Twisted Wire Snaffle?

[Carl Russell]

It has been said, and I agree, being there makes all the difference. Although you are novices, and you acknowledge your lack of experience, make sure you maintain ownership of the process. It is my firm belief that we gain nothing by letting others drive and handle our horses. Even if you may think that it will give them a better idea of how your horses are acting, it will do nothing for advancing your understanding.

One of my most important mentors ALWAYS says, “I’m not going to hold your hand!”. Have your mentors watch you, and try to educate you to try the solutions they come up with.

Through it all, protect your animals, and your relationship with them, and be brave enough to process the new perspectives before you put anything new into action. This is a big part of the being in control energy that you need to show to your animals. It’s all the time. Just the way I see it. Carl

[Does’ Leap]

thanks again for all the great feedback we have had. A lot of it is so loaded with thoughtful information we get more out of it going back and reading again….and we talked today that maybe our lazy-bum horse is causing more problems than we first thought..anyway we had another good day out today and we are thus far leaving the twisted snaffle on the mantle piece. I’ll let you know how saturday goes..if anyone can make it up here we’d love to have you!

Also -I am interested in Don’s comments on doing more ground skidding..we have stuck to the cart because it seems we can focus more mental energy on the lines instead of walking, footing, log…so I was surprised at the suggestion of being on the ground to help with our hands, are there other reasons other than our walking pace that make you think it would be a better place to be working?

Kristan

[TBigLug]

Just wondering what you found out. Were you able to get any more good info from the Fair Winds Farm gathering?

[J-L]

My philosophy on lightness was taught to me by some good horsemen with lots of experience. It all boils down to this: being light means being only as hard as you have to be, and not much harder.
It’s the same with saddle horses as it is with driving horses. You put as much effort into whatever bit you’re using as it takes to get the response you want.
I’ve watched a lot of horse loggers working on video and see them have to rear back and ask hard to get horses shut down. The same team may drive easier when their adrenaline is down. It’s not really a matter of using light touch all the time.
To me, barn sour horses aren’t really about being light. I do think that’s another issue.

[Does’ Leap]

Here’s a quick follow-up before I go off to milk. The concensus at the gathering was that we should stick with a regular snaffle. We did….for a while. We finally went with a levered bit with a chain because we felt our horses had a slowly eroding respect for the bit. I didn’t feel fully in control with a snaffle. After the transition, it was like having the team we purchased back. They stop on dime, start calmly, stand etc. and if they do spook for whatever reason they might do a little jump up, but never into the bit. We drive with very light lines and things are going well. It’s been about 6 months since the transition.

George

[OldKat]

@Does’ Leap 3324 wrote:

Here’s a quick follow-up before I go off to milk. The concensus at the gathering was that we should stick with a regular snaffle. We did….for a while. We finally went with a levered bit with a chain because we felt our horses had a slowly eroding respect for the bit. I didn’t feel fully in control with a snaffle. After the transition, it was like having the team we purchased back. They stop on dime, start calmly, stand etc. and if they do spook for whatever reason they might do a little jump up, but never into the bit. We drive with very light lines and things are going well. It’s been about 6 months since the transition.

George

George,

Glad to hear the result was positive. Couple of questions: What type of curb chain are you using on them? Does it fit about like one on a riding bridle?

As I was reading this whole thread last night I was wondering how the levered bit would work & how you would use the curb chain. Darned if you didn’t answer 1/3 of my questions right off the bat.

[Does’ Leap]

I’m not sure how a curb fits on a riding bridle, but we had information to have 2 fingers fit between the chain and the chin, we also attached the reins at the midpoint position on the curb. I since read somewhere on here, (from Jason?) that he fits them by pulling the chain up to the hook and as it slides down the hook the result is the correct fit. Ours is a little looser than that but it has worked so well we haven’t changed it.

I also wanted to mention that we purchased this team from a dealer, so we didn’t know what bit they had used previously. We were pretty committed to the idea of a snaffle so it took us a long time to switch. The lever made such a dramatic difference I’m pretty convinced it was what they were used to.

Kristan

[TBigLug]

I’m glad to hear everything’s working out for you. I use a Kimberwick on my gelding and it works great. Not as much of a leverege bit but works on the same principle.

[OldKat]

@Does’ Leap 3326 wrote:

I’m not sure how a curb fits on a riding bridle, but we had information to have 2 fingers fit between the chain and the chin, we also attached the reins at the midpoint position on the curb. I since read somewhere on here, (from Jason?) that he fits them by pulling the chain up to the hook and as it slides down the hook the result is the correct fit. Ours is a little looser than that but it has worked so well we haven’t changed it.

I also wanted to mention that we purchased this team from a dealer, so we didn’t know what bit they had used previously. We were pretty committed to the idea of a snaffle so it took us a long time to switch. The lever made such a dramatic difference I’m pretty convinced it was what they were used to.

Kristan

Good deal. Two fingers space is about what I always used with what we called a grazing bit for stock horses. Sounds like that is about what you have done.

[Gabe Ayers]

It is like power steering compared to an old tractor that is manual steering and could break your arm if it hit a rock of stump….

Just simply drive more sensitively….

I wouldn’t be in the business without leverage bits….period. You can use them in the corners with no leverage, but the horse knows it is still there…

The curb chain being looser just means the levers come back further toward you before the curb tightens. It actually increases the movement of the entire bridle shifting it a little bit more to the front of the face when the curb is not fitted. The point is to have it where the pressure is light and certain that there is not curb action required. When they drive sweet the curb doesn’t come into play much…

I have wanted to comment/post on the starting and pulling, but have been so busy with end of the year fund raising efforts and real work that I haven’t had time…
yet…

Great threads, great community…

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