Picture yourself cantering along on your lively, mature horse through a shallow flood plain next to a herd of giraffe, you marvel at their slow motion canter and wonder to yourself, how else would you experience something of this magnitude in this remote wilderness! The close encounters with wildlife that you experience from the saddle are breath-taking indeed.

African Horseback Safaris is an award winning horseback safari operator based at Macatoo Camp on the western side of the Okavango Delta . The camp features 6 large, classic African safari style tents, each with twin beds and their own en-suite shower and loo. At night, the tents are lit by the soft light of oil lanterns. Centrally there is a large mess tent with sofas, books and games, spectacular sunsets are enjoyed from the terrace and tucked away, is a private, inviting, rockpool. Meals are cooked on the open fire and are delightfully tasty. It is here that horse-mad people from all over the world meet to share this glorious wildlife experience.

A Horseback safari in a Big 5 (lion, rhino, elephant, leopard and buffalo) wilderness area demands good riding skills.  You will need to feel confident about keeping up with the group, capable of riding at all paces; rising to the trot and controlling your horse at the canter. You may be required to gallop out of trouble, so beginners will not be allowed to ride. However you are still welcome at the camp if you are not a proficient horse rider. Other game activities are offered to the partners of those horse-mad people.

Going on safari on horseback means that you will be riding between 4 and 6 hours a day into the wilderness viewing various game species from the back of your horse. A maximum of 7 guests will join a safari. The horses are well trained, sure-footed and fit and you will be matched up with a horse of good size and temperament for you.

Qualified experienced game rangers will lead you on horseback through the delta interpreting the intricate language of the African bush, reading tracks and signs left by wildlife and following them for that classic close up sighting. The guides have many years experience of living in the bush and when something goes bump in the night, its always nice to know they are nearby to save you.

Macatoo Camp is a remote bush camp within the Okavango Delta and getting there can only be done by light aircraft flight from Maun or Kasane. Combining this safari camp with a few nights at the mighty Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe allows for a wonderfully varied itinerary.

Africa Tamed, a successful tour operator based in Cape Town, South Africa, offers a range of exciting Escorted Tours, Self Drive Packages and Fly-in Safaris throughout southern Africa. With a focus on friendly personal attention and with an extensive travel knowledge based on over 16 years of travel experience, they can assure you of a wonderful, memorable African holiday.

No related posts.

Based on talking to the Instructors at my local Saddle Club, here are some of the more common mistakes that are frequently made by riders who take on the responsibility of becoming a new horse owner. See if any of them apply to you!

Mistake #1 - Assume you can ride any horse.

Horses are not all the same. You’ll find that some will let you mount up and that you can ride them easily. But others may be so green that you could get hurt if you have little or no riding experience. Or it could be that the horse has become so used to being ridden by only one rider that he’ll be determined to unseat any strange rider.

The horses that will let just about anyone on and ride are usually the older horses. Because they have been ridden the most, usually with a variety of riders, they’ll be the most forgiving of the mistakes that a beginner rider can make.  The younger horses are usually a lot tougher to ride and should only be ridden by an experienced rider.

Mistake #2 – Assume there is only one way to train a horse.

When an experienced horse owner starts having problems with their horse, they will ask questions and look for solutions. One of the first places they’ll look is at how the horse was trained. They’ll question the training technique that was used to see if they can find the answer. The new horse owner may assume that the same technique is used by all horse trainers. So they apply this technique to try to find the answer to their particular problem. If they don’t find the answer they can then think that they just have a dumb horse or that the horse just can’t be trained.

But there are a wide variety of ways to train a horse. So if you are using one particular technique and this doesn’t seem to be working, then you’ll need to try something else. It is at this stage that a new horse owner should probably be looking for advice and assistance from a more experienced rider. And from my experience, this is where belonging to a Saddle or Riding Club becomes a valuable asset.

Mistake #3 – Not riding your horse enough.

As a new horse owner, if you are having trouble with your horse, chances are that you’ve not been riding him frequently enough and that he’s ‘gone sour’. Irrespective of your horses age, it’s really important that you ride him often. From time to time, for a variety of reasons, you’ll find that you just don’t have the time to saddle your horse up and go for decent ride. If this is the case, at least take half an hour to give your horse some grooming and fifteen minutes or so of good lunging.

The best thing you can do for your horse is to ride him, ride him, and ride him. Riding every couple of weeks is not enough for your horse. It might sound like a strange thing to do, but even just taking your horse for a walk using a lead rope is better than nothing. It gives your horse a chance move his muscles, a change of scenery, and an aid to avoid boredom.

Mistake #4 – Thinking your horse is at fault when there is a problem.

Your horse needs plenty of exercise.

Horse are not unlike any other creature, they have their own unique problems. However it is not unusual for many of the problems you will see in your horse are not actually his fault, but your fault.  When you come across a problem with your horse, stop for a moment and make an effort to assess the real reason behind the problem. In many cases you’ll find that it could be that you don’t have the control over your horse that you need to make you and your horse an effective team.

If you can’t find the root of the problem then you must realise that there are various alternative methods of gaining the needed control. Once again, I recommend that you don’t fumble around seeking the answer but get the help of an experienced horse person. This is another instance where belonging to an active Saddle or Riding Club can be of assistance.

Mistake #5 – As a new horse owner, you don’t realise that every interaction with your horse is a training exercise. 

You need to realise that whether you’re just petting your horse, brushing him down or giving him a full groom, you are also actually training him. If you are a new and inexperienced horse owner you should stop and think about what you do and how you do it. In some ways your horse is like a child; he will pick up things from you. You have more of an effect on your horse’s behaviour that you may be aware of.

Mistake #6 – As  a new horse owner, if you ride your horse when you have little or no experience of riding and horsemanship, you may do more harm than good.

In their enthusiasm to get going with their horse ownership and riding career, many new horse owners will ride their horse when they have virtually no real horse riding training or skills. Horses react to leg pressure, how you sit in the saddle, whether or not you are tense, and many other sometimes subtle signals, so it’s important that you have a comprehensive understanding of riding procedures.

It is best that you have riding lessons from a qualified trainer right at the start. In my case, I had an instructress from my local Saddle Club come to my property for quite a period of time to give me one-on-one riding lessons, as well as instruction on general horse care. This was followed by the group riding training I received at my monthly Saddle Club meetings.

Related posts:

1. Horseback Riding ~ Avoid the Mistakes I Made When Buying a New Horse!
2. The bit is the key to the horse.

As I said in one of my earlier Posts, when I started horse riding (when in my 50’s), and acquired my first horse, I was a complete amateur. This didn’t just mean my riding ability, but carried right through my knowledge of everything to do with riding and horse ownership. So it applied to my knowledge of saddles!

It was at this time that I was introduced to Wintec saddles.  My very first saddle was a Wintec All Purpose saddle and it came about due to the fact that in my enthusiasm to get started, I did little research and was favourably influenced by the price of this Australian made  synthetic saddle. Although I got around to buying a rather expensive leather saddle at a later stage – mainly for use at my Saddle Club where at the that time I felt it important to make a good impression! – I used my comfortable, easy-to-look-after Wintec saddle for many, many years for day-to-day riding.

Some thoughts on Wintec  saddles.

 Not everybody is eager to adopt a synthetic saddle.  Early adopters, though often happy with their choice, did have a number of issues to cope with, but Wintec  are continuing to enhance their synthetic saddle range,  for example with the popular Wintec 2000

Let’s look at some of the benefits of synthetic saddles.

Ease of care – A light care routine is a great advantage of synthetic saddles. With the elimination of such maintenance factors as  oiling and careful storage routines, synthetic saddles can be hosed off and only need the occasion wash with manufacturer’s recommended detergent. Very quick to dry, the saddle is good to go again.

Weight – You no longer have to be the strongest in the yard as synthetic saddles weigh around half the weight of a leather saddle. This not only makes handling the saddle (tacking up or storing) lots easier, but also has a substantial benefit for your horse in reducing the weight he carries.

Comfort - Breaking in a synthetic saddle is often more comfortable thanks to the superior, softer fabric.

Reduced friction – The lighter construction and sophisticated technology (Wintec 2000 CAIR system for example) works to better distribute your weight on your horse’s back, minimising the risk of rubbing.

Grip – Improvements in saddle material results in creating products that not only look good and last a long time, but also give improved riding experience thanks to material that provides exceptional grip even in wet conditions.

Adaptability - Giving you more choice than leather, synthetics are often more flexible. Allowing you to adapt the saddle (for example by having adjustable trees) ensures the best match for your horse.

Safety  – is an interest for every rider at all levels. The Equileather or Equisuade material of the Wintec range gives enhanced grip in damp conditions where a leather saddle becomes ’slippy’.  This allows you to hold a more assured seat. This is both reassuring  and fundamental in building your self-confidence.

      Easy Change Gullet system – It is imperative your saddle is a absolute fit for your horse. The gullet system used in Wintec’s All Purpose range allows you fine tune the match of your saddle. This system allows you to adjust the match of your saddle as your horse matures, without having to change your saddle. Further, for most Wintec saddles if you exchange your horse, or ride more than one, you’ll no longer need to alter your saddle. Easily substitute the gullet and your saddle will fit the new horse.

CAIR system – Simply put, the Cair panel system replaces traditional flocking with air. As the air moves and shifts with the movement of your horse, this provides him with greater comfort.  And as most saddles load the padding with course, hard wearing fibre that can lead to pressure points the Wintec system uses pockets of air that relieve this pressure.  This minimises the stress as your horse moves helping to preserve a comfortable, flexible movement in your horse.

Price - The greatest news is the price. A synthetic saddle gives you access to top of the collection features for frequently 1/2 the price of some of the leather brands..

 A model such as the Wintec 2000  or Thorowgood should ensure you see all of the benefits described above.  And all at the cheaper end of the market.

Related posts:

1. Wintec 2000 – Just One Of An Extensive Range of Saddles For All Riders!
2. A Modern Jumping saddle – the Pessoa AO.

I was motivated to write this Post about Wintec  after becoming aware of it’s evolution (and also being Australian,  just like me!). Apparently Ron and Ken Bates, owners of Bates Saddlery Australia on Perth, Western Australia are the designers behind the revolutionary Wintec saddles.

Wintec 500 All Purpose Saddle

I learned from further research that this first ever full cloth race saddle was given to a local jockey to test. He absolutely loved the saddle and would, in fact, take it into the shower with him after a race to wash the mud and sweat off it. In no time there were enough jockeys interested in the saddle to send it into full scale production.

The Wintec saddles took the global market by storm, especially in England where in 8 out of the next 10 years the famous English Derby was won by jockeys riding in Wintec saddles.

I’ll probably do Posts on other Wintec products at a later stage, such as the Wintec 500 and the Wintec dressage saddle, but for this Post I cover some of the features of  the …

Wintec 2000

Wintec 2000 All Purpose Saddle

The Wintec 2000, a strong contender in the synthetic all purpose family saddle field. Toward the top of the all purpose range, this great multi discipline saddle offers exceptional performance. It feature Flexibloc inset panels that form to your horse and you, the rider, working with the deep designed Equisuade saddle to promote a stronger riding position. The popularity of this saddle is understandable when you consider the Wintec 2000 offers the best of all worlds to riders.

With a formidable heritage, the Wintec 2000 takes some of the strongest features of the synthetic all purpose range. The range boasts a number of new attributes to ensure you get the most out of your saddle.

Features of note.

• Easy Change Gullet System – adapting to your horse or pony as it matures, the gullet can be changed to assure a marvellous fit.
• Equisuade Saddle – ensuring a excellent grip in the saddle even in wet weather.
• CAIR system – Greatly improving the comfort of you saddle, this system reduces friction points on your horse or pony. (The CAIR system is also available in the Wintec girth range which has also taken off in popularity).

Real Riders

The Wintec 2000 invariably scores high with real riders who cite quality and security as the key features of this saddle. The saddle is soft and comfortable unlike many leather saddles. The design of the seat gives an improved position enabling you to sit more properly with the fabric of the Equisuade adding to the feel.

Likes

• The Equisuade seat compared to basic end Equileather seats meaning you can essentially benefit from the improved grip provided by the fabric.
• With the gullet system meaning you don’t have to buy a new saddle as you switch horses means this saddle is a excellent investment. Very straight forward maintenance saves you cash and work.
• Just rinse off the saddle with warm water while your friends have to oil and treat their leather saddles.

Dislikes

• The grip provided by the saddle can take a bit of getting used to. A few riders have suggested the Equisuade holds some moisture for a period after rain.
• Change is distressing for some people and they see anything but leather as inferior. ( I’ll cover the features of synthetic saddles in a later Post).

There’s a lot to recommend the Wintec 2000 saddle and this will be appreciated most by multi discipline riders who are looking for function and value. As well as trusting your saddle, you need to be able to rely on your supplier. Wonderful guarantees and a ‘trial ride’ service make the organization at the link above a great recommendation. But as always, I strongly recommend that you check out all  suppliers available to you

Related posts:

1. Synthetic Saddles: What are the Benefits?
2. A Modern Jumping saddle – the Pessoa AO.
3. Horse Riding Helmets ~ Are They Really a Necessity?

My dream horse, a true black beauty.

Like many in the early years of their riding career I had this great desire to own a big, strong and beautiful pure black horse. Are you the same? Circumstances were in my favour and I found Midnight , a Percheron/Thoroughbred cross who turned out to be just what I knew I really wanted.

In those days, now some years past, I’d never heard of a breed known as a Friesian. Had I known what I know now, the Friesian would probably have been the first on my list. 

Their origin.

I should mention here that as I have personally had little contact with owners of Friesians, I’ve drawn some of the following descriptive information from Wikipedia.

The Friesian (also Frisian) is a horse breed originating in Friesland, a province of the Netherlands. Although the breed’s conformation resembles that of a light draft horse, Friesians are extremely graceful and nibble for their size. During the Early Middle Ages and High Middle Ages, their size enabled them to carry a knight in armour. In the Late Middle Ages, heavier, draft type horses were needed. 

It’s interesting to note that although the breed nearly became extinct on moren than one occasion, the modern day Friesian horse is growing in numbers and popularity. They are popular in both Europe and the United States, and are often now used today for dressage competition, pleasure riding, and driving. Friesian horses can do well in dressage competition due to the breed’s movement, trainability, appearance, power, and body control. The breed is particularly known for it’s brisk, high-stepping trot.

The purebred Friesian

A hallmark of a purebred Friesian horse is its black color.  While small numbers of them are known to occur in additional colors such as chestnut.  Although the typical purebred Friesian horse does not bear any markings, some have a small star shape located on their foreheads.

Others have more elaborate white markings.  Typically only plain, unmarked black ones or the ones wearing only the small star are selected for registration.

These handsome horses have, in addition to their typical gleaming black coats, a thick mane and tail, and “feathered” hair on the lower legs.  This distinctive hair is not cut, but left on the legs to feather gracefully, giving the horses an attractive and unique look.

Along with their genuine beauty, these horses are sturdy, dependable animals who have routinely functioned both for “harness work” that is, as hitched to a wagon or plow for farm work or other device, or “saddle work,” being ridden as seen at shows and horse races.  Well disciplined, these horses are able to perform well in both types of use.

Friesian horses were typically raised with dairy animals.  Part of their early work was to help with the dairy farms.  When mechanization became a way of life on the old farms, replacing the use and dependence on the horses, these elegant horses began to fall out of use.  However, their well-known attributes enabled them to survive and continue as a viable breed.

Where to locate a Friesan horse.

While these beautiful animals are of European extraction, and enjoy a good market on the continent, there’s a booming Friesian sale market for the breed and you can usually find a local Friesian horse sale at well-advertised breeding farms that can be found on the Internet.  This online listing of Friesian horses gives a comprehensive amount of detail of  well-known horse farms and the horses they breed at those farms.  The farms also share additional information about the breed, such as Friesian Sale

Breeding developments.

Friesian in a playful mood.

The breed continues to flourish today both as its conventional durable form, and with at least two new breedings, both of which are lighter, agile, attractive horses in the same form as the traditional purebred Friesian horse, which has graced the horse world for ages.

These newer breeds of the horse may be found under the names of the “Friesian cross” and the “Friesian Sportbreed.”  These two outstanding horses are imbued with both the most valuable attributes of the well-loved Friesian breed but now carry the benefits of newer genetics from a well-chosen cross breed.   However, that being said, ‘true’ Friesian enthusiasts will only own and invest in an ‘approved’ Friesian.

Should you think that a Friesian horse could be what you’re looking for, you could start your search at Friesian Sale  Or you may care to email karen@FallsvaleFarms.com

Recommended reading:  Torden, Hear the Thunder by Christy Kirkham

“This book is both timeless and ageless and very heart warming. I found myself going back to my childhood and my love of horses and reading the adventures made me feel as though I was there living them with each page. I applaud C. Kirkham for bringing the history of the Friesian horse into such a GREAT read and look VERY forward to the sequel. I highly recommend this book to everyone, young and old, it’s OUTSTANDING !”    Ronda

Sipke’s Son – The Story of a Friesian Colt  by Ruby Wooten and Rebecca Dennett

“This heartwarming, so wonderfully written & illustrated book is by far one of the best new books for children I have had the pleasure of reading in a very long time. I bought a copy as soon as they were available as my Grandson’s first book & will soon be ordering one for my very own. The love Ruby & Rebecca have for these amazing horses shines through in every page. I feel such joy every time I read it to my grandson & will have to buy him another copy too because this book will be well-worn! Thank you so much Ruby & Rebecca!”

Review by Lora L. Brewster

No related posts.

The Pessoa AO Saddle. This, Pessoa’s principal jumping saddle is a classic and has already hit their their top seller mark. It’s ideal for a wide range of riders, amateurs and experienced riders alike both of whom who will appreciate the quality and comfort of this  jumping saddle. Plus it’s standard or lengthened flaps provide an element of individual choice when selecting the saddle and the square cantle, deep seat build ensures a secure ride position.

This saddle incorporates the best of the Pessoa collection. Years of development have gone into the technology harnessed in this saddle and the refinement is also shown in the calf skin leather:

• Adjustable Gullet: The saddle tree can be refined using the xChange gullet system. This allows you to suit the saddle correctly to your horse.
• BayFlex Panels: An innovative memory fabric that offers the best comfort for both you and your horse by adjusting and adapting to the applied pressure.

Innovations like these keep the Pessoa AO out in front of  competitors saddles.

Real Riders

The popular Pessoa AO Saddle, as real riders will quickly tell you, is built to endure. These saddles will last and last with only a little thought to maintenance. You may decide to replace your sadddle, but it certainly won’t be because you need to. Riders regularly buy into another recognised marque but the value they get from the brand both in terms of comfort and longevity frequently means they come back to Pessoa time and time again.

What you’ll like about this jumping saddle:

• The flexible leather and BayFlex panels break in remarkably quickly meaning there is a reduced chance of rubbing as you and your horse get adapted to the saddle. 
• Wider ponies and horses are well suited for this saddle. Although the gullet can be changed to fit narrower horses and ponies as well. 
• Supple and forgiving to the rider, you don’t sense like you miss any of the stability you look for.

A potential dislike:

• For some horses, the saddle could look to sit slightly high if the gullet is not the right match.

The above opinitons of real riders will hopefully be beneficial when you’re looking and trying to decide on the right jumping saddle for you.

If you want the best out of a saddle and want to mix both operation and appearance, the Pessoa AO Saddle is favorably recommended. The last step is to find the best retailer. One where you’ll find true horse lovers can be found by clicking above.  They have an excellent customer support team and are all riders. They provide quick shipping and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  And they currently have a 10% deduction on the Pessoa ao saddle.  But, as always, it’s time well spent to shop around and compare.

Related posts:

1. Saddles and tack: Tighten up the girth ~ or not?
2. Where To Look For Affordable Horse Tack!
3. Wintec 2000 – Just One Of An Extensive Range of Saddles For All Riders!

Horse Rugs – There is a variety of rugs which you can use for your horse but many types are types are designed for a particular purpose with a few that can be versatile.

Stable rugs are perfect for keeping your horse warm while in the comfort of a stable, but these rugs are not waterproof, they’ll just keep your horse comfortable. It’s not uncommon to use lighter weight stable rugs during the day when the temperature in the stable can be higher and use a heavier rug through the night as the temperature drops.

When your horse leaves the comfort of the stable, he needs a turnout rug to face the elements. These are waterproof and are designed to keep the rain and the snow off your horse while keeping him comfy, warm and dry.

Keep flies at bay by using a fly sheet.

As you will well know from per4sonal experience, flies can be a real nuisance. And just like you, horses don’t like to have flies attacking. ABut a fly sheet can keep the flies at bay. There is no need to worry about your horse getting hot under the fly sheet (rug) as  it’s made out of mesh which allows adequate airflow. If you choose to do so, you can add a neck cover to a fly sheet to protect your horse’s neck from flies, too. Sun security is another benefit of fly sheets..

You can keep the flies off and your  horse cool in the warm weather when you use a summer sheet as a fly sheet, and a stable rug in the colder weather. Dust and wind are also held at bay.

Travel Rugs and Sweat Rugs.

The discomfort of travel can be avoided by using travel rugs. Insects can be irritating as the horse travels.  Dust can get everywhere. Keep the dust and insects at bay by making use of travel rugs..

Intense exercise creates a sweaty horse.  Your horse has to be cooled down. Absorbing the sweat is what a sweat rug was designed to do..

You can everything you’ll need to know if investing in horse clothing by going  to => horse wear.

Bandages.

You can protect your horse by using bandages. Described here are the various equestrian uses of bandages..

Use tail bandages to help make the transportation process of your horse easier. If you wrap his tail, you keep it from getting caught and ruining a beautiful piece of your horse.

And a great way to ensure healthy legs that are not getting injured is to wrap your horse’s legs with bandages. Leg injuries can be easily sustained when travelling..

Boots.

 Boots are another form of horse wear that can be used to keep your horse healthy and minimize injury.

Look to tendon boots to keep tendon damage to a minimum. As your horse moves and jumps, his legs are moving amazingly quickly and many times his back hooves will connect and damage their front tendons.  These boots can be critical in protecting your horse’s health. Overreach boots can protect your horse’s legs against damage from brushing up against each other..

It is vital that you protect your horse’s joints. Lessen the damage that can potentially be done to your horse’s joints by using fetlock boots.

The objective of all this equestrian wear is not just for dress up sake, or impressing a judge. Your main intent should be to guarantee the health of your horse.

To find out more info on horse wear take a trip over to http://www.equestriansuppliesshop.co.uk/ now. They have a vast selection of superb horse wear for speedy delivery.

Related posts:

1. Equestrian Bridles: 11 Tips On Bridling Your Horse.
2. A Horse First Aid Kit Could Save Your Horse’s Life ~ A Few Helpful Tips!
3. Grooming Tips For Horses ~ A Major Part of Easy Horse Care.

Does your horse show signs of fear during grooming?

This article deals with the subject of grooming and, in particular, body-clipping. Although the following discusses the body-clipping of Gypsy Vanner horses, the principles outlined are common to the grooming and clipping of all breeds. The following  is supplied with the compliments of Lisa the groomer for Gypsy MVP, America’s most trusted source for Gypsy Horses.

We all know it is body-clipping time if you work with Gypsy Vanner Horses. When the temperature in your area is above 70 deg F it is time to dispose of that fuzzy undercoat . Most Gypsy Vanners are used to being body clipped if they are from a warm climate area. If they haven’t ever been clipped, they may be afraid of the clippers.  So if they have never been clipped before, you’ll need to take the time to introduce them to the clippers.

 Introduce your horse to the clippers slowly.

We’ve found that if you hold the clippers on your horse and also give him some loving , he will begin to understand that the clippers will not harm them.  Horses are prey animals in the wild , so they are naturally afraid of many things.   As a horse groomer it is your duty to make this as good an experience as you can.  Should the big clippers scare your horse, try starting with smaller ones (the ones used to trim the face).  The large clippers (the ones used on the body) make a loud noise, so understand that it is a fear reaction, not misbehavior.

Start with a clean horse

Brush and thoroughly clean your horse’s coat.   At Gypsy MVP we use a medicated shampoo from EZ-Groom. We find that this shampoo prevents irritation.

Be sure you keep the clipper blades cool and clean.

This makes  horse grooming job much easier plus it will give a better clip for your horse.  Keeping the clippers cool and clean is very important. Clippers can get hot rather quickly , so make sure you study them often. And if they are dirty they are louder and clip slower.  

Offer treat when you are finished with the grooming session.

When you’ve completed your grooming session , make sure you give your horse a treat, so it makes it a good experience for him .  This way the next time you put your horse in a stall for clipping (or any other reason) he will look forward to the experience.

Related posts:

1. Grooming Tips For Horses ~ A Major Part of Easy Horse Care.
2. A Horse First Aid Kit Could Save Your Horse’s Life ~ A Few Helpful Tips!
3. Make it easy for your Farrier to pick-up your horse’s feet.

 More about horse bits (refer also to previous Posts).

The most common types of bits.

Generally types of horse bits are divided into either Snaffles and Curb bits.  A somewhat simplistic division but in this post we’re looking in more detail at the different types of Snaffle and some of the more exotic features you can find on this, what seems to be just a humble bit. 

Snaffles themselves cover quite a broad category of horse bits however they all feature a single common factor in that they allow you to signal your intention to your horse through direct force by the pulling of one or both reigns.

The basis of a snaffle bit.

For a bit of background a snaffle is made from a bar or mouthpiece and on each side there are rings connected with different amounts of freedom to move at each end. The bit sits in the horse’s mouth resting on the gums not the teeth, in the space behind the front incisors and the molars behind often refered to as the “bars”.

For now we’re going to concentrate on just some of the different types of mouthpiece that you can get with your snaffle and what function these different types have. 

The mouthpiece can take many forms but here we’re going to review the following mouthpiece styles:

• one solid piece
• single jointed in the middle
• double jointed in the middle
• multi-link or chain

Solid one piece mouth-pieces may be moulded rubber and sometimes gently curved, called a Mullen.  They tend to be softer and it places even pressure on the mouthpiece, lips, and bars and works well for young horses.  However you must be cautious about describing a bit as mild as the skill of the rider has a big impact on this, however all things being equal and when compared to other types, this is a mild mouthpiece. 

For horses needing a little stronger signalling, the bit designers gave us the “broken” bit. 

When the rider pulls on the reins, the mouthpiece breaks at a central join, forming an angle and applying a “nutcracker” effect on your horses tongue.  Also, and depending on the height of your horses mouth, the “point” of the broken piece may touch the roof of the mouth providing a further “signal”. The mouthpiece can still be made from softer material such as vulcanite.   

Remember, the skilled rider “signals” his intention to the horse so force should not be necessary the majority of the time. Observe how your horse behaves with these bits. If it’s causing discomfort such as spiking the roof of the mouth your horse may not only raise his head up and down but also poke his nose out, as a sign that he is trying to relieve the pain.   If you have one of these you might want to put it over your wrist and close it like a nutcracker, then you’ll get some idea of what your horse is getting ! So learn to be subtle with your use of these bits. Try not to yank hard.

Double jointed mouthpieces.

Where the single jointed bit hits the mouth and causes the horse too much discomfort, double jointed mouthpieces were developed which also give the tongue a bit more room .  Two very popular forms of this style of bit are French Link e.g. french mouth full cheek and the Dr Bristol style e.g. dr bristol full cheek.  The Dr Bristol style compared to the French Link has a longer link  i.e. the middle section .  The link is also angled so that when the bit is pulled , the edge of the link presses into the tongue as a fairly sharp signal. The French Link has a shorter link and is flat or angled differently so that the flat edge of the link contacts the tongue therefore being milder.

The chain style bit.

The chain style of bits often attract a little controversy on their harshness or otherwise. At least in part a bit may be a problem if the rider is a problem so whether a bit is mild or harsh is not specifically down to the bit.  A popular type of chain bit the waterford full cheek comprises a chain of three or more interlinking pieces.  As such, this chain style of bit tends to slide back and forth across the horses mouth with the “nobbly” bits of the chain giving the signal as well as the chain engaging with the sides of the mouth.  These bits are often chosen by owners of bigger horses or excitable horses that might take the bit and run .  The chain style of bit because of its chain feature doesn’t offer the horse anything to fight against, it is too fluid so can work well in controlling such horses.

It pays to seek expert advice.

The effect on the horse of any bit can be drastic and so seek expert advice to ensure the bit will actually help you. 

Remember there is a balance between being too soft on your horse and not firm enough. Going for the soft option can lead to bad habits that are then more difficult to address later on, and being too harsh can cause your horse pain and discomfort and is just bad in every way.

The snaffle offers a surprising amount of flexibility in its features so be sure to do your research to find the right one for you.

A recommended supplier of tack:  Horse Saddle Shop

Related posts:

1. The Snaffle Bit. Simple but effective.
2. The Curb bit. What the horse rider needs to know.
3. What You Need to Know About The Pelham Horse Bit.

More about horse bits (refer also to previous Posts).

The principle of the horse bit.

 Most horse bits follow the principle of either direct pressure or leverage pressure.  The Pelham bit, as does the Swiss Army Knife ,tries to fit all features into one. Basicially horse bits are split into two main categories. Snaffles are what are called direct pressure bits where the reins transmit the force directly to the mouth piece .

 Curbs bits are leverage bits where the force is multiplied so a stronger horse can in theory be controlled by the same forces used with a Snaffle. It is much better to avoid using the term “control” when discussing how best to ride your horse.

  Consider using the term “signaling” instead. . In other words the horse does what you want him to do happily because he recognises the signal, and your training together has formed a strong contract between the two of you. 

Considering the concept of signals therefore, sometimes one needs to switch to a stronger signaling mechanism for certain situations.  The vast majority of the time good snaffle use is sufficient to keep the horse in line but now and again the extra leverage of a Curb would just bring the horse back on track.

A common solution. 

A  solution to this is to fit a double bridal such as a weymouth and bradoon, where the weymouth provides the Curb mechanism and the bradoon is the Snaffle part.  Separate reins are attached to the two separate bits and are used independently.

However a issue can arise with fitting two separate bits into a horse’s mouth.  Is the horse’s mouth big enough ? .  Do not go down the road of sourcing these two bits with very narrow wire mouthpieces just to force the issue of getting this to work . This is potentially cruel. Don’t to it.  

The Pelham Bit can be the solution.

The solution to this issue if offered by the Pelham bit . It provides, in one unit, the features of a snaffle and a curb bit.  The familiar “99% of the time” signal of the snaffle can be achieved with one set of reins via the single mouth piece and the “1% of the time” stronger signalling achieved via the curb rein again via the single mouth piece.

All the features that you may look for in a snaffle and curb can be obtained in a pelham such as high port pelham, copper mouth pieces or longer cheek lengths.  If you are migrating from a Snaffle try going for one similar to the Snaffle you are already successfully using .  Consider also going for a rubber mouth if not already doing so as you’ll be introducing the horse to curbing . However don’t necessarily expect the Pelham to work identically to the equivalent double bridal as the Pelham is a slight compromise.

One final final point. 

 Apply a liberal amount of common sense when considering your need for something like the Pelham and the needs of the horse must be paramount according to its individual circumstances.  Be the best rider you can be first and don’t try and address lack of your own riding ability with a silver bullet horse bit!

A recommended supplier of tack:  Horse Saddle Shop

Related posts:

1. The Curb bit. What the horse rider needs to know.
2. Snaffle Bits ~ How Different Types Work.
3. The bit is the key to the horse.