The Bridle Horse

Developing contact: the theory and practical use of bits, part 4

by Alice Trindle

These past few months have been a great opportunity for me to further my understanding of the horse and my role in developing a relationship that is soft, willing, and light. I hope that as you have been following this series regarding contact and how bits and bosals play a role, that you have reaffirmed the principle, “Developing our horsemanship skills takes time!” The true aspiring horseman is committed to creating a relationship that is built on respect, understanding, education, patience, and hours of mindful practice. We are truly honored that these horses allow us to interact with them, and in the process, they ultimately finesse and mold who we become.

Mindful Progression

I start part four of this series with these thoughts because nowhere in your horsemanship journey is it more important to slow down, understand the principles, and give yourself and your horse time to develop than with the final step of making a bridle horse. For the traditional Vaquero style development from the bosal to the double rein to straight up in the bridle, the commitment may well take four to seven years! For the classical dressage double bridle horse, which may be finally ridden on only the curb rein, it is a similar time commitment. In these pursuits, the well-being of the horse, both mental and physical, through mindful gymnastic development and experiences, creates an athlete that is truly a dancer and, moreover, a life partner. I highly recommend reading the book Tug of War: Classical Versus “Modern” Dressage by Dr. Gerd Heuschmann and watching the video “If Horses Could Speak.” They will most likely open your eyes to the importance of understanding the anatomy and muscular makeup of the horse, particularly as we move forward in our discussion of contact, bits, and making a bridle horse.

For many people today, the time it takes to bring along a true bridle horse and provide him with experiences that will not only teach him how to move to accomplish a job, but carry us in a light, happy manner, is not attainable. While we may wish that we could purchase a bridle horse, the fact is that most of us simply do not have the skills to control our bodies, hands, and minds. The bit used in this classical situation has nothing to do with controlling the horse, but rather the honor of utilizing the equipment in the lightest of manners. So what are we mere mortals to do if we want to develop our horses gymnastically, but simply do not have the time nor skill to develop a prima ballerina?

I have found great success in bringing my horses through the Vaquero style double bridle progression (in my case, snaffle bit to hackamore, to hackamore with the low-ported broken shank and riding with two reins, to finally working with just the low-ported bit and a bosalita for leading.) I understand that this system is not truly traditional, but the nature of a low ported-broken bit, such as the Myler brand 5” model, allows for human mistakes much more than a true bit. I may still ride for a year primarily using the hackamore rein for lateral communication, but I pick up on the reins attached to the broken bit earlier than if the horse were carrying a true bit. This progression allows me to condition the muscles, ligaments, and joints of the neck, head and ribcage that so greatly affect the free movement of the back muscles. By the time my body balances are ready to put the horse in a true Vaquero style bit with hackamore reins and bridle reins, my hands have been educated to assist the horse to carry himself effortlessly.

The Art of Bits

The types of “true” bits I am discussing range in styles of mouthpiece from half-breeds to Salinas bits to spades, with various types of shank and cheek designs. They typically are not broken in the mouthpiece, and usually have a roller or “cricket” for the horse to play with using his tongue. (If his mouth is loose, so his is his jaw, and most likely, so are all the muscles in his body.)

These bits are pieces of art, and the true working cowboy or aspiring horseman not only is proud of the honor in bringing his horse along as a bridle horse, but is also proud of this trappings and the artist who made them. We have a number of fine Vaquero style bit makers here in the Northwest, such as Ernie Marsh from eastern Oregon. Most often, bit designs and skills are passed down through generations by mentors, which gives the true bit its functionality (in the right hands!) in addition to being a beautiful work of art.

The honor of bringing your horse along in the classical dressage double bridle should be no less than that of the Vaquero. Unfortunately, in both instances, time and ego--fostered by a lack of understanding of and commitment to the horse--seem to be the norm. In cases where horses are ridden and shown moving over-flexed, behind the bit, and carrying themselves in a non-rhythmic fashion, the finesse of the double bridle in enhancing the movement of a gymnastically conditioned horse is lost.

Function and Form

The function of the double bridle, whether in a classical dressage setup (i.e., a loose ring bridoon (snaffle) bit combined on the same headstall with a curb bit), or in the Vaquero setup (i.e., a light bosal/hackamore under a separate headstall with a true bit) is basically the same. The bridoon and hackamore reins function to remind the horse of supple flexing through the ribcage combined with the neck and head muscles and ligaments. The curb bit and true bit reins ask for lengthening and gathering over the topline with balance in the neck and head muscles and ligaments. The feel of contact should have been established years earlier in the progression, and now the double bridle serves to enhance and finesse that contact with freedom in the back muscles, engagement of the hindquarters, and ultimately, collection of all the elements.

If the horse has been mindfully brought along in the progression to the double bridle, he should be a pleasure to watch, lightly and happily carrying out his job, whether that job is separating a steer from a bunch of heifers, or riding a dressage test. In both cases, it is not the bit that makes the difference. Rather, it is the long-term commitment of the human to study and understand the nature and anatomy of the horse, combined with contact–mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually–to develop a connection for life. Now that’s the picture of an aspiring horseman!

References and Resources

Reinsman of the West by Ed Connell

Making of a Bridle Horse (video series) by Buck Brannaman

“Developing a Bridle Horse” (Clinic Series) with Alice Trindle in Haines, OR

www.martinblack.net/videos.php - Bridle Horse Series with Martin Black

www.eclectic-horseman.com - Articles and Mercantile

www.houlihanhorsegear.com - Merchandise for the Vaquero Traditions

www.gomersallsaddlery.com - Quality Vaquero-type Tack

www.spanishspade.com - Marsh Bros. Oregon Silver