Bit Question

I definantly agree on not using a harsh bit because u cant slow your horse down and going back to square one on the horse until he is responsive to the bit. Thats another reason why i posted this is because i dont want to get a harsh bit for my horse I LOVE his responsive mouth. He responds well to the bit i use now and seems comfortable with it so do u think i should just stick with it? He was never rode in one before and i dont want to confuse him (sorry about the newbie questions Ive never bought a horse that was trained already lol I always buy they young and train them myself) One more question (sorry) he was shod since he was 2, when i got him we took off the shoes (6-7 months ago) do u think some of the gaiting problems is the new adjusting to not having them? They werent padded or anything just basic shoes. Also he wasnt really trail ridden before we got him, they only rode on paved roads (thats why he was shod). Cause I have noticed if we go across a paved road when he is on it he gaits perfectly but i dont want to re-shoe him and i dont want to ride him on the road barefoot....wow kinda in a pickle huh lol...btw thanks so much to the loyal forum posters who have been being patient with my repedative questions im sorry i just want to make sure i understand stuff before i make a change...I dont want to try the wrong thing and mess him up.

do u think i should just stick with it?

If he works with it fine, keep it.

do u think some of the gaiting problems is the new adjusting to not having them?

Could be his toe length. Was he cut shorter than normal?

im sorry i just want to make sure i understand stuff before i make a change...I dont want to try the wrong thing and mess him up.

You're perfectly fine! You care for your horse! This is a good thing :)

As far as I know his toe length is great...I dont know the correct but my farrier specializes in gaited breeds.

I also read somewhere that it takes 12-16 months for the hooves to "repair themselves and harden" since he was shod for most of his life and all of his riding life...whats ur opinion on that?

I'm not a farrier, so I don't know ;)

Be careful to keep him off rocks as much as you possibly can while barefoot.

Yea we do that as all 9 out there are barefoot.

And I am sorry I even brought it up. I have been on horses 60 of my 62 years.

Sell him my hind-end------ THAT horse has been my riding partner for 19 of his 22 years.

Learn to ride --- I think I have probably slid more horses down hills and back up the other side bareback in my lifetime than any six people and I DON'T ride their mouth in case that was to be the next comment.

I have never had to "reef back" on the bit to get him to slow down. He has never had mouth sores, he has never had issues. He always liked to go-go-go and SO DID I so how he used to travel suited me just fine.

Take a Zanex and get over yourself. Things aren't always as black and white as people think they should be.

Nuff said on this thread it's not yours and it's not mine------------

Well, bragging sure as heck isn't going to get you anywhere.

If you don't need the harsh bit to slow him down, then don't say that's what you use it for. If you do..I still think you need to reconcider why you need it.

If he's used to shoes and you're not very experienced, I'd say to put them back on. He might be sore on all 4 feet and that can be pretty tricky to notice, especially on regular trail ground. His problems might very well come from that. Why don't you want to re-shoe?

Gaiting is easier on hard, even ground than on soft or uneven ground, but he should be able to do it either way.

Yes, it sounds like we aren't getting the whole story, but parts.