gottawonder

Today I am grateful for:

Finally, some rain. Not tons, but a start.

The thunderstorm didn't last too long, but it gave me a good excuse to nap/read since I couldn't do anything outside until it was over. I had the most delightful kitty love pile going.

I went to see River, who was joyfully plastered in mud.

The rain was halted for the time being, and it was nice to work outside with the good smell of wet earth and happy trees.

We did our groundwork, and I worked on clarity, and insisting on a crisper response.

I chatted with another rider for awhile.

Then we rode outside, and I worked on getting him to give to the bitless, to halt properly with it, to back up, etc.

I came home and let everyone out for a while.

I worked on making some more bracelets to be used as fund raisers.

I learned that with the help of flight director Gene Kranz (portrayed by Ed Harris in Apollo 13, which if you haven't seen it is an amazing film), it took a $5 million campaign to restore the original Mission Control room at NASA Johnson Space Center in 2019, with thousands of backers from 25 countries. Flight control consoles were restored and wall displays were reactivated with Apollo-era projections

https://spacecenter.org/support/restore-apollo-mission-control/

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

sherlockishere

I'm not sure I understand "the bitless." Are you riding him with just a halter? Or is there some other type of bridle that's bitless?

gottawonder

It kind of IS like a halter! I probably paid too much for it, as it is just a handsome fitted halter, but the idea is to make it look like a bridle.

He has always just mouthed bits a lot, and gaped open when you made contact. I had a very gentle bit and he still did that. I had gone through the process of trying several different bits on him a few years ago, and nothing really made it better.

R wanted to start doing this, and I just couldn't do it again. She wanted to start trying all these special bits that you have to order in at $200 or more a pop, and I am just like "I cannot afford that". Honestly, I don't know how she thought I COULD afford that. What do you do with all the bits that didn't work? You can't return them.

Apparently he has a tooth that interferes with the bit, as well as not much room in the mouth. Shrug.

So, I said fine. Bitless it is. He is very comfortable, of course, with nothing in his mouth. He does work off of it reasonably well, but collection is going to be tough.

That said, we could never really get good collection with a bit, either, because of his issues.

This is the one we bought.

https://www.facebook.com/DressageNaturally.KarenRohlf/photos/a.375405713396/10158939739083397/?type=3