WLVDYHU\FRPPRQSUDFWLVHIRUULGHUVWRKDYHWKHLUVDGGOHÀWFKHFNHGRQDUHJXODUEDVLV “It is not the , but DQGWKHUHDUHSDJHVDQGSDJHVRIRQOLQHIRUXPVDQGPDJD]LQHDUWLFOHVGHGLFDWHGMXVWWR its use that results IVDGGOHÀWWLQJTXHVWLRQVDQGTXHULHV:KLOHDGGUHVVLQJWKHVDGGOHVLWXDWLRQLVDSRVLWLYH VWHSWRZDUGVFUHDWLQJFRPIRUWDEOHZHOOÀWWLQJJHDUDQGDFRRSHUDWLYHZRUNLQJSDUWQHUVKLS in a showing EHWZHHQKRUVHDQGULGHUWKHTXHVWLRQQHHGVWREHDVNHGLIWKHVDPHFRQVLGHUDWLRQDQGKRXUVRI UHVHDUFKDUHEHLQJGHYRWHGE\ULGHUVWRWKLQNLQJDERXWWKHLUKRUVH·VELW"8OWLPDWHO\WKHELWLV it’s pleasure so that WKHPRVWLQYDVLYHSLHFHRIWDFNXVHGRQDQHYHU\GD\EDVLVDQGDQ\ELWLQFOXGLQJWKHVLPSOH VQDIÁHLVFDSDEOHRIFDXVLQJVHYHUHSDLQDQGGLVFRPIRUWWRWKHKRUVH it yields to the hand; 5HFHQWVFLHQWLÀFUHVHDUFKDQGZHOIDUHLVVXHVKDYHWXUQHGPDQ\ULGHU·VWKRXJKWVPRUHWRZDUGV there is no need for WKHFRPIRUWRIWKHKRUVHLQJHQHUDODQGPRUHVSHFLÀFDOO\XQGHUVDGGOHDQGLQWKHPRXWK ZKLFKOHDGVWRZDUGVDPRUHUHOD[HGDQGZLOOLQJSDUWQHUDFURVVDOOGLVFLSOLQHV5HFHQWELWWLQJ harsh measure; he GHYHORSPHQWVKDYHFRPSDQLHVVXFKDV0\OHU6SUHQJHU1DWKH3HH:HHDQG1HXH6FKXOH² DOOZHOONQRZQEUDQGVRQWKHPDUNHWQRZWDONLQJLQWHUPVRIHUJRQRPLFDOO\GHVLJQHGDQG should rather be FRPIRUWDEOHELWVWKDWHQKDQFHWKHULGHU·VFRPPXQLFDWLRQWKURXJKWKLVLPSRUWDQWDLG ,QPRGHUQULGLQJWKHIRXUPDLQELWWLQJW\SHVLQFOXGH6QDIÁHV/HYHUDJH FXUE ELWV*DJVDQG coaxed on so that he %LWWOHVVRU1RVH%ULGOHV7REHWWHUXQGHUVWDQGWKHXVHDQGYDULRXVVW\OHVRIWKHELWWRGD\LWLV will go forward most XVHIXOWDNLQJDEULHIORRNDWWKHGHYHORSPHQWRIWKHELWWKURXJKWKHDJHV THE FIRST BIT cheerfully in his swift 3ULRUWRWKHGRPHVWLFDWLRQRIWKHKRUVHUHLQGHHUZHUHXVHGWRSXOOVOHGVDQGLWLVWKRXJKW WKH\ZHUHULGGHQDVZHOOXVLQJOHDWKHUKDOWHUVDQGKDUQHVVWKDWZRXOGEHWKHSUHFXUVRUWR paces.” HTXHVWULDQWDFN7KHÀUVW¶ELWWLQJ·DUUDQJHPHQWIRUKRUVHVIROORZLQJWKHLUGRPHVWLFDWLRQZDV- Xenophon Continued Feb/March 2010 - Page 32 %LWVDQG%LWWLQJFRQWLQXHG PRUHWKDQOLNHO\MXVWDQRVHEDQGVLPLODU WR WKH UHLQGHHU KDOWHUV EXW WKH HPSKDVLV RQ D PRXWKSLHFH ZDV TXLFN WR HYROYH DERXW\HDUVEHIRUHWKHXVHRIVDGGOHV EHFDPHFRPPRQSODFH ,W ZDV D VKRUW VWHS KLVWRULFDOO\ IURP WKH OHDWKHURUZRYHQJUDVVKDOWHUVWRLQFOXGLQJ DOHDWKHUWKRQJWLHGDURXQGWKHORZHUMDZ DFURVVWKHEDUVDQGZDVPRUHWKDQOLNHO\ XVHGZLWKRQHUHLQ5LGHUVWKHQPRYHGRQWR WKH WKRQJ ZLWK WZR UHLQV TXLFNO\ JLYLQJ way to the headpiece and hard bit - either RIZRRGRUERQHRIWHQVXSSRUWHGE\DORZ ÀWWLQJQRVHEDQGDURXQG%&%URQ]H bits became common place between 1300- %& WKRXJK WKH\ KDG EHHQ XVHG E\ YDULRXVKRUVHWULEHVZHOOEHIRUHWKDWGDWH At this stage some experimentation began ZLWK WKH PRXWKSLHFHV DQG VKDQNV ZLWK VSLNHV FXUYHV VHUUDWHG HGJHV DQG YHU\ ORQJVKDQNVSDUWLFXODUO\IRUFKDULRWKRUVHV ZKHUHFRQWURODWVSHHGZDVYLWDO 7KH MRLQWHG VQDIÁH DSSHDUHG DOPRVW DV soon as bits started being fashioned from PHWDOV WKRXJK WKH VWUDLJKW EDU QHYHU EHFDPHREVROHWHDQGLVRIFRXUVHVWLOOXVHG -RLQWHG6QDIÀH WRGD\7KH&HOWVRI*DXOZHUHWKHÀUVWWR LQWURGXFH WKH FXUE ELW LQ WK FHQWXU\ %& DQGUHDOO\VLQFHWKHQWKHUHKDVEHHQOLWWOH )UHQFK/LQN6QDIÀH VLJQLÀFDQWDGYDQFHLQELWGHVLJQ

Feb/March 2010 - Page 34 ,PSRUWDQWO\WKHZULWLQJVRI*UHHNFDYDOU\ FRPPDQGHU;HQRSKRQUHSUHVHQWWKHÀUVW VHULRXVVWXG\LQWRELWWLQJWKHKRUVHZLWKLQ WKHIXOOVSHFWUXPRIKRUVHPDQVKLS*UHHN ELWVZHUHYHU\PRGHUQLQDSSHDUDQFHZLWK FKHHNSLHFHV MRLQWHG PRXWKSLHFHV UROOHUV RQ ELWV IRU \RXQJ KRUVHV WR HQFRXUDJH ´SXUVXLQJWKHELWZLWKKLVWRQJXHµDVZHOO DV VRPH PRQVWHURXV FRQWUDSWLRQV ZLWK VSLNHV DQG VWXGGHG UROOHUV  ;HQRSKRQ always promoted the selection of a softer ELWUDWKHUWKDQDKDUVKRQHDQGHQFRXUDJHG correct training of the horse and rider to LPSURYHFRQWURODQGÀQHVVH 7KH *UHHN FDYDOU\ URGH ZLWKRXW VDGGOH DQG XVXDOO\ ZLWKRXW EUHHFKHV  KHQFH ;HQRSKRQ·V HDUO\ GHGLFDWHG LQWHUHVW in the bit as an aid to improving the FRPPXQLFDWLRQ EHWZHHQ KRUVH DQG ULGHU ;HQRSKRQZURWH´,WLVQRWWKHELWEXWLWVXVH Weymouth bit WKDWUHVXOWVLQDKRUVHVKRZLQJLW·VSOHDVXUH so that it yields to the hand; there is no QHHGIRUKDUVKPHDVXUHKHVKRXOGUDWKHU be coaxed on so that he will go forward PRVWFKHHUIXOO\LQKLVVZLIWSDFHVµ Any bit with long shanks- Weymouth, Pelham, Dutch Gag, Elevator bits- employ a leverage effect 7KRXJKWKHVQDIÁHLVRIWHQ - a tightened acts on a nerve that runs under the jaw and combined with the action of the VWLOOVHHQDVWKHSUHFXUVRUWR PRXWKSLHFHHQFRXUDJHVUHOD[DWLRQDQGÁH[LRQRI LQWURGXFLQJWKHFXUEPRVW the jaw, and retraction of the nose. ULGHUVQHYHUWDNHWKLVVWHS DVQDIÁHFDQEHFODVVLÀHGDVDELWZLWKQR DQGUHPDLQLQDVQDIÁHIRU FXUERUSROOSUHVVXUHDQGZKRVHSULPDU\ WKHLUHQWLUHULGLQJOLYHV LQÁXHQFHLVDVD¶OLIWLQJ·ELW7KHELWDFWV ÀUVWO\ RQ WKH KRUVH·V OLSV LQ DQ XSZDUG DFWLRQWKHQDVWKHKRUVHÁH[HVPRUHDWWKH 7KH5RPDQVDQG&HOWVWKHQWRRNXSWKHXVH SROODVKLVHGXFDWLRQDGYDQFHVWKHSUHVVXUH RIWKHFXUEELWZLWKJUHDWSRSXODULW\OHDGLQJ RQ WKH EDUV LV LQFUHDVHG %\ LQWURGXFLQJ WRLWVXVHLQWKHPLGGOHDJHVE\NQLJKWVLQ QRVHEDQGVDQGPDUWLQJDOHVWKHDFWLRQDQG (QJODQG  ,Q VRPH LQVWDQFH WKH VKDQNV SUHVVXUHV RI WKH VLPSOH VQDIÁ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ÀHG OLQN ZKLOH DOVR UHGXFLQJ WKH WRQJXH FRPPRQSODFHDVZDVWKHVWLUUXS LQWRIRXUPDLQW\SHVWKH6QDIÁH/HYHUDJH SUHVVXUH DQG SRVVLEOH SLQFKLQJ RI WKH RU&XUE ELWVWKH*DJDQGWKH1RVHEULGOH ,QWKHWKFHQWXU\WKHVWXGGHGFDYHVVRQ PXOOHQPRXWK ELWOHVVKDFNDPRUHHWF ,QRUGHUWRPDNH DQG¶IDOVHUHLQ·EHFDPHDSDUWRIWUDLQLQJ THE LEVERAGE OR CURB BITS an informed bitting decision it is important WKHKRUVHLQIDFWWKHKRUVHZDV¶PRXWKHG· AJDLQ WKHVH ELWV KDYH ZLGH YDULDWLRQV WKDWWKHULGHUÀUVWKDYHVRPHXQGHUVWDQGLQJ WKRXJK WKLV QRVHEDQG ZLWK FRQWURO EHLQJ ZLWKLQ WKH JURXS IURP ORQJ VKDQNHG DV WR WKH DFWLRQV RI WKH YDULRXV ELWWLQJ SDVVHG JUDGXDOO\ RQWR WKH FXUE UHLQ DV ZHVWHUQVW\OHVWRWKH:H\PRXWKLQDGRXEOH JURXSVDQGW\SHV WUDLQLQJ SURJUHVVHG 7KH IRFXV RQ WKH bridOHWKH3HOKDPDQGWKHPLVQDPHG'XWFK FXUEELWUHPDLQHGXSWRWKHWKDQGWK All bits can affect the horse across any one *DJ  /HYHUDJH ELWV HPSOR\ SUHVVXUHV WR FHQWXU\XQWLO&DSULOOL·VPRGHUQVFKRRORI RUPRUHRIVHYHQSDUWVRIWKHKRUVH·VKHDG WKHSROODQGLIDFXUEFKDLQRUVWUDSLVÀWWHG cavalry training developed the forward 7KH\DUHWKHOLSVWKHEDUVWKHSDODWHWKH LWDOVRDSSOLHVSUHVVXUHWRWKHFXUEJURRYH style of riding and insisted on riding in QRVHWKHFXUEJURRYHWKHWRQJXHDQGWKH $WLJKWHQHGFXUEFKDLQDFWVRQDQHUYHWKDW D VQDIÁH  WKH ELW RI FKRLFH IRU WKH ODUJH SROO UXQV XQGHU WKH MDZ and combined with PDMRULW\ RI ULGHUV WRGD\ 7KRXJK WKH THE SNAFFLE WKHDFWLRQRIWKHPRXWKSLHFHHQFRXUDJHV VQDIÁHLVRIWHQVWLOOVHHQDVWKHSUHFXUVRU 7KH6QDIÁHLVWKHODUJHVWELWWLQJJURXSDQG UHOD[DWLRQ DQG ÁH[LRQ RI WKH MDZ DQG WRLQWURGXFLQJWKHFXUEPRVWULGHUVQHYHU VHHPLQJO\ WKH VLPSOHVW NLQGHVW RSWLRQ UHWUDFWLRQRIWKHQRVH$Q\ELWZLWKORQJ VKDQNV :H\PRXWK 3HOKDP 'XWFK *DJ WDNHWKLVVWHSDQGUHPDLQLQDVQDIÁHIRU however there are now many variations and Elevator bits- employ a leverage effect WKHLUHQWLUHULGLQJOLYHV VXEJURXSVZLWKLQWKLVW\SH0RVWVLPSO\ Continued Feb/March 2010 - Page 35 All bits can affect the horse across any one or more RIVHYHQSDUWVRIWKHKRUVH·VKHDG7KH\DUHWKHOLSV the bars, the palate, the nose, the curb groove, the tongue and the poll.

ZLWK SUHVVXUH RQ WKH SROO DQG DFURVV WKH ORZHUMDZLQFUHDVLQJZLWKWKHOHQJWKRIWKH VKDQNV GAG BITS

&RQWUDU\ WR SRSXODU WKRXJKW WKH 'XWFK Photo suppled by www.nobitbridles.com *DJ LV QRW D JDJ EXW UHDOO\ ZRUNV DV D Bitless employ more suble forces than bitted OHYHUDJHELWHPSOR\LQJVRPHWLPHVVHYHUH EULGOHVDQGPLPLFWKHXVHRIDVQDIÁHELW7KLV1R%LW SROO SUHVVXUH DQG IRUFH DFURVV WKH ORZHU does not work like a , use nose MDZWKXVFUHDWLQJDKHDGORZHULQJHIIHFW SUHVVXUHRULQÁLFWSDLQRQDKRUVHZLWKQRUPDOXVH DORQJWKHVHFKHHNSLHFHVVRDVWRGUDZWKHPRXWKSLHFHXSZDUGVLQ ,GHDOO\ D 'XWFK JDJ RI WKH  RU  ULQJ WKHKRUVHVPRXWK7KHDFWLRQRIWKHJDJLVDOPRVWHQWLUHO\RQWKH YDULHW\ ZRXOG EH ULGGHQ ZLWK WZR UHLQV $ WUXH *DJ ELW KDV D KHDG OLIWLQJ DFWLRQ KRUVH·VOLSVWKRXJKWKHUHLVVRPHSROOSUHVVXUHZLWKOLWWOHRUQR RQHRIWKHVQDIÁHDQGRQHRQWKHOHYHUDJH 7KHFKHHNSLHFHVRIWKHEULGOHUXQWKURXJK WRQJXHRUEDUSUHVVXUH $GGLQJPDUWLQJDOHVWLJKWQRVHEDQGVHWF ULQJV  WR SUHYHQW RYHUEHQGLQJ DQG JLYH KROHVLQWKHELWULQJVGLUHFWO\RQWRWKHUHLQV DOWHUWKLVDFWLRQ ,WLVVLPSO\DVQDIÁHELWWKDWIXUWKHUDFFHQWXDWHV UHOLHIWRWKHKRUVHIURPFRQVWDQWSUHVVXUH :KHQUHLQSUHVVXUHLVDSSOLHGWKHELWUXQV WKH OLIWLQJ DFWLRQ 7KH VHYHULW\ RI WKLV ELW LV JRYHUQHG E\ WKH QDWXUHRIWKHULGHU·VKDQGVDQGLVLQGLUHFWUDWLRWRWKHFRPSHWHQFH RIWKHULGHU,GHDOO\WKHFKHHNSLHFHVVKRXOGKDYHDVWRSÀWWHGWR OLPLWWKHXSZDUGVDFWLRQRIWKHELWDQGDVHFRQGUHLQXVHGRQWKH ELWULQJVVRDVWRHPSOR\WKHJDJDFWLRQRQO\ZKHQQHFHVVDU\,W LVDQH[DPSOHRIPHFKDQLFDOPHDQVWRSURGXFHDVWURQJV\VWHP RIFRQWURODQGKDVDSODFHLQFRPSHWLWLRQULGLQJZKHQXVHGE\ V\PSDWKHWLFKDQGV NOSE-BRIDLES OR BITLESS BRIDLES 7KLVLVGHÀQHWHO\DÀHOGZKHUHWKHUHDUHPDQ\YDULDWLRQV)URP WKH KDFNDPRUH ERVDOV DQG QRZ ¶FRPELQDWLRQ EULGOHV· WKDW HPSOR\ERWKWKHQRVHDFWLRQDQGWKHDFWLRQRIDELWWKLVLVWKH VXEMHFWDUHDRIDQHQWLUHVHULHVRIDUWLFOHVLQLWVHOI7KHWUDGLWLRQDO KDFNDPRUHLVQRWQHFHVVDULO\DVNLQGDQRSWLRQDVLWÀUVWDSSHDUV DVLWDSSOLHVSUHVVXUHRQWKHSROOWKHQRVHDQGWKHFXUEJURRYH 7KHVWUHQJWKRIWKLVDFWLRQGHSHQGVDJDLQRQWKHOHQJWKRIWKH VKDQNEXWHLWKHUZD\WKHKDFNDPRUHLVDSRZHUIXOPHWKRGRI FRQWURO5HFHQWGHYHORSPHQWVRIWKHELWOHVVEULGOHVHPSOR\PRUH VXEWOHIRUFHVDQGPLPLFWKHXVHRIWKHVQDIÁHEULGOHDVZHOODV JLYLQJPRUHGLUHFWLRQDOFRQWUROWKDQWKH+DFNDPRUH $VZLWKDOOW\SHVRIELWWKHDFWLRQDQGVHYHULW\RILWVXVHGHSHQGV RQWKUHHPDLQIDFWRUVWKHFRPSHWHQFHRIWKHULGHUWKHKRUVH·V PRXWKFRQIRUPDWLRQDQGFRUUHFWÀWWLQJRIWKHELW Part 2 on bitting will look at a logical pre-bitting checklist and assessing the horse’s mouth and suitability for a particular type of bit.

Feb/March 2010 - Page 36 Dutch

Running Gag Bit

7KHVHYHULW\RIWKLVELWLV governed by the nature of the rider’s hand. A true Gag bit has a head lifting action, which works almost entirely on the horse’s lips, though there is some poll pressure, Photo suppled by www.nobitbridles.com with little or no tongue or bar pressure.

DORQJWKHVHFKHHNSLHFHVVRDVWRGUDZWKHPRXWKSLHFHXSZDUGVLQ WKHKRUVHVPRXWK7KHDFWLRQRIWKHJDJLVDOPRVWHQWLUHO\RQWKH KRUVH·VOLSVWKRXJKWKHUHLVVRPHSROOSUHVVXUHZLWKOLWWOHRUQR WRQJXHRUEDUSUHVVXUH $GGLQJPDUWLQJDOHVWLJKWQRVHEDQGVHWF DOWHUWKLVDFWLRQ ,WLVVLPSO\DVQDIÁHELWWKDWIXUWKHUDFFHQWXDWHV WKH OLIWLQJ DFWLRQ 7KH VHYHULW\ RI WKLV ELW LV JRYHUQHG E\ WKH QDWXUHRIWKHULGHU·VKDQGVDQGLVLQGLUHFWUDWLRWRWKHFRPSHWHQFH RIWKHULGHU,GHDOO\WKHFKHHNSLHFHVVKRXOGKDYHDVWRSÀWWHGWR OLPLWWKHXSZDUGVDFWLRQRIWKHELWDQGDVHFRQGUHLQXVHGRQWKH ELWULQJVVRDVWRHPSOR\WKHJDJDFWLRQRQO\ZKHQQHFHVVDU\,W LVDQH[DPSOHRIPHFKDQLFDOPHDQVWRSURGXFHDVWURQJV\VWHP RIFRQWURODQGKDVDSODFHLQFRPSHWLWLRQULGLQJZKHQXVHGE\ V\PSDWKHWLFKDQGV NOSE-BRIDLES OR BITLESS BRIDLES 7KLVLVGHÀQHWHO\DÀHOGZKHUHWKHUHDUHPDQ\YDULDWLRQV)URP WKH KDFNDPRUH ERVDOV DQG QRZ ¶FRPELQDWLRQ EULGOHV· WKDW HPSOR\ERWKWKHQRVHDFWLRQDQGWKHDFWLRQRIDELWWKLVLVWKH VXEMHFWDUHDRIDQHQWLUHVHULHVRIDUWLFOHVLQLWVHOI7KHWUDGLWLRQDO KDFNDPRUHLVQRWQHFHVVDULO\DVNLQGDQRSWLRQDVLWÀUVWDSSHDUV DVLWDSSOLHVSUHVVXUHRQWKHSROOWKHQRVHDQGWKHFXUEJURRYH 7KHVWUHQJWKRIWKLVDFWLRQGHSHQGVDJDLQRQWKHOHQJWKRIWKH VKDQNEXWHLWKHUZD\WKHKDFNDPRUHLVDSRZHUIXOPHWKRGRI FRQWURO5HFHQWGHYHORSPHQWVRIWKHELWOHVVEULGOHVHPSOR\PRUH VXEWOHIRUFHVDQGPLPLFWKHXVHRIWKHVQDIÁHEULGOHDVZHOODV JLYLQJPRUHGLUHFWLRQDOFRQWUROWKDQWKH+DFNDPRUH $VZLWKDOOW\SHVRIELWWKHDFWLRQDQGVHYHULW\RILWVXVHGHSHQGV RQWKUHHPDLQIDFWRUVWKHFRPSHWHQFHRIWKHULGHUWKHKRUVH·V PRXWKFRQIRUPDWLRQDQGFRUUHFWÀWWLQJRIWKHELW Part 2 on bitting will look at a logical pre-bitting checklist and assessing the horse’s mouth and suitability for a particular type of bit. About The Author Anita Marchesani is the founder and operator of Bit Bank Australia and Bella Equestrian, and is an advocate for a holistic approach to bitting the horse. Her equestrian experience LVODUJHO\LQWKH¿HOGRIHYHQWLQJ For more information visit the web site: www. bellaequestrian.com.au

Feb/March 2010 - Page 37