At great risk to starting a giant trainwreck, what the crap is up with the way people hold bosal reins? How is it practical or comfortable to hold your hands straight up from your side at shoulder level? Is this some sort of crazy show trend started by some whacko winning trainer?
I don’t know what you’re talking about - photo/video example?
(Head*desk)
I’ll just say that is not the way Californio/Vaquero or NRCHA/Reined Cowhorse folks use their bosal reins in the training of a traditional (or could say, “Western Classical”) stock horse.
You’d think if they were showing how well their horse could go in a bosal, they’d be using one hand to neck rein- which is what you’d advance to before the next step (adding a bridle bit- spade or half-breed, over/with the bosal), so you could actually use your rope…
But, of course, a winning Western Pleasure horse in the stock horse breed shows doesn’t move much like a using western stock horse.
The use of an opening rein is controversial in Vaquero circles, in a bosal.
Let’s just say, to each their own. The further your hand is away from the body, the less you’re riding from your core. It’s why most people like an unbroken rein line in both English and western tack.
Of course, when your goal is to make a horse that rides as close to as if he’s standing still, then to heck with good equitation and all’s fair lol
Huh, I’ve never seen anyone ride like that with a bosal. Looks tiring.
It’s a WP thing, especially Arabian WP. It’s about as practical or comfortable as any other fad in WP, which is to say, not very.
could be they are making sure the reins are off the neck, so the horse learns to be extra responsive when they do feel the reins against their neck.
fillabean, I am not sure you are allowed to show one handed in a bosal in WP.
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fillabean, I am not sure you are allowed to show one handed in a bosal in WP.[/QUOTE]
You don’t. You show two-handed just like you do with a junior horse wearing a snaffle.
I don’t know Arab showing, but it looks like a combination of (1) widening the hands to give a solid “hallway” for the horse to learn balance and (2) lifting the reins to lighten the front end. Of course with the lift should come release for the reward when the horse softens.
Don’t know what this is intended to do except force a frame.
Yeah, but this is at a horseSHOW not a training clinic!
It’s just another ridiculous horse show affectation with no purpose.
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It’s just another ridiculous horse show affectation with no purpose.[/QUOTE]
Agreed. Some big shot won once doing this, most likely, and everyone else just started to parrot the look since that was OBVIOUSLY why they won.
Big wide reins scream “unschooled baby horse” to me and not hence what I’d want to show in the ring, but heck, that’s just me.
I’m showing an Arabian junior western horse in a bosal. While I can’t compare the way he is trained to the vaquero method, I can attest to the fact that it’s not a look or a fad. As you can see in the videos, the reins are held wider and sometimes higher than if the horse were ridden in a snaffle. You use the reins to bump out wards at an angle versus straight back. If the young horse needs a little help, you can go wider and/or higher with the reins depending on what’s needed.
Riding correctly means there is release after the bump. As with all training we want to advance the horse to carrying himself. But being young horses just like any other discipline, it’s a constant progression so you might see horses showing who are in different stages of their training.
I showed hunt seat up until last year so yes, this is a big change. But there really is a reason for “the look”. We could debate training methods forever but if it works and there is no harm to the horse, what’s the issue?
There’s nothing about the mechanics of how a bosal works that benefits from eother high or wide, however. Of course, most people are using those rediculous limp things and calling them bosals, so to each their own.
Why is the bottom of the bosal sort of bent forward at nearly 90 degrees?
VERY soft bosal that’s WAY too long by most standards and has a ridiculous number of wraps for any notion of balance. Probably just used to emphasize the fact that it isn’t being used, since any movement becomes obvious (the ol’ ride like you don’t have reins thing from WP).
I would like to remind all that whatever they do others may also consider kind of silly if it is not what they choose to do.
Lets try to express opinions without being derogatory or insulting.
So we don’t like what others do?
Give reasons, but try not to demean others with them.
Maybe explain why we do things differently, without making others defensive with our words.
When others do what they do, silly as it may seem, they have their reasons and definitively no one else needs to do what they do, so where is the problem?
No, those arabian show classes are not old timey up in the bridle horses, nor meant to be.
Plenty don’t see much in those either, each one has their own preferences in what they want from their horses.
Wrong to try to compare two different ways to ride and demean the one we don’t like.
Each one is what it is and has those that like it that way and why not?
Bluey, please stop acting so saintly. Given your reponses on other threads, it’s funny you think you somehow have the moral high ground.
There are those of us who will call a spade a spade. Nobody is criticizing people here, merely the rediculous show ring fashions that have no relevance outside of said show ring.
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Bluey, please stop acting so saintly. Given your reponses on other threads, it’s funny you think you somehow have the moral high ground.
There are those of us who will call a spade a spade. Nobody is criticizing people here, merely the rediculous show ring fashions that have no relevance outside of said show ring.[/QUOTE]
Right, when I did call a spade a way to make stiff horses, you took offense, where none was meant.
It is my opinion only and backed by some top trainers, that have shown in the bridle and won.
Now you offer your opinion in an abrasive way and expect others to just lay down and take it, because it is your opinion?
I was not claiming any higher ground, but offering my opinion on offering opinions.
Taking note that you disagree, fine with me.
