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Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > Tack Discussion > Imus Comfort Training™ Bit > Choosing correct bit TWH |
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Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > Tack Discussion > Imus Comfort Training™ Bit > Choosing correct bit TWH |
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| Choosing correct bit TWH | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Tue Dec 22nd, 2009 06:09 am |
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1st Post |
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Jenniwren G.O.G Community Member
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Thanks Karen. I am into natural horsemanship my way. I ride my arab in a leather copy of a Parelli type halter. (I decided not to alter Didi's bitting because she had a lot to cope with being imported and having her first foal.  I've also knocked some of my front teeth out trying a Kimblewick bit on the Arab!I'm not into bitting and not very knowlegable about it. I have the Imus 4beat saddle for Didi finding this more pleasureable an safer than the English I got for her.Didi did rack when I used the whip, but having read Brenda's writings on building the walk speed I now use a rope for reprimand so I can't touch her into the unwanted pace. I'm gradualy getting her out of napping too, building her confidence on her own. She will do the running walk in company but we don't go out often with others. Riding on a loose rein doesn't produce a hollow back. I thought that if you tucked the head in, the back would hollow. You need to encourage the back legs to push and with a relaxed rein I would have thought would allow them to do it. Last edited on Tue Dec 22nd, 2009 06:13 am by Jenniwren |
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| Posted: Mon Dec 21st, 2009 05:56 pm |
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2nd Post |
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Karen A G.O.G Community Member
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No, a bitless bridle will not help you to get a better gait. In most cases, you will probably get a worse gait than you get with a snaffle. The ICB is going to work the best for a gaited horse. I primarily ride English in a dressage saddle. There was a tremendous "shanked bits are evil" mentality in my barn. I tried everything else but the simple fact is that I get a great gait in the ICB that is not duplicated with any other bit. I believe it is because it makes it easier for a rider to collect the horse up so that they are not all strung out but not so collected that they can't perform their gait. Some riders can do it in a snaffle but it takes a lot more work with your seat to get it. There are also some horses with a lot of head nod that are irritated by a broken snaffle hitting them in the mouth. I have a registered Racking Horse that is mostly a Tennessee Walker. His primarly gait is the rack but he tends toward being pacey. In a snaffle, he pulls on me and gets very strung out and just shuffles his hind feet. In an ICB, I can ride him up into the bridle, get him to lift his back and put his feet underneath him and then I get a proper rack. Now, he can rack as many speeds as a trotty horse can trot but it is still pretty much a rack rather than a running walk. It sounds like this may be the way your horse is as well. Not all racking horses can run walk. Some don't have the overstride to do it. You can tell by the angles of the shoulder and hip what gaits they will perform the best. There is information on the board about that.
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| Posted: Sun Dec 20th, 2009 01:45 pm |
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3rd Post |
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Jenniwren G.O.G Community Member
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 Hi! I'm in the UK and unfortunately cannot get access to TWH trainers in the flesh. I own Delight Filly Ours (Didi)and her 21 month old daughter Welsh Delight Royal (Ella). Didi was trained in a snaffe bit and I haven't changed it. I love the breed but am having to learn by trial and error how to get the running walk gait. We trail ride and we go out alone mostly so I don't realise the speed we are doing. When in company of other horses I can see that we are travelling faster than them because they have to trot to keep up! - Didi doesn't like other horses in her kick zone and prefers being in front so tends to put comapny off riding wth us. I ride her and my Arab on a loose rein. Intially she racked but I've stopped her going into it so we get the walk gait. I don't feel I am getting a running walk. Here's the question - how does the curb and flexion bit achieve this? Can it be got in a bitless bridle? Attachment: TWH Didi on the go (Small).jpg (Downloaded 94 times) Last edited on Sun Dec 20th, 2009 01:46 pm by Jenniwren |
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| Posted: Tue Aug 11th, 2009 01:08 am |
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4th Post |
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jn1022 G.O.G Community Member 
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Ditto, Karen. Exactly the same. I just got the ICB and started with ICTB. I like the ICB for the trail so I have better gait and brakes and I like to still use the ICTB when doing arena type work. Jim
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| Posted: Mon Aug 10th, 2009 02:45 am |
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5th Post |
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Karen A G.O.G Community Member
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Nancy, I also purchased both the ICTB and the ICB and I actually use both of them. When I purchased my horse at 3, they were riding him in a Wonder Bit and he had real problems with over flexing. The trainer wanted me to use a snaffle but he would run thru it. I had good luck with the ICTB and I still use it when I am doing a lot of lateral work like shoulder in where I need additional rein contact. My horse is now 6 and I switched over to the ICB for trail riding and I found that my horse really didn't over flex in it. In the last few weeks, I started using it again for arena work and found that I got better collection in the ICB especially in the canter and he isn't over flexing. Both bits are an improvement over a snaffle but it really depends on the level of training as to which one is going to work for the horse. If your horse is not used to a curb bit, it probably would be easier to go to the ICTB as a mild curb first and then transition to the ICB. Although you can use the ICB in the snaffle position, then you have the shanks hanging down and I think the tendency is to want to shift the reins down to the shanks even if the horse isn't ready yet. Karen
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| Posted: Thu Aug 6th, 2009 06:49 pm |
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6th Post |
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stormzgaitzrgr8 G.O.G Community Member 
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Hi, Nancy, I'm sure that you'll hear from more folks who've had experience with this question.. this is the place for help when you need it and plenty of laughs too. Hope we'll be seeing you around often! I should also mention that I first tried the ICB in the snaffle position, but my precocious gelding kept playing with the shanks.. honestly, he's such a brat. So, I bought the Training Bit and he responded well. I used it til he was ready to go back to the ICB. Now that we have solved our tack problems, I'm so glad that I stuck it out. Imus products have changed our world...I have the 4Beat endurance saddle, the BreathEasy cinch, the Ride'nTie Halter Bridle, and ICB. There's nothing like the relief that comes when you find what works for you both. Your answers are out there, too..
____________________ Tracey (Stormzgaitzrgr8) |
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| Posted: Thu Aug 6th, 2009 06:28 pm |
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7th Post |
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nancy g G.O.G Community Member
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Thanks Tracey for getting back with me so quick. I am new at this, so I wasn't sure my messge went anywhere. I really think I am leaning more toward the ICTB first and then moving to the ICB, but I am going to give it a little more thought and research. Maybe I'll get some more suggestions also. Nancy
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| Posted: Thu Aug 6th, 2009 05:56 pm |
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8th Post |
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stormzgaitzrgr8 G.O.G Community Member
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Hi Nancy, and welcome to the board! Both the ICTB and the ICB can be used with reins in the snaffle position, but I began with the Training Bit for my gelding, who came to me with very little good training (originally tried him in a snaffle... what a disaster!). Once he got calmer, softer and more responsive, I moved the reins to the light curb action part of the ICTB , and graduated to the ICB after about 8 months. I now own both, but do not regret having either. I sometimes lend out the ICTB to those who're considering a change... and I'll keep it around for that purpose. The good news is: either bit holds it value nicely on the secondary market. If you should buy and later need to buy the other, you can sell the used one for a good price on Ebay. I encourage the purchase, the Imus bits have an amazing effect sometimes from the very first use... I'd never switch. Best wishes for finding the solution that works for both you and your horse,
____________________ Tracey (Stormzgaitzrgr8) |
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| Posted: Thu Aug 6th, 2009 05:18 pm |
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9th Post |
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nancy g G.O.G Community Member
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I have a 6 year old TWH that has not been ridden very much. I bought him in June '09....he is the grandson of Motown Magic. He has a very sweet disposition and extremely smart. Tries very hard to please with the ground work that I have done with him. He has not had any "walking" training. I rode him on three trail rides in a shank bit with a snaffle mouth piece. He rode with his head in the air and his nose pretty much straight out and was pacey. When I would try to collect him to work on his rack, he would bounce up and down (appearing to be agitated). Acted as though the other horses were going to leave him. Then I changed to a short-shank, medium port curb bit. It was suggested to me that that might get him a little more collected, tuck his head more, and less hollow backed. I haven't taken him on another trail ride but have ridden him on the farm by himself. This didn't seem to help either. I am considering one of the Imus bits and just needed a little help trying to decide which one, the training bit, since he has not been worked with very much, or the comfort bit. I would appreciate any suggestions or help.
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