Your opinion on a certain bit..?

Good analogy :]

I must say, no matter how strong my horse was, I wouldn't put this in their mouth... But that's just me. I had a horse who was strong as a steam train by everybody elses standards, but I figured him out through training and using a bit of reverse psychology. If I had of put one of these in his mouth, I think he would have killed me. I rode him in a myler comfort snaffle.

I went to a bit seminar where they told us that your inside arm is close in sensation to a horse's mouth. So if you put a bit so it's laying over your inner elbow and pull it from the back, you'll get a feel of what it's like for the horse. Definetely keeps you light handed!

I do agree with you, WS. When I was younger and very impressionable, my trainer had me ride my gelding in a single twisted wire - I regret it big time. It wasn't for long and I had him back in a french link.. I still cringe at the picture where you can see the small wire attachment to the ring.
At least I have good hands... *sigh*

About the only good thing to come out of that experience, I bet :]

I had good hands going into using that ugly thing... even more respect for it afterwards!

It;s sad how many people don't understand the correlation with what your hands do andthe pain a horse can feel via the bit.

One way to find out - put it in your mouth!

When I was a junior staff, a girl there put a stick in my mouth (lol!) to demostrate the action of a bit. Ouchie.

Of course, keeping in mind that horses eat hay - ouch - and some (Denny included) love thistles, so it's not exactly as they feel it.