Oh guys, this is great news to hear.
The 3 arabs all told me that the bit doesn't bother them.
My mom will go into the tack room and pick up which ever bridle (parelli hackamore, French link, or the Dr. Cook Bitless), sometimes Jameel will take the bridle but whenever asked to do something, he'd get really fussy. So that's when my mom knew she'd gotten the wrong bridle. Sometimes, Jameel will shake his head when asked to put the bridle on. When she gets the bridle correctly then everything goes very well. He'll round and give a lot.
She has laid out the bridles and Shhzar will pick his bridle of choice that way.
I have not seen this, I've only been told. But I get a very strong statement from all 3 of the horses. " We don't have a problem with the bit."
Part of the difference might be, is my mom doesn't stear with the reins, it's all in her seat. She started Shhzar and Jameel in the hackamore and then went to the bit, but then found Dr. Cook's and bought it. As long as, she gets the right one, there is no fussiness.
Jameel did tell me that he prefers the hackamore when they go out on the trails, if they are just going to stroll. But in the arena or out on the trails to do exercises, it's whatever he feels like choosing.
What will be very interesting is when I get down there and ask my mom to ride with nothing. I'll be intrigued with what they have to say to about that.
Jazz told me that he doesn't like the bit. What is interesting about him is that he took the bit quietly. He's never done that since Katy bought him, a year ago. My mom has been helping Katy to have a better relationship with Jazz. Jazz is afraid of going forward. He sees darkness and backing he feels safer doing than to go forward.
Last week, he gave me a lot of his anixieties. He felt that if he went forward, he would die. If he didn't push the other horses around and bite them, he would die. He had to show that he was strong. This was not him at all. He is actually a very humble and sensitive horse and very caring. There has been a huge change in him toward Katy and toward the other horses. His real self is coming out. I hate to cry and boy did I cry that day.
Anyway, for the very first time, he took the bit with his head down and relaxed. But he told me he doesn't like the bit. Well, Katy just got a mechanical hackamore and hopfully he'll like that. I have never met Katy nor met Jazz. I have no idea what they look like. This whole experience has been interesting. He'll be trying on his new bridle tomorrow.
This morning, my stomach was knotted up. I called my mom right away. It was Jazz. He doesn't want to be ridden for a couple of days, at least. Katy's head is busy. Well, it turned out that they weren't planning on seeing him today and only doing groundwork with him tomorrow,to give him time to get use to the hackamore. Katy, today, was going on a trail ride with one of her other horses. I can see how Jazz might've gotten a bit confused and worried.
Okay, so this is long, but these are the two seperate occassions, that I have had the guts to talk about bits. Actually, Jazz came out with it. I didn't ask him.
April