I will start my products with my very best product review, so far. This, for Dakota and I, was the single item which completely changed our relationship. Please read, then consider giving it a shot!
To give some background, I had owned Dakota for about 2.5 years and had arrived at the point where we were going to have to make some changes, or I was considering finding him another home or just not riding him altogether. I love my horse's personality to death. He is the closest to an equine soul-mate I had ever found. But, you see, Dakota rides rather like I would imagine a Ferrari. He is super-duper ultra touch sensitive, and just touching his sides invokes quick movement. To look at him, you don't necessarily know this, as we know each other and are fairly comfortable. But believe me, hop on and he notices every featherlight touch and rein aid. So, after 2.5 years, I was becoming frustrated and, to be honest, a little scared of my horse. He was soft, gentle, and quiet on the ground, but the minute I stepped into the saddle, it was like sitting on a ticking bomb. You know that feeling, right? The one where the horse is PROBABLY not going to run off today but gee it sure feels like he could? And let's not even talk about windy days...So, after climbing aboard, all tense muscles are engaged, and we would go to the arena and engage in the bone jarring fast-walk. After a few contained laps of fast-walk, occasional jigging, and ewe-necked bracing, I would usually decide he was warmed up enough and give him his head, where-by we would go straight to the similarly bone-jarring haulin'-ass canter for 20 minutes. Each time, I hoped he would "get the edge off," and then calm down, but it didn't really work. Stopping required a runway, even in a snaffle bit and featherlight hands, and he would throw his head further in the air and brace for it. Doesn't that sound like fun to you??? At the time, I felt terrible for the fact that I didn't WANT to ride my horse - now, I can't blame myself! A ticking bomb is not so much fun to ride!! And each gait, no matter WHAT I did, had one speed - fast and totally uncomfortable! I know, you are thinking "sign me up for that!"
So, I began rotating through different bits, still fairly mild, but all with the same basic result. Now, I'm an english-trained rider and it went against everything I had ever learned to ride without a bit. I mean, seriously, that's like the most BASIC of skills, right? Only casual girls rode in halters, you know, a really good old horse could do that around the barn, but for everyday riding? And, if I didn't have a bit, how DID I stop my horse? Especially a fast one??
Like most people, I was taught to handle large, strong horses with strong bits, but soft hands. I knew this wasn't going to work on Dakota, though. Anything stronger and he would start seriously looking into ways to leave me eating dirt. And, believe me, he is a mustang and thus clever and creative. Not always a good combination...So, I began trolling the internet for answers. I figured I couldn't be the first person with a similar problem, so maybe someone had the answer? I stumbled onto Dr. Cook's site, and I liked the fact that it was soft, complex like a "real" bridle, and did not contain anything designed to intentionally cause a horse pain for control. And, the tag line go me thinking - "You Have a Better Horse Than You Think." Did I? I felt like I did! I felt like I had a horse who wanted to be good, but something was getting in the way...hard to explain, I know, but Dakota really is a super willing horse. So I chewed on that idea for a while...
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