Comments on: Blood in the Mouth – Is it Ever OK for the Horse? https://theridinginstructor.net/blood-in-the-mouth-ever-ok-horse/ For those who teach and those who learn Sat, 24 Jul 2021 23:34:31 +0000 hourly 1 By: TheRidingInstructor https://theridinginstructor.net/blood-in-the-mouth-ever-ok-horse/#comments/33979 Sat, 03 Dec 2016 14:54:35 +0000 http://theridinginstructor.net/?p=1741#comment-33979 In reply to Major Roger Hanington.

Dear Roger,

I agree with you so thoroughly on this topic. I am always teaching students that you don’t control the horse with the reins. Sometimes I picture how my students think and certain ones seem to automatically think reins first and everything else second. Unfortunately for the horse, horses are kind and adaptable. If they treated us like we treat them we’d all be maimed and injured. And the horse is extremely forgiving. We’ve all come through a process of development in our riding ideas and were all ignorant at one time or another. And our horses have forgiven us and they continue to try to please.

This web site exists to help instructors teach students the correct way to ride and care for animals. Ultimately the undergirding goal of my writing is to help the horse. The horse is one of God’s most special creatures.

Thanks for commenting and it’s good to hear from you. Barbara

]]> By: Major Roger Hanington https://theridinginstructor.net/blood-in-the-mouth-ever-ok-horse/#comments/33978 Sat, 03 Dec 2016 14:08:31 +0000 http://theridinginstructor.net/?p=1741#comment-33978 It is appalling what some insensitive people will do to try to win. You might remember my recent views on severe bits. I reiterate that in my view there is never a case for a “stronger bit”. You cannot make a horse stop (or slow) if it does not wish to. You can only indicate to the horse that you wish him to. Therefore there is no point in using any greater force on the horse’s mouth and upsetting him. One should just use repeated signals to the horse, not more severe signals. (Having said that, I confess that I have done it, but that was before I learned better.) Those who work successfully with bitless bridles make my point. In recent years there has become a fashion for Flash nosebands; and it is largely a fashion. No doubt the horse named Flash needed one and there may be others but very few. And if a horse does open his mouth it does not necessarily imply that he has to have it strapped shut for appearances sake.

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