coo, would you find this a bit rude?

[horsey123]

THEY ARE EMILYS HORSES EMILY WILL RIDE THEM IN WHAT EVER BIT SHE WANTS AND IT HAS FEK ALL TO DO WITH ANT ONE ELSE SO LET HER BE ....

sorry it was doing my head

[Cheryl Walmsley]

I don't think anyone on this thread was getting at Emily H123.

[debbiec]

yep I'd agree it's rude. You're far more tolerant than me though. Not sure I'd bother justifying myself to someone like that. My reply would have been limited to 2 words

[sarahfox]

So would you say that anybody should be allowed to do anything with their horse and it has 'fek all' to do with anybody else then?
What about all the rodeo riders that ( deservedly) got a slating on here the other week then? is that ok? what about the chap on my 'on the bit' thread that beat his horse to death with a sledgehammer?no? didnt think so,but that just means its a question of where we each draw the line.I would suggest that the vast majority on here are far kinder to their horses than on many other furums and I think that emily is using the gag in the most thoughtful way possible,but I still think that we should all hold the right to question what we personally believe is cruel,its the only way forward into civilisation imo.

[Emily+Meg]

lol no it wasnt SF.

Its ok SF we dont have to agree - people dont have to, its a forum. Its just the tone that got to me! I do love my horses.

I like opinions and things but it was the tone, and via PM, I prefer discussions in the open - I think they feel more like they are 'getting at you' via pm.

Thanks for the comment about my IH dealings with people!

edited for dreaful spelling. I personally would never send a PM like that, I would try to bring it up tactfully on a thread related to it.

but I like this forum, I like opinions, I do genuinely want to learn, and I think EVERYONE can learn something from EVERYONE.

[cubic]

Like you meg, I think the first message is fine, but the subsequent one has a different tone to it that's asking you questions, but implying you're in the wrong before you answer.

A few years ago everyone used bubble bits, they seemed to be the default, and I wasn't keen on them but knew some horses that they suited. Now the tide has turned and they've become very unpopular. It's funny how fashions change.

Every horse is different. Sarahfox, is it the bubble bit in particular you object to, or anything with poll action, or anything that's not a snaffle?

When I'm hunting I prefer to hunt with 2 reins if there is a bit with the potential for 2 reins that suits the horse I'm on (whether that be a double, pelham, running gag, bubble bit etc), enabling me to ride on the snaffle rein for the majority (and often all) of the time, with extra brakes if I need them. Many horses enjoy hunting, and other activities in bits other than a snaffle, and some mouths are just as damaged after a day in a snaffle as a day in a bubble bit if there are rough hands at the end of the reins.

[Emily+Meg]

The person has PM-ed again, in a similar tone. Do I ignore? or continue to justify?

[varkie]

I can understand this persons original interest, and kind of see where they're coming from. But as they go on, the politest thing for me to say is that it isn't very well phrased! If they don't mean to be rude, they possibly need to reread what they've written.

I would be inclined to reply and suggest that you agree to disagree. If they're just continuing to object, and you're justifying, seems like a pointless conversation. They've said why they don't like the bits, you've said why you use them. No one is going to change anyones mind, and what else is to be said?

[Cheryl Walmsley]

TBH i think they should post on here now if they have something to say. You are taking all comments much better than anyone else I know would and are happy that you are doing your best for your horse. Why wouldn't the person PMing you be as open and honest as that.

[sarahfox]

Quite agree re the rough hands cubic,although I feel that the aim should be soft bit and soft hands! Maybe thats because I hate having sore shoulders after a ride though!lol!
Seriously,its not so much the poll pressure as the leverage applied to the bars of the mouth,and thats the bit that causes the unseen damage too.
I would prefer to see horses in a comfort or lozenge snaffle above all,as I honestly dont believe that causing the horse pain is the way to train a horse.However,if more brakes are needed( and also sometimes in the right hands for other reasons,but thats not relevent here)I would prefer to see a pelham ( loads of different mouthpieces to choose from so I would think there would be one to suit the vast majority if really needed) with 2 reins,the curb only used as enmergency brakes as,after all anything is better than running into a car.

[Azrael]

I think I'd ignore, unless new message has something new or useful in it. I think you've justified reasons for using the bit and while there's nothing wrong with a polite enquiry on why you use a bit and maybe making a helpful suggestion on alternatives but I think later PMs are rapidly headed towards cheeky.

Bubble bits aren't my favorite but I'd rather see one of those used gently than a snaffle being hauled on and as long as the horse is happy in the bit its all good, especially seeing as most horses haven't read IHDG to know which bits they should like and which are considered the ultimate evil ;D

[flyingdonkey]

my sisters horse come with a dutch gag ( we put it on the large ring and she was fine) in a normal snaffle she was strong and didnt go well, with some practice, transitions etc she is lighter in the hand (i think she was able to 'express' herself more in the snaffle eg alot more foward going (not as tense and never dangerous) which is great she loves to be ridden and loves her jumping) but i used the dutch gag on our first ride out, not just for my safety for hers to! it was very wet. she galloped without brakes (along a walk in a field) and tried to overtake everyone along the high street but if she was in her snaffle it would be no fun galloping along wet cobbles in the town infront of everyone! aslong as your horses are ok with the bit i dont see the problem if mines wernt happy with it and i didnt feel safe i wouldnt have taken part.
its obvious you have your horses welfare first and foremost. If you didnt feel you could hold them things could turn nasty!

[romely]

Leave emily alone.

Yeah you are entitle to your own opinion but that really weren't necessary.
Emily looks after her horses so well, she loves them to pieces. One of those ponies you are talking about that is ridden in 3rd whole, is on loan to me. If you have issues with me hunting her in that bit let know on the open forum.

[flyingdonkey]

ps nikki is gorgeous!

[KoLaTo]

Yes i feel they are rude PM's Emily .......

Mmm, bubble, gag, 3 ring, 2 ring, they all have such different names but what lots of people seem to miss is that if it is a loose ring then it has the total opposite effect of what most are trying to achieve....

The Gag etc yes indeed has poll action and you'd think that the lower the ring you use, the stronger the poll action however as they are all loose rings, they counter effect...... so horsey pulls, loose ring allows bit to bunk up into roof of mouth then rider counters pulling and poll action comes into effect so lowering head but the bit effectively is still high in the mouth so causing horsey to lift and evade more to release the roof of the mouth.....

Pretty daft really isn't it ?

I think they've pretty much been overtaken by different mouthpieces to be honest althou can see why they are still so fashionable but it's not until you actually study the exact workings of them that you see how mismatched the actions are.....?