The difference?

Alright, so I've been looking in to a lot of the NH approach just to kind of see what it has to offer for me and Ice....I was particularly struck by the Parelli "horsenality", mostly because it rang true for my horse. From what I can tell, Ice is an LB Introvert, which, later in the program, would mean he would get the C3 bit (to be used with the cradle bridle of course). So my question is....whats the difference between the C3 and something like a reining bit like this?

About $300.


*slaps self for posting.*

Ok, back to regular programming.

ROFLMFAO!! Allie, you are just too darn much.

I really don't mean to offend any Parelli followers, but WHY is the Parelli stuff so expensive?? I just moved to a Parelli barn and its my first time being exposed to die hard NH. Everyone uses authentic Parelli gear (lead ropes, carrot stick, halters, saddles, etc). I am in total sticker shock when I see the prices on this stuff. Is it really completely different than other brands claming to have the same stuff? For example, the carrot stick is $60, plus $20 for the savvy string attachment. Abetta makes the same thing on ebay for something like $15. Is it really different?!?!

I don't see any difference in quality. I'm not a die-hard Parelli follower, but I do like NH in general, and apply a lot of the groundwork principles when dealing with my own horse. I tend to lean towards Clinton Anderson's methods, but the same price tag argument can easily be made for his equipment.

I have a "bootleg carrot stick" (string with leather popper included at no extra cost... )that I bought at Equine Affaire three years ago for under $10. The only reason I own it is beacuse I couldn't pass up the price (My dressage whip with baler twine tied to the end was doing a well enough job...). I can say that the concept is wonderful, the stick is a much better tool than my improvised version, but $60 (plus $20 for the string )wonderful? Methinks not.

As long as you know what you're doing, and the tack/tool fits you and your horse and you correctly (by fit I mean both physically accomodating, appropriate to the situation, and appropriate to the level of training/expertise), it's a good tool.

For myself, I simply refuse to pay anything over $20 for a rope halter. The case can be made and argued for a saddle of higher price perhaps being of a generally higher quality, but a good rope halter is a rope halter. Why pay $60 for CA's when I can buy an equally serviceable halter at TSC for $12?

If I must have a brand name item (a truly rare occurrence; I think there have been a couple of eclipses, six blue moons, and a coon's age since the last time that happened ), my favorite word... eBay!

LOL! The NH brand name stuff isn't any cheaper on ebay either!! Just seems a wee bit crazy... Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread but JustDressageIt's post seemed to hit the nail on the head!

Pretty much what everyone else said. There isn't really much of a differance. If you find a similar bit your horse likes and use a regular old headstall, you'll be fine.

There is no difference, and I'm glad that you noticed something funny was going on here. I feel just awful for all of the people who think they need to pay all of that money on this name brand equipment in order for it to work. It really is a shame.

The Cradle bits have independent side movement which is really nice. They come in 3 different mouthpieces, depending on which Horsenality your horse is. Have you seen the westen shank bits Parelli offers? There isn't too much difference b/w the shanked bits and the one you posted. However, with the Cradle bits you also have communication in 4 other areas, not just in the mouth like the bit you posted. The actual mouthpiece will "open up" when you pick up the rein, helping "open the door" for the horse, if you will. It makes things so much more clear to the horse. My warmblood is a LBI as well and he looooooves the Cradle Bridle! He likes his snaffle too, but I see a noticable difference when he's in the Cradle.

first off, that is a shank bit, whereas the cradle is not. The cradle, when put on the smaller of the rings, activates the noseband more than the bit, where on the loose ring, it activates the bit more. Where as with this bit, put on the ring right by the mouth piece, it activates the bit...put it on the lower one...and it activates the bit even more

Mouthpiece wise, that's about the same (though a little different), but the cradle was meant to be used with two hands (or you could use one), where all shank bits are supposed to be used with one hand.