It has been sort of rough the past few weeks. My husband got the flu, then I started having an exacerbation on my MS, then I got the flu and could not do much for two weeks. Luckily I do not have permament harm this time, so it is back to riding!

Every year after the summer blahs I always worry if my hands are good enough to ride in a bit. Forced by the bad effects of the heat on my MS I HAVE to ride bitless during the summertime. I am so grateful for the cross-under bitless bridles, the tremor in my hands does not irritate the horse's mouth and I have enough control to ride lightly so my hands do not get into bad habits like they can using my old jumping cavesson bridle. However, even with all the wonderful control and being able to use my hands lightly, there is something missing, a connection between the horse's mind and my mind, where I can FEEL what the horse is planning to do. So every fall I await the cooler weather with some anxiety, will the horse consent to contact with my hands or will this be the year I loose it all and the horse tells me that my hands are just too bad?

I got to ride Mia twice this week, during my lesson I used the Dr. Cook's bitless while I worked with my newly weakened leg muscles. I got good results when I used contact with the bitless, and as I find that the bitless takes a lighter hand than the bit I decided that I would face my horse's judgment and take the big step now, when it is still somewhat hot and just see how bad I had gotten during the summer. So I got out my Micklem multi-bridle, the bit clips, my eggbutt Dr. Bristol snaffle and my 1/2 reins and went for it on Friday. Mia was not totally pleased to have to open her mouth for the bit but after a second she cooperated--so far so good.

After a minute or so of walking in the ring I took the big step and asked her for contact. Mia reached for the bit, and she accepted my contact! JOY!!! The softness of her contact, the relaxed tongue and jaw, the total acceptance of my hands, it was so wonderful. I worked at the walk for a few minutes with no problems, and then I asked for the trot. Again, no problems, my hands still work! There was no real difference between using the bitless and using the bit, and I could go from loose reins to contact without her head moving at all. I was back in business.

I find that when I switch a horse from the cross-under bitless bridle to the bit that there is an adjustment period. Horses are instantly responsive to my use of the bitless, I have no problems with control, and can give aids with a twitch of my little finger. You'd think that putting a bit on would increase this sensitivity, but that is not how it works. At first I find that the horse is LESS responsive with the bit. It is like I have to re-awaken the horse's mouth each fall. Slowing down or stopping--the response is slower at first. Turning--what is turning?--the horse says that it was easier to turn with the cross-under. Timing my aids to the horse's footfalls, giving and taking with my hands, repeating the aid at the proper time of the horse's stride, and after a few times the horse remembers--yes, bit in mouth, signals are now being given by the bit, the bit actually means something when it moves--and finally the realization that she (the horse) is supposed to OBEY the bit. After 15 minutes it is as if I never took the bit off, Mia responds to my commands willingly and continues her wonderful soft contact.

I love riding in a bit. I find that the horse's tongue gives me early warnings about what the horse is thinking of doing. The horse thinks about doing something and her tongue moves BEFORE she does it. If I can catch that initial tongue movement my hands can say NO (gently of course, usually just twitching my little finger), and the horse says OK, I was just thinking about that 'disobedience', you caught me, and then goes on moving with no sudden moves. Usually my riding teacher does not see this conversation between me and the horse when I use the bit, there are no changes in speed or direction and the horse's head does not move. Just a little conversation, from the horse--I want to do this, from me--this is not what I want you to do, from the horse-- I guess I won't have fun after all, all this before that big movement of horse's muscles that launches the horse into space. I do not have this conversation with the bitless bridle, I do not have the early warning system, and it is a lot harder to stop the 'disobedience' without my riding teacher noticing.

My hands learned this conversation during all those hours I used to trail ride. I used to have a part-Arab mare with a screw loose in her head, who at any time would explode at anything that surprised her on the trail. My hands learned to read that mare's tongue, learned how to give that subtle signal of stay the course, and learned how to return to normal contact. So long my hands correctly interpreted that mare's tongue I could have nice, peaceful trail rides, with the mare behaving every step of the way, if I did not read the tongue correctly I would be carted all over creation desperately trying to regain control. I did not have active MS back then, and I am very grateful that this crazy mare taught me the tongue language of the horse while I was capable of learning it.

And now a lot of my security comes from being able to correctly read the horse's intentions. Riding bitless I do not have as much of an early warning system which means that often I am taken by surprise. Luckily I do not hurt the horse's mouth when the horse moves suddenly in the bitless. But riding on contact with the bit I can read the horse so much better that I do not have to worry about the sudden moves as much--I "feel" them coming and can stop the movement gently with my fingers. I am still surprised sometimes, but even then I regain control using a lot less strength with the bit--SO LONG I DO NOT HURT THE HORSE'S MOUTH. Gently applied hands aids at the proper moment of the horse's stride, usually that is all that I need to keep control of the horse.

Hallelujah--I can ride with a bit!
Hallelujah--I can get back to more effective training!

Thank you Mia for accepting my contact again.

You do not realize what this means to me.

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Comment by Sarah at HorseJobs.ca on September 29, 2009 at 4:20pm
This is a WONDERFUL post Jackie! Congratulations!! :)
Comment by Jackie Cochran on September 29, 2009 at 9:39am
This crazy mare, Suzi, was the horse that started me on becoming an advanced rider. I had no choice if I was to ride her. At that time I had no access to a hunt seat instructor, I had to come up with the answers all by myself. A great education!
Comment by Geoffrey Pannell on September 27, 2009 at 7:36pm
It's great that you keep pluging away Jackie and don't let the MS rule your life. Just goes to show you that even the crazy one's can teach you something. ( That's the horse I'm talking about , not you Jackie LOL)
Comment by William Micklem on September 27, 2009 at 10:32am
I am so pleased for you Jackie...it is wonderful to hear that my MICKLEM BRIDLE has again done the job....Some days I have to pinch myself because I can not believe how good it is...your enthusiasm and joy is infectious...William

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