Wednesday, May 11
May. 11th, 2022 11:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gottawonderToday I am grateful for:
A really gorgeous, warm day. No wind.
That the farrier came today (was supposed to be tomorrow, but she got some cancellations and could come today).
Everyone was pretty good for her, and that got done.
As I was driving to the barn to see River, I stopped to talk to our neighbor to the North (they live right beside us), and that was nice. The cat they are feeding was there, and apparently this cat comes to their house for food, then leaves and comes back to our place. She's fairly sure it lives in our barn. I have only seen it there once (it took off), but I'm okay with it hanging our at our place. It's male, so it won't be having kittens. Outdoor cats have such a sense of independence.
I went to see River, and the bitless bridle arrived! It is very much like a fitted halter, and is nicely made. We did groundwork first, and he did well (outside again), and then I tried the bridle on him and made sure he would yield laterally in it, then rode for a while. His breathing wasn't great because someone was burning brush or something nearby, so I didn't make him work too hard.
He seemed comfortable in the bridle, no head tossing or anything. He turned and halted reasonably well with it. Likely all the work we've been doing with improving my communication with my seat is helping too.
That said, collecting with this bridle might be a challenge, but we'll see.
There were at least some people around today, so it felt less isolated.
I came home and let everyone out into their pastures for a while, and spent some time grooming the ponies. They are still shedding.
I learned a bit about what it is like to use a bitless bridle.
I also learned that at one time, several sections of the Autobahn were designed to be used as emergency landing strips for NATO in the 1980's during the Cold War.
"Because NATO planners feared a Soviet surprise attack might render NATO airfields unusable a number of preplanned emergency airstrips were constructed in Germany's extensive Autobahn network. At a glance they would appear to be normal stretches of Autobahn, but they were rapidly convertible into runways, capable of handling any NATO aircraft. Safety guiderails could be dismantled quikly and car rest stops were easily converted into aircraft platforms, two on the south side and one ot the north. Also they were provided with prepositioned communications lines, fuel supply and electricity."
After the Cold War, they were converted back to normal stretches of highway (not sure why you'd do that, it could still be useful in emergencies).
https://www.forgottenairfields.com/airfield-ahlhorn-highway-strip-356.html
A really gorgeous, warm day. No wind.
That the farrier came today (was supposed to be tomorrow, but she got some cancellations and could come today).
Everyone was pretty good for her, and that got done.
As I was driving to the barn to see River, I stopped to talk to our neighbor to the North (they live right beside us), and that was nice. The cat they are feeding was there, and apparently this cat comes to their house for food, then leaves and comes back to our place. She's fairly sure it lives in our barn. I have only seen it there once (it took off), but I'm okay with it hanging our at our place. It's male, so it won't be having kittens. Outdoor cats have such a sense of independence.
I went to see River, and the bitless bridle arrived! It is very much like a fitted halter, and is nicely made. We did groundwork first, and he did well (outside again), and then I tried the bridle on him and made sure he would yield laterally in it, then rode for a while. His breathing wasn't great because someone was burning brush or something nearby, so I didn't make him work too hard.
He seemed comfortable in the bridle, no head tossing or anything. He turned and halted reasonably well with it. Likely all the work we've been doing with improving my communication with my seat is helping too.
That said, collecting with this bridle might be a challenge, but we'll see.
There were at least some people around today, so it felt less isolated.
I came home and let everyone out into their pastures for a while, and spent some time grooming the ponies. They are still shedding.
I learned a bit about what it is like to use a bitless bridle.
I also learned that at one time, several sections of the Autobahn were designed to be used as emergency landing strips for NATO in the 1980's during the Cold War.
"Because NATO planners feared a Soviet surprise attack might render NATO airfields unusable a number of preplanned emergency airstrips were constructed in Germany's extensive Autobahn network. At a glance they would appear to be normal stretches of Autobahn, but they were rapidly convertible into runways, capable of handling any NATO aircraft. Safety guiderails could be dismantled quikly and car rest stops were easily converted into aircraft platforms, two on the south side and one ot the north. Also they were provided with prepositioned communications lines, fuel supply and electricity."
After the Cold War, they were converted back to normal stretches of highway (not sure why you'd do that, it could still be useful in emergencies).
https://www.forgottenairfields.com/airfield-ahlhorn-highway-strip-356.html
no subject
Date: 2022-05-13 04:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-05-13 06:17 am (UTC)The main reason why I am trying it for River, is because he seems so uncomfortable in his mouth whenever I ask for collection (which does require some contact).
R feels that he has some teeth that are in an odd place in his mouth (horses have a place in their jaws where there are no teeth, but River has a tooth on each side top and bottom that is interfering with the bit).
Here is a diagram. See the big open space where a bit can sit and not hit any teeth? See the canines? River's canines are a lot higher in his mouth, and they are closer to the middle of that gap instead of down at the bottom.
https://vcahospitals.com/-/media/2/vca/images/lifelearn-images/dentistry1scaler.ashx
So, after trying a bunch of different bits over the years, and nothing really working, I am trying a bitless bridle.