My newest video, "A Bit about Bits," is now up. It is about 35 minutes long, but full of good info. There will be two more videos soon. The next will be on transition bits and the last on full blown straight up in the bridle type bits. Hope y'all get something out of it. Please like, comment, and subscribe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAJDfj1iOuU

There was 30 plus minutes of my life that I'll never get back!

I kept waiting for the babe in the bikini. Instead I get the fat dude.

At least he (you) were wearing Wranglers.

I don't remember whether it was your comment or just the text saying to always wear a browband headstall with a chin strap with the snaffle bit.

I usually use a one ear headstall with a chin strap but I see no point in a browband. Is that just more mumbo jumbo like the bit sales folks?

I suppose my one ear headstall could get pushed or pulled back over the horse's head. Seems unlikely but is that your reasoning for a browband?

Interesting video. The best feature is disclosing that most of the horse equipment industry (pads, bits, etc) is just so much bull shit.

And mismatched tires on your trailer. Am I to take you seriously?

And if you don't ride mules, you have no credibility!!

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
There was 30 plus minutes of my life that I'll never get back!
Since you wasted 30 minutes of your life, I'll waste a few minutes of mine and reply to you.

I kept waiting for the babe in the bikini. Instead I get the fat dude.

At least he (you) were wearing Wranglers.

I don't remember whether it was your comment or just the text saying to always wear a browband headstall with a chin strap with the snaffle bit.

I usually use a one ear headstall with a chin strap but I see no point in a browband. Is that just more mumbo jumbo like the bit sales folks?
It surely isn't mumbo jumbo. A browband headstall has a throatlatch, a one ear may, or may not. The throatlatch is the important part, so if that's what you mean by "chin strap" then you're good. I learned this lesson the hard way when a guy I was working with rode by me on a colt's first ride outside (3rd or 4th ride ever) and pulled my headstall off and sent me on a wild ride. Having the snaffle adjusted the way I suggest, they can pick it up and create some slack at the poll. If you have a simple one ear headstall on, it could pop off. I'd say that it's too loose if that happens, but telling you that in the hospital does little good. Safety feature, nothing more, nothing less.

I suppose my one ear headstall could get pushed or pulled back over the horse's head. Seems unlikely but is that your reasoning for a browband?
Yep, and in addition to my above post, I have witnessed a lady in the woods whose mare went to scratch herself on a limb as we rode by and slipped the headstall right off. I saw it and jumped right down and put it back on. Had I not been there, who knows? This lady was plenty experienced also, just one of those things that CAN HAPPEN, so put your seatbelt on and drive safe.

Interesting video. The best feature is disclosing that most of the horse equipment industry (pads, bits, etc) is just so much bull shit.
At least until they start paying for endorsements. Just kidding, I'd never endorse something I don't believe in.

And mismatched tires on your trailer. Am I to take you seriously?
Even more so. I've done careful research and determined that those particular brands and styles placed just as I have them on that old stock trailer are the optimal way to prevent dangerous blowouts. I'll do a future video on tire science just for you Will. All kidding aside, when you have a blowout, you buy the first friggin tire you can, you don't wait to find a matching one.

And if you don't ride mules, you have no credibility!!

In truth, I've ridden a few dozen mules. Probably more of them than you have. I just prefer a horse. I really don't have much against mules, they just take more of my precious time than I feel like I get back in terms of use. If I were packing elk camps around, I'd have mules, though I'd still ride a horse. For cowboying, or winning big bucks, no thanks, I'll keep my horses.

In all seriousness, thanks for watching, and wasting more of your time to give me a hard time.

Chin strap = throat latch. I'm old.

Endorsements can kill objectivity!

I have a bit fetish, I have one of damn near every bit made, I just like bits and spurs and nice headstalls..Actually I only use a couple of them. I like a bosal to start with, then a bosal and ring snaffle..I usually end up with a fairly large chain bit, and on ocassions if my rope horse gets to much into my hand, I will rope a few steers with a very tiny chicken bone twisted wire snaffle, then back to the chain. I also will finish witha grazing bit, but won't use it a lot when the horse is finished..but my approach is just another way to skin a cat, there are many ways to accomplish the same result.

But the bottom line with bits is the hand on the reins, they all work if you know how to use them..

The best horse trainer I ever knew was Orvale Braswell, who trained Ceasers Pistol, Pistol hancock and George Hancock for EP Eppenauer, I worked for him when I was a kid in highschool, mostly rode turn back horses and got to ride the big winners from time to time.

I also did hard ranch work with those worlds champion high dollar horses, as Orville felt it settles their minds between shows and kept them fit, and it did...He could and he showed me that he could break and train a horse in the most severe of bits or with a piggen string around ones nose..Their are those out their that can whisper..