The Scary World of Training

Well, today I was wandering around the internet like I do, and I ran across this little beauty..

DEAR GOD what is that supposed to be?? I don't know, maybe I'm a tad old fashioned or something, but this looks a little like bit-on-crack to me. Oh, but then I got curious, and searched for more bits like this. And believe me, I ran across some bits that I would die before they touched my horse's mouth. Would you like a horror show? Look on.

Well well...here we have what looks like a double twisted wire that is offset. Not to mention that this is a gag bit, and has a mile long shank...which is fairly straight. Oh goodness...I can only imagine the horse's mouth just being ripped clean off. I mean....do people actually use this bit??

Oh and take a look at this one... What is that, chain for the mouthpiece? But not even chain...it looks somewhat like...what, a chainsaw chain?! With the big old long shanks to boot. What do you really need a bit like this for? I mean, sure, a horse is sure not going to run through this bit if it values its life....but it is going to create about a million other problems, I bet.

And then theres these.. Both are gag bits...The left has an itty bitty wire mouthpiece that just may shred your horse's tongue, and the other has a hackamore piece on it made of bicycle chain...

Sigh. I mean I could go on and on. There must be hundreds of these bits out there. And thats just bits! I can't even imagine the amount of weird pully systems created to yank heads down, hold horses still, or keep horses from bucking. I mean don't get me wrong. I'm all for training devices- I myself used my draw reins today on Gypsy to remind her that she can't ignore my rein cues. But I used them for five-ten minutes and then took them off. Draw reins do not cause pain. Martingales, training forks, draw reins...these things don't cause pain to get the job done. Thats the difference. I mean, sure! Ride your western horse in a shank bit, your big warmblood jumper in a pelham....but it doesn't have to be these bits that I've pictured here. There is a huge difference. If you can't ride your horse in something nice and soft like a snaffle, then I think you have more training to do. A bigger bit is not a shortcut for training. A bigger bit is something to graduate to. A bigger bit means less rein contact, more neck reining, more softness. It does NOT mean 'I can't control my horse so I will throw this huge barb-wire gag shanked bit THING in my horse's mouth'.

Really people. Just spend a little more time creating a softer and more responsive horse, and sure, use the humane training devices if you need them. But they are aides, not something to be relied on. And if you do that, there will never be the need to resort to these painful, inhumane bits that intimidate horses into submission.

End rant.