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Post by jennifer2 on Mar 21, 2003 10:30:23 GMT -5
How about "Won a lot"  |
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Post by jennifer2 on Mar 21, 2003 10:37:22 GMT -5
Your horses don't like bits? I think that may be akin to mine not liking fences.
My Shire neighbor in Gaston has an old mare that GRABS the bit- turns her head to take it- she LOVES to work.
Have you had their teeth checked? (I know you have). Do any of your horses have bit seats (a la Dr. Deb)?
I'm thinking about getting that done for Aramis. He has wolfy teeth and he slurps when he drinks.
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Post by Einstein on Mar 21, 2003 10:54:04 GMT -5
Jennifer, do you make bits now? I'm looking for a specific bit, but was quoted $200 for it from a bit maker. Just wondering, if not maybe you know some one who does. Bits facinate me, but I'm still a die hard snaffle fan ;D
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Post by jennifer2 on Mar 21, 2003 11:08:12 GMT -5
$200 is a LOT for any snaffle- unless it's hinged and made out of silver... I haven't made any bits yet, and my first few will NOT be Darnell quality! I plan to start simple- with leather covered mulleins- and then progress to after market modifications on various snaffles as I need them. If you want something simple and the rings are what's getting you cannabalize an old bit- You could have someone weld a bar mouthpiece onto a pair of full-cheek rings, for instance, and wrap it with seal-tex and have a full cheek rubber mullein mouth that you KNOW your horse can't chew through for- depending on your welder (I'm married to mine!) maybe just the cost of the seal-tex. I haven't got links down yet- check this out- looks like the prototypical Myler to me! I've seen this bit in real life (not this EXACT bit, but this style), which may be why I think the Mylers are frauds. They didn't "invent" anything but a marketing plan. cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2718222293 |
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Post by jennifer2 on Mar 21, 2003 11:09:49 GMT -5
Just like it dicks around with the words
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Post by Einstein on Mar 21, 2003 11:32:13 GMT -5
I was looking for a Nathe mouth D ring snaffle in a 5 1/2. I was told that would be $200! I do wrap some bits in Seltex, because they do chew through the rubber and I hate that, but I loff the rubber mouth bits. Plus Seltex isn't as think as some rubber bits. Another of my favorite bits was a D ring with a curb chain mouth. I loffed that bit for Nate because he's very heavy in front and can lug on the bit very hard. This bit won't let him do that, and is very mild. We are working on lightening up his front end and unfortunately, that bit was stolen  The only downfall to it was you had very little lateral steering so the horse had to be well broke to go in it. |
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Post by jennifer2 on Mar 21, 2003 14:55:53 GMT -5
oversized D-rings. I like the chain mouth too. OTTs have almost never had that bit so they don't have "circuits" to evade it. I start with the chain then gradually wrap from outside in as they progress, eventually swapping to a jointed snaffle. My chain bit right now in fact has just the middle link exposed- waiting for Tina to come to Alaska I guess. Toklat's Hunter D-ring 5 1/2" WHOLEsales for $14.95. I have the dealer's catalog in anticipation of opening a tack shop. Any Toklat prices you want just let me know-  - I'll help you keep your local dealers in line. A 100% mark-up is considered standard in the tack industry now. Retail in general, a few years back anyway, standard mark-up was 40%. There's a guy here who sells English bridles that wholesale at about $12 each for $49.95 in his shop- uh HELLO NOODLEHEAD!- 400% mark-up is flat out of control. "Thems hangin' words." |
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Post by jennifer2 on Mar 21, 2003 14:57:45 GMT -5
I'm clueless.
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Post by Vida on Mar 21, 2003 15:10:57 GMT -5
Jen West! I didn't know that was you - hope you're doing well. There's a couple of reasons I stopped using bits. Ottb's tend to lean and be hard to stop when they're fresh (if you haven't done your groundwork properly which is usually my case!) so if you take the take the bit out of the mouth they don't have anything to lean on and are easier to ride. On the other hand, my slug horse who is a slowpoke in the arena is much more fluid and forward without a bit. I just got used to not using one and like the feel of it better than using one. I can't stop a runaway horse anyway with a bit so I figure I have nothing to lose! Also keep in mind that I always ride alone so I don't have the hassle of trying to keep a horse back from another one. Plus I use the same bridle on everyone so just go from horse to horse without having to get a different bridle or bit. Two of them had their teeth done by a professional dentist last year and I still have the other one to be done yet.
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Post by Einstein on Mar 21, 2003 16:26:41 GMT -5
The Nathe mouth is like a happy mounth plasic, same color, but different material and does not break and can't be chewed through like a rubber snaffle. It's also not as think as a rubber smaffle, so it seems to fit Nate's mouth better, even though he's an enourmous ISH ;D It's a cool bit but not made in a D ring or that big without it being custom and I wouldn't use it enought to justify the $200 ;D
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Post by jennifer2 on Mar 22, 2003 19:53:00 GMT -5
Get the mouthpiece you want, get a bit with the rings you want. Putting new rings on the mouthpiece shouldn't be a big deal (Putting a new mouthpiece on the rings might--- the difference is DON'T cut the mouth at the rings, cut the rings off).
Some D rings are even made with hingies where the curve meets the straight part at either end of the ring; I'm SURE it's doable.
Try asking at your local college or trade school? Or maybe a jeweler or starving artist type instead of a Bit Maker(tadadada dum).
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Post by jennifer2 on Mar 22, 2003 20:07:03 GMT -5
I've often wondered myself about our reliance on bits- I've been run away with and seriously injured, and that horse was in a curb that could have stopped a freight train (I was young. It was his bridle). Pat Parelli says, basically, that your horse will ask for a bit when he's ready, and he'll ask for a curb when he's ready for that. I think so too. I finally have my round pen set up right by my house- I've got so lazy (and old and sore) that my new plan is to go out and do games with my horses, one at a time, bb in a halter and lead, mostly because my riding seems to deteriorate over the winters (I need to ride EVERY day to get fitter and fitter, eh) and the whole saddle thing lets me tense up and scrunch and such. I need to FIX it. I also catch myself two-reining sometimes and we know where that goes eventually. Dancer's only been ridden three times and she isn't in a bit at all yet, and Aramis finds his hollow mouth too comfortable sometimes and I PULL on him (one rein at a time, but so what) sometimes and I'm thinking the BEST way to do this is going to be to bit him up and work him from the ground where I can watch and get him forward and I won't scrunch because I'll be on the ground so it won't hurt (I'm soooooooo ooooooold this week- next week will be better) and then RIDE him in one of the fine rope halters I have just for that purpose. THEN if I get crabby and PULL on his burrowing head I won't be in his MOUTH. Also, if I try to pull him around in a halter when he ignores me it won't do any good- I'll be FORCED to take the higher ground and connect. DO YOU PULL THE WOLF TEETH? Don't you shoe your own? HOW do you make the shoes stay ON? !!!! |
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Post by Vida on Mar 22, 2003 20:22:07 GMT -5
Hee hee, your body sounds like mine! I don't know anything about teeth and leave that to the dentist but I know he hasn't pulled any. Yep, I trim my own but don't shoe. I spend more time trimming than riding these days and wish I could find a farrier that could take over for me but I don't like the way any of them trim.
I agree that we're too reliant on bits and gadgets. These days, if I don't have the horses attention, I just don't get on as I'm too tired and not as flexible anymore to fight him for it once I'm up there. I get off more these days if things aren't going right and fix it on the ground instead of from the saddle like I used to.
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Post by Christina on Mar 22, 2003 20:45:15 GMT -5
I think that it's helping that I have NO tack at this point, and have been walking him around bareback with the rope halter. Sometimes he acts like he's going to fight the bit - realizes that there isnt one, and then just does what I ask. (like walk towards the scary corner of the paddock.) There's just nothing there for him to fight against. I'm sure there's a proper way to ride with the rope halter - I just dont know it. Right now I just tie the other end of the lead rope to the bottom loops.
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Post by Vida on Mar 22, 2003 20:55:59 GMT -5
It's easy when they have nothing to fight against! Those rope halters they ride in have knots tied at certain pressure points on the head and face so they're not as mild as you think.
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The only downfall to it was you had very little lateral steering so the horse had to be well broke to go in it. 
- I'll help you keep your local dealers in line.
