As I indicated in our last newsletter, bits really aren't necessary for control, but I really didn't answer the question about how "Bits are Used for Communications".  Because of this, some folks might have been asking why they would ever need a bit; and to be honest, depending on your goals and preferred use of your horse, the simple answer is that some folks may never need a bit!   For example, if your prefer pleasure riding and trail riding, a bit may never be necessary for your horse, and to be honest some folks may be happy with never using a bit on their horses!  However, for more advanced riding disciplines a bit may be very useful, and may be required during competition.   
 
So what do we need to do before we begin to use a bit?  First we must be able to control our horse with the use of our legs and our balance.  We must be able to turn the horse on the hind-end and front-end with our legs; we must be able to ask for a walk, trot and canter by bringing our life up or down; and we must be able to transition between gaits as well as stopping and backing up without the use of our reins.  Given this, we are ready to add the feel of the bit! 
 
So exactly what do we mean by using a bit for communications?  Once the bit is placed into the horse's mouth, the horse is able to feel the weight of the reins and our hand position as if we were using a magnifying glass to look at an object.  The slightest movement of our hands is telescoped to the horse through the bit in his mount, and the horse is able to anticipate our hand movements almost before we ask.  At times, we may feel the horse is tuned into our slightest thoughts, and is reading our minds.  This is what we mean by communications, but it depends on us being as light as we can with our hands and the bit!   
 
So what type of bit should we be using, and how severe of a bit should we use?  The answer to this question depends on how light we want this communications to be.  Obviously, we need to start off with the lightest bit possible (a snaffle) for training purposes, and by this I mean allowing the horse to learn and allowing us to learn how to use our hands.  However, a snaffle is a lateral bit, and we should graduate to a shank bit as soon as possible to encourage vertical flexion.  As the horse learns and our hands get lighter and lighter, we can gradually increase the severity of the bit, depending on just how light we what this synergy to be!   
 
Once again I know this is easy to talk about, and can be very difficult to put into practice!  But, by slowly refining our movements with the reins, and by increasing the sensitivity of the bit, we can reach a point where most onlookers can't even see our hand communications with our horses.  It will look as though we are one with the horse!  

I am pleased to let everyone know that Aaron England has recently announced his latest instructional DVD; Horsemanship One.  This is a single DVD, just over an hour in length, that walks the student through Aaron's basic ground and riding exercises, with the goal of improving your horse's Foundation and Impulsion.  In addition to being a fine introduction to Aaron's training philosophies, this DVD is very reasonably priced!    
 
This DVD walks you through the proper natural horsemanship techniques of:

For additional information about Aaron's new Horsemanship One DVD, please visit Aaron's website at www.AaronEngland.com, or give Aaron or Riva a call at 877-484-9718.

Folks,
 
As always, I hope you enjoyed this newsletter!  And again, please feel free to send it to anyone who might be interested!  Also, if someone wants to sign up for the monthly newsletter you may do so on my website at www.MickeyBeddingfield.com.
 
Also, if anyone is interested in help with their Natural Horsemanship studies, please feel free to contact me at Mickey@MickeyBeddingfield.com!!!
 

Sincerely,
 
Mickey & Donna