at that ride! And it would for sure be fun to see you...
chris
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Post by Smay on Mar 10, 2003 15:30:07 GMT -5
>..If a cob size bridle doesn't adjust short enough for your arab to correctly carry the bit, you MIGHT try getting a "Pony" size bridle and then MAYBE adding a horse sized browband to that, or just removing the browband alltogether. I bought a very inexpensive little dressage bridle in size PONY for Twister, and it has lots of adjustment room in the cheeks...it also had the correctly sized caveson and throatlatch... (short enough for a short head) If the browband was too short for a wide-headed arab...you could just remove it or substitute it...I bet that would work... a cob bridle is pretty small...so your horsie must have a tiny head and maybe Pony would fit!
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Post by Lynne on Mar 10, 2003 16:44:23 GMT -5
Thanks for the links chris and hey Smay....
First , Chris, I know this is really really dumb but can you give me the abbridged dummie version of the difference between CTR and an NATRC ride? I thought the NATRC rides were CTR's. Shows what I know.
SMay, good idea! And I think I have a brand new pony bridle that I bought by accident a couple of years ago. Now if I can just track it down and switch brow bands it just might work. Another dumb question, does a pony bridle have shorter reins than a "normal " bridle. I know, you'd think I could just measure them! But why would I do that? :loon:
And, SMay, are you getting that gorgeous pony? Are ya? Are Ya?
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Post by chrisnstar on Mar 10, 2003 18:28:13 GMT -5
You're not a dummy at all, LOL.. .it is a bit complicated.. .. NATRC is a CTR organization, one of many CTR sanctioning groups in the world. They play by a little bit different rules than the rest of the groups.. it's not good or bad, just different...
In my CTR organization and most of them, the ride is a judged ride, based on the horse' s fitness. period. In NATRC, they also judge you on obstacles out on the trail.. real and made up obstacles, they judge you on your riding and horsemanship, kind of like a trail horse class in the woods, LOL... and they ride at a slower pace than many other groups.
My group sets 5 to 6 mph pace rides, for 15 or 30 miles. NATRC novice rides are abotu 3.5 mph... my horses would go bonkers that slow! Their open class rides are faster.
It's just a different philosophy between NATRC and other groups. They are a fine organization, I just have my hands full and wallet empty doing the rides I already do...
chris
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Post by Lynne on Mar 10, 2003 18:51:56 GMT -5
I gotcha! You see, I knew all that about them judging everything from obstacles to tack to how you handled your horse while camping, and to be honest that was the part that scared me a little...lol. I only beat them because they deserve it ;D Seriously, it just felt like a whole lot to concentrate on at one time. I'm nervouse enough in front of a bunch of people I don't know.
One day I'll have a truck and trailer.....one day....maybe....can't these letters get smaller and fade to black?
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