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Post by Emily+Meg on Dec 28, 2007 11:15:23 GMT 1
This has turned into an interesting and informative discussion, hurrah!
The person who PM-ed me, is a newbie - I think only 22 posts or so. Her ohter posts seemed normal and not inflammatory (sp?). So I think she had best interests at heart, etc, and just didnt go about it in the right way perhaps. So keep posting, if you are reading this thread, dont leave or anything.
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pip
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 3,797
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Post by pip on Dec 28, 2007 11:52:05 GMT 1
Well, it may be IH, but it is also a bit "Holier Than Thou." Different horses go in different bits, and if you go hunting you have to be in control for your own safety, that of the horse and other people, hounds, spectators.
If you find you horse is easily controllable in your choice of bit, then use what you have to.
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Post by sarahfox on Dec 28, 2007 12:24:52 GMT 1
It may just be that the person pming Emily felt that being new and with Emily being so well liked ( rightly so!) on here,she would be shot down in flames for saying anything against what Emily is doing. To be fair it is absolutely true that we do stick by our friends on here unless we think they are totally wrong so it could be rather intimidating for a new poster to try and raise such issues on the board.xx
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Post by rhillahorse on Dec 28, 2007 12:33:23 GMT 1
Well, I don't know. I think if you really think you have a valid point you should stand up and be counted and be prepared to back it up, regardless of whether people are likely to disagree with you. This is one of the reasons why I didn't like some aspects of the old anon section. IMO if you have an opinion, validate it by having the courage to stand by it without hiding behind anonymity (sp?!). I think you have every right to post the thread Emily, and all credit to you for remaining so polite.
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Post by Yann on Dec 28, 2007 13:02:56 GMT 1
Personally I've got no problem with anyone using whatever bit they like if they've thought the situation through, the horse goes well in it and they can ride properly with good hands. Horse and rider safety has to come first and even the calmest and best schooled of horses can become overexcited and forget themselves in some situations, they're not robots.
Let's face it whether you use a dutch gag on the bottom hole out hunting or a pelham with two reins hunting it's going to be there for brakes and brakes alone, and if called in to play will do the same thing, apply pressure. I'd personally not get too precious about the differences between the two. If it isn't needed then a pair of soft hands won't offend the horse in any way.
I tried the less is more thing with a cheeky pony, it basically took advantage as a result. When it was (shock horror) ridden in a flash and dutch gag it behaved impeccably and was ridden on washing line reins most of the time because it knew the rider had the upper hand. It's the real world and not all of us have the time and expertise to be perfect, you just do everything to the best of your ability, life's too short. There's no such thing as an IH bit or a non IH bit IMHO, the intelligence or otherwise comes in with the rider and handler doing the best they can in a given situation.
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Post by Casper on Dec 28, 2007 13:12:31 GMT 1
Well said Yann.
And like everyone else would just like to add my compliments for Emily for the fantastic way she has handled the PM's and this post. You are an absolute credit to the DG xx
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Post by joto on Dec 28, 2007 13:19:26 GMT 1
i think its very rude and totally out of order, even downright ignorant. You know your horses best.
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HFM
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Post by HFM on Dec 28, 2007 13:37:42 GMT 1
echo casper, you've handled this really well emily. and it has turned into a really interesting discussion. I understand and share peoples concerns about the (recently very commonplace) use of dutch gags. However, i feel that you have shown the epitomy (sp? ) of intelligent horsemanship in explaining why the bit is right for your horses (whether you should have had to explain it or not is a whole different kettle of fish!).
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Post by joto on Dec 28, 2007 13:41:00 GMT 1
just a thought, maybe my post above it a bit harsh, maybe the person really doesnt know much about riding and horses. its just when I see "hunting" I expect nasty people to start stirring. i could be wrong.
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Post by mountaingoat on Dec 28, 2007 13:50:04 GMT 1
Wow, you are brave Emily! I would be quivering under my duvet now and wouldn't even have been able to reply Think you handled it really well. My favourite bits at the moment are a Butterfly Pelham which is actually primarily a driving bit but superb for tiny ponies with little soft mouths and my funny black metal (which is supposed to be rusty) French Link loose ring snaffle which i am assured by my mare tastes lovely, i have tried it myself *bleuergh* but she seems to like it - LOL Oooh, my pony is in a butterfly pelham! It's a two ring one with a mullen mouth and he's wonderful in it. He hates snaffles. Bruno has a sweet iron bit and I had a bit of a lick on it once and I thought it tasted quite nice But I also eat horse biscuits... I agree with harsh bits in soft hands being better than soft bits in harsh hands, although, like it was pointed out - soft bits in soft hands would be ideal. I have a french link loose ring snaffle which I got for Bru but never really used. What do people think of those? Just another question - my pony and I have a few issues with our brakes. I'd like to try riding in a dually, but how much stopping power have they got? I don't like to have to haul around on things but it does sound like a nice idea.
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Post by pinkpony on Dec 28, 2007 15:02:13 GMT 1
wow, what an interesting thread. I have learned soooooo much about bits! Well done emily, you take the credit for this thread, its a shame your PMer didnt think things through, then perhaps they could have been the OP for such an interseting topic. I do think the tone of the pm was rude (in a cyber way) and indeed appears as an enticement (sp?) for a row. Doing it by pm is a bit of a bully attitude too. I think one good thing about this dg is it (could do more)is moving away from the "I know best, I know more than you so I must be right" attitude......for years I have been bullied by "knowledgable" (sp) horse people while I stood back and watch them ruin their horses...thats what prompted me to study for the mrpch in the first place, so I could just do it all a bit nicer.x.x.x.
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Vicky&Beenie
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"The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears..."
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Post by Vicky&Beenie on Dec 28, 2007 15:38:27 GMT 1
i use a dutch gag! nothing wrong with it. if it wasnt severe you wouldnt be able to stop. some people dont know what it is like to have a genuinly STRONG horse.
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Post by dunoon12 on Dec 28, 2007 16:55:09 GMT 1
Actually i didn't find the replies rude more opinionated, but hey people shouldnt put posts on this chat page if you cant take the replies. Yes there are some very knowlegable people, and people with very little knowledge at least thats what you can tell by some replies on various posts not this one. So if you are brave enough to put a post on and expect replies then you need to sort the wheat from the chaff and and make your own mind up. Its not about this website its about the people who use the chat pages and not all of those people will be members of IH or be IH minded. But with regard to this issue on bits, then the emily has already stated that she uses snaffles and intends to use them on hunts so thats progress isnt it! secondly she has also stated that she isnt confident with a double bridle (i assume thats what she means when referring to two reins) which is also fine, as double bridles should only be used by those who are confident and know how to use them properly. Lastly when putting a post on you allow yourself open to all various comments and replies so long as they do not contain rude words then as is said you have to sort the wheat from the chaff, the good from the bad the polite from the rude and those that appear knowelgeable and those that arent but dont put a post on if you cant handle the replies!!! one more thing if you feel they are exceptinally rude then you contact IH and they will remove it thats simple really. You cant afford to be over sensitive when asking for advice on these pages but at the same time people should alwasy be polite when replying to posts.
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Cheryl Walmsley
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Post by Cheryl Walmsley on Dec 28, 2007 18:00:49 GMT 1
I think the point is D12, emily wasnt asking for advice. She didn't put up a thread about bits did she? the person just took it upon themselves to PM her after spotting the bits on her pictures. Her original thread was just telling us all what a nice time she had hunting. If you post on here asking for opinions or help then I would completely agree with everything you say but she didn't.
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ajb
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Post by ajb on Dec 28, 2007 18:06:07 GMT 1
sorry havent trawled through all of this BUT IMHO people who have "criticized" you - ask them one question - have they ever been out hunting on something that is genuinely (and I mean that genuinely) trying to tug your arms out of your sockets!! Horses out hunting are a completely different ball game - I know to my cost! If it works and you know what you are doing and to my eyes you certainly do - dont worry what others say.
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