skye
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by skye on Jul 7, 2010 12:43:56 GMT
Well said Jinja! I think until you have had a horse that won't settle in a 'normal' bit you really can't comment. Having been through this myself I can happily say I would us any bit my horse was happy in!
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Post by horseychick on Jul 7, 2010 14:03:06 GMT
here we go again. oppinions will always be strong about bitting etc. And that is all it is someones oppinion. There are fors and againsts for everything. I use the Swales and i like it on my D because he likes it, it works, im happy, hes happy, we are safe and sound, this is fact. He does not lean and rides beautifully with a correct head carriage. He has competed in it for 3 years without a single judges comment. He has been judge ridden with very high ride mark and won many many Championships at County level. And he is certainly not the only one. There is also far more than one person on this site that knows one or two things about horses. We all learn things from each other and share our views and thoughts which is surely what this site is for? Because none of us know everything! god only knows why everything has to come down to bit*hing and slating everything. Here Here,well said. my horse goes well in a swales & has since 2004.
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Post by loulou25 on Jul 7, 2010 20:27:50 GMT
No, I completly agree with you Sanlirra! What I meant was you should use what you and your horse are comfortable in!
I also agree like you say that the abuse of a bit is wrong no matter what bit it may be! Each to their own and no one knows their horse or pony better than you do! :-)
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Post by traffik on Jul 8, 2010 14:03:36 GMT
Dantheman, youre correct yes the swales are driving bits, presumablyproviding brakes. i do struggle to understand why they are now -fashionable- for ridden show classes, possibly the quick fix for the unschooled.
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Post by horseychick on Jul 8, 2010 22:57:08 GMT
Dantheman, youre correct yes the swales are driving bits, presumablyproviding brakes. i do struggle to understand why they are now -fashionable- for ridden show classes, possibly the quick fix for the unschooled. yes they were driving bits! i take it you haven't really read the post properly to understand everybody else's experiences!? i've used my swales since 2004 so we are going back 6 years here,and my mare is well schooled but very forward going,feel alot happier i have brakes and my mare goes well in this bit.your very welcome to try my mare and see if you could ride her in a snaffle. a tip take out some kind of insurance! ;D
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Post by traffik on Jul 9, 2010 15:25:12 GMT
I have read the entire thread actually. for occasional use, no probs, ie in the showring for brakes, i understand that, but in your case for everyday use, i dont think a DRIVING bit is appropriate.
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Post by horseychick on Jul 9, 2010 22:40:43 GMT
I have read the entire thread actually. for occasional use, no probs, ie in the showring for brakes, i understand that, but in your case for everyday use, i dont think a DRIVING bit is appropriate. I'm Happy,my mare Happy & don't really care what you think as you don't own the mare. if you read they use to be driving bit & i worked as a groom on 2 driving yards & they always used liverpool driving bits. the offers there!? ;D
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Post by Grace1991 on Jul 10, 2010 9:50:41 GMT
We had one in our pony as it used to lean quite a lot and was perfectly happy in it, we did get the occasional judge that would drop the pony for having it in, but the pony did get two hoys tickets using one. Some animals are just genuinely happiest in the bit.
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Post by traffik on Jul 10, 2010 15:04:00 GMT
i wrote the bits directory for various saddlerys including robinsons, k.luxfords etc based on the practical use of said bits. if it suits you thats fine by me, but longterm maybe not the best solution longterm.
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Post by bessieboo on Jul 11, 2010 9:10:45 GMT
It is preferable to have a child riding a safe, schooled pony rather than sticking a massive tonne of iron in its mouth and you don't need an ideal world to achieve that. I don't think any of us can compare ourselves or our horses to Ellen Whittaker and any of her mounts and I think Hollycane knows one or two things about horses. for your info , our pony is a super safe pony who goes well in the swales my daughter can ride very well better than some adults she has had flat lessons from the age of 6 and has been jumping ja ponies at the age of 10 jumping 110m , she now has m e her life has been taking away from her all is left is her riding when shes well ,when you have 3o ponies up your backside in the showring and one good wrist and another thats so swollen it cant be used whats the problem using the swales when the ponies happy , as said the judge should be looking for good hands in any bit whether swales or snaffle and in an ideal world my daughter would be in school and not housebound and have the use of both wrists Slightly off topic but I also have M.E and that is hard enough for me to come to terms with so for your daughter as a child it must be horrendous. I would agree that with an illness like this if you need a little extra help to keep doing something that you love you should do it, be it a bit that might be stronger than you would normally use or something else. As with anything else in life, in the right hands these bits will have their place and be useful. In the wrong hands they will be horrendous.
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graysonsdusk
Junior Member
Graysons Show Team - Fells and Shetland Ponies
Posts: 99
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Post by graysonsdusk on Jul 14, 2010 9:17:27 GMT
I use one of these Swales pelham for my Fell Pony mare, she is very strong and hates poll pressure. She goes fab in hers, like many others I have tried every single bit going and found that the £62 I spent on it worked wonders.
My mare used to just lean on the rugby pelham, while her head got deeper and deeper onto the forehand which isn't good. It does depend on the problem you are having with the horses whether it suits or not. It was originally designed for carriage driving to increase lighter head carriage and further the control of the horse. IT IS ONLY A SEVERE BIT IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!
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Post by greygirl21 on Aug 7, 2010 21:53:24 GMT
My hunter mare went in one, she is the most easiest pony, and is a complete push button ride. she comes back to voice, and hands literally only need to hold the reins. however, due to her conformation, - she had this big thick flabby tongue, and so therefore she couldnt physically take a pelham, or a double bridle, as it will just be too much in her mouth. my instructor told me to try the swale. I thought it helped my pony, as she could sometimes become overbent, and it made her sit ever so slightly more on her hindlegs, and come up a bit more. the bottom rein was left hanging like a washing line, and very good hands were used. I quite liked this bit in this particular horse, however, i think for anyone wishing to use this bit, good hands, and skill is a must. - this bit is not for a novice rider just wanting a quick fix
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