tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941114342119019309.post5485319290872580366..comments2023-09-23T13:03:38.863+02:00Comments on lionhearthorses: simplicitytrudihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06741901033691017922noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941114342119019309.post-8705566022894235952009-09-19T23:18:12.624+02:002009-09-19T23:18:12.624+02:00Seems like I missed out the follow up here!
I am l...Seems like I missed out the follow up here!<br />I am looking forward to hear your thoughts here, Trudi.<br />I love to ask why, and to question "established truths".<br /><br />When it comes to shoes, I have kept my youngsters unshod as long as possible. <br />But with hard work (when they get older and are exercised 6-7 days a week), they get sore without shoes, so to me it is a matter of practicalities.<br />During pasture time in summer the shoes are always removed.<br /><br />And it seems as Moo is feeling fine ;-)HorseOfCoursehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15907659164579327290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941114342119019309.post-42659666013516553532009-09-19T13:30:26.274+02:002009-09-19T13:30:26.274+02:00I think he's feeling better, lolI think he's feeling better, loltrudihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06741901033691017922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941114342119019309.post-58723632396929547772009-09-18T21:31:38.424+02:002009-09-18T21:31:38.424+02:00Trudi said "Seeing a horse piaffe in a field ...Trudi said "Seeing a horse piaffe in a field yesterday"<br /><br />Hee hee, has Moo been practicing his moves again!! ;-)Dihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05077382147781767424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941114342119019309.post-48615469090699622012009-09-18T17:30:16.564+02:002009-09-18T17:30:16.564+02:00Yes I think Claire that they did have reason to us...Yes I think Claire that they did have reason to use bits, perhaps farmers using working horses had no need for them but taking horses into battle would no doubt require a decent set of brakes/steering. Think I need to get reading up some history.<br />Seeing a horse piaffe in a field yesterday I got to thinking how a layman would start the thought process of how this might be achieved on 'cue' as it were. Trouble is most people nowadays know that horses are ridden in bits, finding someone that didn't would be hard.trudihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06741901033691017922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941114342119019309.post-64256169129356192312009-09-18T14:29:33.544+02:002009-09-18T14:29:33.544+02:00I think, that, as humans our first thought was how...I think, that, as humans our first thought was how can we adapt this animal to suit our needs, so using a bit and shoes was the easiest way to do that. To most, even in this day and age where we like to think that we're more enlightened it is still the case to a lesser or greater degree.Dihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05077382147781767424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941114342119019309.post-82217204446015902522009-09-18T13:08:11.378+02:002009-09-18T13:08:11.378+02:00this is a good debate!
on the barefoot front, tho...this is a good debate!<br /><br />on the barefoot front, though - i rather think when people started shoeing horses it was for a reason. back in the day horses were working animals, did a huge amount more miles every day than we would begin to expect them to do and i rather think that if we were running e.g. dray horses etc back in the day we'd find we needed to shoe them. Clearly there are some horses that are unlikely to need shoes for work(arabs, apparently, have very good hard feet and would be fine). where a lot of what we all do is not nearly so intensive...and we're more careful about varied surfaces etc.<br /><br />and really, whoever it was first put a bit in a horse's mouth must have had a reason for this, as I think it probably unlikely that that was anyone's first thought...<br /><br />on the other hand, didn't native american indians ride wonderfully without? and isn't that all about seat/balance? although they weren't aiming for high school airs, i don't suppose....Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02888698683201580237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941114342119019309.post-7539656288396408482009-09-18T12:59:07.254+02:002009-09-18T12:59:07.254+02:00Excellent Di, you are really close to where I am o...Excellent Di, you are really close to where I am on this. Do we develope a method over centuries without the science (but with good reason; as you say the mouth is an easy place to harness)and then justify it the best way we can? Or, do we look at a horse and then develop a method that suits him?trudihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06741901033691017922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941114342119019309.post-46030554649531363002009-09-18T12:17:59.194+02:002009-09-18T12:17:59.194+02:00Perhaps it doesn't really lead to a higher pla...Perhaps it doesn't really lead to a higher plane of communication and with different methods we can get the same results. Perhaps over the years we've just felt the need to justify the fact that we're putting a piece of metal in a horses mouth. Logically, it must be the easiest way to control the horse, the mouth being arguably the most vulnerable part of the horse.<br />I had a similar conversation last night about the necessity of shoeing horses. After years of having my horses shod because it was convenient, I'm thinking very seriously about taking all mine barefoot and went to a very interesting talk with a local barefoot trimmer. There are so many negatives (for the horse) to shoeing but we always manage to justify it.Dihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05077382147781767424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941114342119019309.post-90471345325427484802009-09-18T09:00:58.006+02:002009-09-18T09:00:58.006+02:00Should have said Jane, yes I've actually been ...Should have said Jane, yes I've actually been here before and more than once ;-) I'm still not happy that the science of this is correct, ie why does a piece of metal in a horses mouth lead one to a higher plane of communication??? I'm off to see if you've blogged on it yet.trudihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06741901033691017922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941114342119019309.post-64875591994317058212009-09-18T08:57:06.247+02:002009-09-18T08:57:06.247+02:00Thanks for all the comments :-)
I'm really lo...Thanks for all the comments :-)<br /><br />I'm really looking at the fundamental process of bitting and why it's necessary. For instance we have already moved away from de la Guérinière's huge curb style bits and he is a 'god' in terms of classical equitation. The world moves on and we develop, I'm not suggesting for one moment that we throw away the idea of riding with a bit; I'm just exploring the reasons why those masters, who knew so much more than I ever will, didn't ever go there. I shall expand this over the next few days ;-)trudihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06741901033691017922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941114342119019309.post-47872657009933133752009-09-17T18:34:09.368+02:002009-09-17T18:34:09.368+02:00Hm.
I am inclined to agree with Claire; I believe ...Hm.<br />I am inclined to agree with Claire; I believe there are so many variables that it is difficult to state that one alternative is better than the other in general.<br />I would perhaps refer it to the horse; whatever he works best in is the best choice.HorseOfCoursehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15907659164579327290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941114342119019309.post-82787852675816080572009-09-17T17:24:48.009+02:002009-09-17T17:24:48.009+02:00Really interesting about the bit. I've almost...Really interesting about the bit. I've almost done the opposite to you - gone from riding bitless and not understanding why a bit is necessary to believing that for more precise and advanced work it is needed - but with the prerequisite that my hands must be really good - never ever harsh and pulling. Paul Belasik really helped to clarify my thoughts on this and I'm going to add them to my blog.Cabruzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08847081130598479564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941114342119019309.post-51985956907100048902009-09-16T20:54:33.643+02:002009-09-16T20:54:33.643+02:00i think it depends on various things - the horse f...i think it depends on various things - the horse first and foremost, and then the abilities of the rider/trainer....some people can do wonders with a bitless, others can't .. it also depends on the bit and/or the type of bitless being used. it might even depend on the particular work being done. for instance, longlining molly works well bitless, but have yet to achieve the same bitted .. different story ridden.Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02888698683201580237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941114342119019309.post-40427570098128849032009-09-16T20:49:22.632+02:002009-09-16T20:49:22.632+02:00Bits are just one way to communicate with the hors...Bits are just one way to communicate with the horse, but they're certainly not the only way, and although they're traditional, that doesn't mean that they're inherently good or bad, although they're often misused. I'm about to try out a bitless bridle, and I don't see any reason why we can't achieve the same softness with bitless as with a bit, and for some horses it may be easier.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com