[QUOTE=meupatdoes;7575090]
But somewhere between snaffle bits and soring a Walker, everybody does have to draw the line somewhere.[/QUOTE]
Agreed
[QUOTE=Bogie;7575052]
Donāt tell me or anyone else that we should take up another sport ā preferably without animals ā because you donāt have the skill to ride a horse in a bit that allows more subtle communication.[/QUOTE]
Before more of your words get bolded in my directionā¦ I will say I respect your opinion, understand where youāre coming from, but I do not agree.
I think if a rider knows of something that is less harsh then do that. But I am strictly coming from a place of empathy for the horseā¦I do not take into consideration what the horse has to do to perform well for my standards.
After grooming for many top riders and trainersā¦ I have seen so much. I want to bleach my eyes, and soul. The things we do to, and put in these horseās mouths and justify it- amazes me. But those thoughts probably belong on some other type of message boardā¦
Willow, the point I, and I think Bogie are trying to make is that many Mikmars (remember, there are a lot of different ones) can be a more humane bit then a snaffle, used appropriately on the right horse, at the right time, by an educated rider becuase they can allow you to get the responses you need without being in the horseās miuth as much.
But no, thy are never appropriate for uneducated hands - unless we are talking about one of their myriad snaffles.
I think it is really strange (and incorrect) to consider the use of a bit like the mikmar cruel. I think that the mimkar mouthpieces are very comfortable for horses with a certain type of mouth. Iāve seen horses with bruised, cut, and bleeding mouths from being ridden in an egg butt snaffle by a man with rough hands. A double bridle, a pelham, or a twisted wire bitāthose all are perfectly fine bits when used by appropriately skilled, sympathetic riders.
Certain bits may not be appropriate for riders who arenāt skilled enough to control their hands or use their hands appropriately. No, a pelham, a mikmar, a segunda or a twisted wire snaffle would not be my first choice for a beginner or a grabby handed intermediate rider. But there are indeed horses out there that are happy and healthy and reasonably well trained who will take advantage of a milder bit and go better with something stronger.
It also takes some thought and care to decide when a stronger bit is in order versus when the problem could be better solved through better training of the horse and/or rider. A rider who perches and doesnāt use their seat and body language well to balance/half-halt their mount needs to learn that and figure that out instead of relying on increasingly stronger bits in an attempt to compensate.
However, a smaller rider paired with a bullish minded horse might truly need something more than a plain snaffle to have a safe level of control when jumping a course of fences. Also, some horses will just behave better and behave in a lighter and more obedient manner knowing that the stronger bit is thereāeven if the rider really never uses it.
WillowB, I donāt mean to offend, but the misuse of bits is NOT one of the major horse welfare issues going on at shows.
[QUOTE=BeeHoney;7575202]
WillowB, I donāt mean to offend, but the misuse of bits is NOT one of the major horse welfare issues going on at shows.[/QUOTE]
Without getting too far down the rabbit holeā¦
I see what you three are saying, and definitely understand why many perceive it in some situations as a ācomfortableā bit. But I still do not agree. I base my opinion on what I have been taught by a select few respected professionals, what I have seen, my experience (back when I had those olā crap hands lol, and to when I used one and had an educated hand).
And no it is not considered a welfare issue, because the general opinion on bits arenāt negative and are people are taught that the use of a harsher bit is A-OK. And no one questions this.
My apologies if some of you got offended by saying āconsider a different sport without animals.ā Sounded a big ignorant I knowā¦ but what can I say- Iām passionate about it.
But I am not seeing how all of the many available bit styles and mouthpieces made by Mikmar deserve your condemnation of the brand itself. Really, a ported Mullen mouth with fixed dee sides is hardly torture.
Some very very big name riders are bigger jerks then the incompetent intermediate wannabe mentioned earlier. Thats not a big news flash to anybody who shows. Still not the bits fault it gets misused, not everybody misuses them or teaches bigger is better in all circumstances either. And not all Mikmars fall into the ābiggerā category anyway.
[QUOTE=findeight;7575495]
But I am not seeing how all of the many available bit styles and mouthpieces made by Mikmar deserve your condemnation of the brand itself. Really, a ported Mullen mouth with fixed dee sides is hardly torture.
Some very very big name riders are bigger jerks then the incompetent intermediate wannabe mentioned earlier. Thats not a big news flash to anybody who shows. Still not the bits fault it gets misused, not everybody misuses them or teaches bigger is better in all circumstances either. And not all Mikmars fall into the ābiggerā category anyway.[/QUOTE]
What āyouā are you talking about?
Because my post referred to, and linked to a picture of, specifically the Mikmar combination bit. Not the overall ābrand itself,ā not any of the other bits in the line, but that particular piece of hardware.
Are you talking to WillowB?
