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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

More "Legal" Trouble

6/13/2018

 
A week or two ago, I shared my new plan for alternating the legal bit with my go-to bit. I can't say whether the plan was a good one or not as I've already scrapped it and formulated a new strategy. Let's call it Operation Legal Every Day.
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Legal on the left (upside down), non-legal,on the right.
Yep. You heard me right. I've put the legal bit on my everyday bridle - which, by the way is no longer my every day bridle. I'll explain why in a minute.

After my last lesson, I realized that Izzy is well on his way to becoming fantastic. The problem is that I can't show him in the bit that he finds the most comfortable. This horse doesn't just go a little different with a new bit. He needs to be trained all over again.
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I did the same thing when I switched from the correctional bit to the medium wide-ported bit. They're all Myler bits.
The same thing happened when I left the correctional bit behind for the medium wide-ported bit with the Kimberwick cheeks, the bit he now loves. It felt like starting all over. I realized that if I kept going with the bit he likes, I was going to be even more frustrated by starting over with the show-legal bit. It seemed better to get it over with and just yank the band-aid off. 

​Chemaine Hurtado, owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables, and I talked it over. Izzy wasn't necessarily being a jackass in the show-legal bit. It was more like he was honestly anxious about being ridden in it. Gone was the affable, hard-working gelding that I've come to love. In his place was a hot mess. We hatched out a new plan of attack that gave Izzy some independent time to make friends with the bit.
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Not very funny, guys.
Instead of riding Izzy in the bit, I bridled him up sans reins and let him wear the bit while he had his breakfast. At first, I felt bad leaving it on him for several hours, but then I remembered that my endurance horses would wear their bits all day long, never complaining about it. While he ate, I rode Speedy.

It really did seem to make a difference. Rather than grind his teeth and crunch on the bit while I rode, he was more willing to listen to me without being so distracted. That worked for several days until be broke the throat latch while I was busy with Speedy.
Picture
Don't believe that innocent face.
I guess he wanted a new bridle to go along with his new bit; It should be here tomorrow. In the meantime, I've been riding without a throat latch. While he's not as fabulous, he's at least 80% back to where he was with the other bit. My fingers are crossed that he makes the switch pretty quickly.

​I sure like that easy going fellow I was riding last week.
Tracy link
6/13/2018 06:30:46 am

I would never have thought to just let him wear the bit around for a while -- what a genius idea to get him comfortable with it. This is why our trainers get the "big bucks", yea? lol

Jamie
6/13/2018 07:33:28 am

I agree, what a GREAT idea!! :D

Bakersfield Dressage link
6/13/2018 12:15:39 pm

HAHA - it was actually my idea, but she confirmed it as a good way to familiarize him with the bit. :0)

lytha
6/13/2018 01:02:11 pm

I've so often said, "Hey, if this were an endurance ride you'd be X hours without X! Shut up!"

I wanted to ask you about legal bits. Are normal french links legal now for training level?

Bakersfield Dressage link
6/13/2018 01:14:30 pm

I have said the SAME THING! LOL

There are so many legal bits now that's it hard to keep track. French links are legal along with almost every other snaffle type bit you can think of. As long as the mouth piece doesn't have a place where the reins are "fixed," meaning they attach loosely and the tongue clearance isn't more than a certain height and width, it's legal.

The "legal bit" that I am using looks more like a curb, but there is no curb action as the cheek pieces are loose rings. The height and width of the mouth piece's tongue relief meet USEF's parameters to the millimeter. The mouth piece is solid, but the bushing in the middle allows the bit to have independent side movement. The Mylers were very careful to make this bit legal.

Izzy doesn't love it - YET!, but he'll get more respectful as he adjusts to it.


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    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
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    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
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Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
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    • 2019 Dressage Tests
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