From: Joan
Dear Jessica:
Several years ago you autographed my copy of Riding for the Rest of Us, and a year and a half ago I wrote you regarding my search for a horse. I found my dream horse & we are doing things together, and although I still have many timid moments the progress is forward. Holly Anne is not the 15.1 bay gelding I was looking for -- but a quiet, very smart, beautiful 16 hand 13 year old grey mare with soft kind eyes.
The middle aged grey mare part prompts this question. Melanoma. She's had a couple debulked under her tail and I recently found two on her mouth. Her doctor confirmed that they were probably melanomas - one on upper lip, over the bars and a second one in the corner of her mouth. She is not terribly worried, says it is a common site and that for now I should watch them carefully and we will do surgery if they get any larger.
Holly Anne had not been crazy about her bits, a little nose poked out, (above bit - I am told it is because I was not pushing her into bridle??) but not actively acting in any pain -- and her doc says she doesn't think the bits are causing her discomfort. (mostly a 3 piece full cheek snaffle ocassionally regular egg butt & sprenger 3 piece loose ring -- I did put bit guards on the loose ring, because the it did make her unhappy -- probably rubbed) -----
However, being the horse mommy that I am - I wanted to save her any pain so I 've bought her, based on your archived article, a fuzzy nosebanded, short shanked hackamore -- (It had a chain on back, but I put a rubber curb guard over it). Holly Anne is a quarter horse and had been a 4-H "pony" - remembers showmanship patterns, etc -- so I guessed she would have some experience with the hackamore and would be fine with it.
She is.
However, I don't have a clue. I think it is adjusted correctly. But after several years of --- inside legged to outside reined, shorten your reins, watch your elbows, take and release w/ inside and outside half halts, ride on contact dressage classes ---- I am at a loss for how to ride with the thing.
The actual questions follow::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ;- )
My girl goes pretty well on voice commands, weight shifts and leg cues, but I am confused -- it is obvious that capital "C" contact will hurt her nose, so I've been sort of "neck/plow" reining on the buckle --
How does one adjust a hackamore. What is the proper way to use reins with a hackamore?? Also, do you think a rubber or happy mouth snaffle might be more comfortable for her than her regular bits-- pre and post surgery? Also, without a bit hanger, do I use side reins on caveson when lunging -- or not use the side reins?
Thanks so much...
Joan
Any hackamore should be adjusted so that the nosepiece is high enough to rest over bone rather than cartilage - in other words, compared with an English bridle, adjust your hackamore so that the noseband is where an ordinary cavesson would be (two fingers' width below the horse's cheekbones) rather than where a drop noseband would go.
Your hackamore noseband will be even more gentle if you take the chain off and substitute a piece of leather with a halter tube or some other padding (I used to use a piece of sheepskin) wrapped around the strap.
If the strap is adjusted loosely, most of the pressure created even by a strong pull on the reins (not that you would do that!) will be on her nose, not on her jaw. Her nose is much less delicate than the bars of her mouth, so if you use only the amount of pressure that you feel comfortable using with a bit, you'll be in no danger of hurting her.
As for the reins, you can direct-rein or neck-rein. This is a very useful trail-riding sort of bridle - it's not as useful if you're trying to ride with a constant soft contact through the reins to the horse's nose, because it doesn't allow subtle communication. You can be more subtle, in terms of contact and direct reining, if you make your own version of a bitless bridle using a drop noseband adjusted as high as a regular cavesson, with your reins attached to the rings. This too has limitations (no brakes, for instance). However, there IS a bitless bridle that would probably be the perfect answer to your questions and your needs, as it will allow you to ride just as you normally do, handling the reins in exactly your usual manner - whilst leaving your mare's mouth (and, I hope, her melanomas as well) untouched.
When you have time, visit these websites and take a look at the Bitless Bridle:
http://www.bitlessbridle.com
http://www.spirithorseltd.com/cook.htm
These aren't just sales sites - you can order a bridle at the sites, of course, but you'll also find a good deal of information, as well as some more speculative theorizing, about the structure and function of the Bitless Bridle.
The design of this bridle is not like that of any hackamore you're likely to have seen. Imagine an English headstall, complete with cavesson noseband, but with no bit - the cheekpieces are just hanging there. Now imagine that the cheekpieces are much longer than normal ones, and that the cavesson has a ring on each side. If you take those extra-long cheekpieces, cross them under the horse's jaw, and then run them through the rings on the sides of the cavesson, then attach your reins directly to the cheekpieces, you'll have a bridle that works in an entirely different way. If you were to pull the left rein, instead of pressure on the left side of the mouth, or strong pressure on the nose, the horse would feel light pressure on its nose and more pressure on the RIGHT side of its jaw. If you were to pull the right rein, the horse would feel light pressure on its nose and stronger pressure on the LEFT side of its jaw. If you were to pull both reins, the horse would feel light pressure on its nose and on its poll - and under its jaw. The bridle directs the horse's movement in a way that helps the horse flex easily, and without involving the mouth or tongue. The strap-pressure is not on the cheek but on the muscle of the jaw.
I've been using this bridle for some months now, and trying it on different horses at clinics, and I've been very impressed with its comfort, versatility, and effectiveness. Horses react as though they had always been ridden in the bridle (and enjoyed the process); riders react by forgetting, almost instantly, that they aren't using their "regular" bridle. At one clinic, I used this bridle, briefly, on twelve different horses - and almost every one moved better and worked more comfortably than in its usual bit. I don't know whether this is a vindication of the Bitless Bridle or whether it simply speaks to the immense difficulty that so many riders have in selecting and adjusting an appropriate bit, but either way, it was very interesting to see horse after horse relax and move forward without tension in its head and neck.
I don't believe that any single piece of tack will solve all problems, but as you know, I am a firm believer in doing whatever is necessary to make a horse as comfortable as possible as a prerequisite to any and all training. I like this bridle because the horses are visibly more comfortable, and because you CAN train and you CAN be subtle with it - it's not at all the same thing as attaching two lead-ropes to a halter so that you can mooch around the backyard bareback (although I've done that, too). ;-)
The bridle comes in several versions at several prices, depending on whether you want leather or a synthetic such as biothane. I've been using the biothane version, which is quite satisfactory, cleans up easily, and looks good. I'll be testing the leather version soon, and when I do, I'll be glad to report on it if you're interested.
Right, this isn't meant to be a commercial! But I do like the Bitless Bridle, and I think you'll be interested in it, so go and have a look. In the meantime, let me answer the rest of your questions:
Rubber bits are not necessarily more comfortable for horses. If a horse has an injured mouth, I would prefer to ride without any bit. Many horses are quite unhappy in rubber bits, because the bits are so thick that the horses can't close their mouths around them, and so end up with dry mouths. As for "happy mouth" bits - I own ONE horse that likes one of these bits; the others can't stand the taste or the texture, and have made their opinions very clear. ;-) I would say that this is a case of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" - or perhaps "If it ain't broke, don't break it!". If you have bits that your mare can wear comfortably now, and if the surgery doesn't affect any area on or near the bit, then let her wear her usual equipment.
I would NOT longe a horse in a hackamore. If you're going to longe, use your longeing cavesson (which, by the way, can also serve as a bridle if you attach your reins to the side rings). If you want to use side-reins for some reason, use a bradoon hanger to attach a comfortable bit. Or - my own preference - don't use sidereins unless you have a very particular purpose in mind. Two suitable purposes would be:
1. Introducing a young horse to moving forward at the trot whilst carrying a bit AND experiencing light pressure on the bit.
2. Confirming collection on the longe - only at the trot, and only when it has already been established under saddle.
But really, since there is a melanoma at the corner of your mare's mouth, I would strongly suggest that you forego the bit entirely. As you know, there are quite a few different options in terms of headgear - some useful only for control, some useful for training. She obviously goes very nicely without a bit, so it's just a matter of finding the right piece of equipment for her comfort and your mutual communication. If you do elect to try the Bitless Bridle, please drop me a line and tell me how it works and what you and Holly Anne think of it.
I've known a lot of horses with melanomas, and with considerate management, most of those horses have continued as pleasant riding horses for many years. I'm so glad that you are still thinking of the horse's comfort first - it's the mark of a horseman. Holly Anne is a lucky horse to have you for an owner.
Jessica
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