There are a fair number of horse riding and coaching tools and aids at an equestrian’s disposal—tacks that purport to be able to teach this and that. But an essential flaw in almost all of the concepts of horse tack training is that tacks employ generally discomfort, pain, and fear to teach and train horses—and these are not ideal teaching aids. Some tacks are best avoided, some may be used carefully or in proper measure.

Transition Curb Bits

Commonly known as Tom Thumbs and designed to transition from snaffle bit to leverage bit, this is not an effective bit to start neck-reining your pony with. Neck reining is best taught by teaching horses to connect their shoulders and respond to the snaffle. Right and left reins connects to the left and right shoulders respectively to move either. When your equine partner learns to master this, you then shift to the neck rein. Transition curb bits are best avoided altogether, because though they may in effect teach a horse the right way to neck rein, it’d be a unacceptable and stiff manoeuvre, somewhat unpleasant to the eyes even in a basic pony riding session.

Martingales

Built to hold the head of the horse in a preferential position vertically and laterally, the main trick behind a martingale is that it makes the bit uncomfortable, even agonizing, when your steed’s head is out of position. The martingale is the ultimate example of misguided equestrian practice. Discomfort and pain aren’t the best teachers of animals as wild and proud as horses. Bits can be handy when employed for the purpose of communication through applying correct levels of pressure where needed. The most significant difference between communication and using agony as a motivating force is that in communication the pony is released from the pressure and praised when she responds in the correct way.

Stopper

A stopper is another prime example of upsetting pony tack coaching. A tack that teaches a horse to stop to avoid getting it into her mouth, a stopper uses pain and agony in place of communication and the pressure-release-praise system. It’s very important for your horses to actively think about what you would like them to do, though not thru the inducement of escaping pain.

Snaffle bits

Meant to train horses to respond with a light touch of the reins; the difficulty is, again, it relies on misguided guidelines. Consider this: if the pony does not hear the snaffle cues, what would you do? You’d potentially find a tougher bit. And if she becomes used to that and begins to not listen again—another harsher bit? This possible cycle of pain and tolerance is not a good teaching method, and would eventually prove dangerous for the overall well being of your horses.

As you can see, there’s a need to apply tact when using your tacks, be it for training or horse riding, and particularly for equestrian sport. It’s the job of trainers and riders as equestrians to coach their horses, the tacks and tools should not do it for them.

Horses are Heather Toms’ passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100’s of articles with other horse lovers… like all things about horse blanket