Justa, I agree a pack horse has to be about the most level minded horse out there. I'm not very experienced there but did some packing in Colo many years ago. My only concern about you is the breed you are riding. (Smile all you camel jockeys, I am) We work with our horses from the get go about going bridlesess. We can't forgo the need for them to ride well with a bit because so many of the competitions we enter require certain style bits. But..we want them to respond positively in whatever we put on their head or in their mouth. We simply stay away from mouth and head preasure as much as possible. I am going to bury this comment in here and only say it once but in my many years of horse experience (over 50 years) I have come to realize that women on the whole are better communicators with horses. The result is they, as a group can get more from a horse then we men. Getting the horse to 'give' is what horsemenship is all about. I wish more members would enter into this subject because personally I think bitting and head gear are the most misunderstood tools we use on horses. Not to cross paths with anyone but there are no 'miracle , perfect, secret, wonderous or one and only bits that causes a horse to ride "better". The rider causes the horse to ride better.

Rancher glad that website worked for you. I have to admit I've never seen a clinic nor a training video by any of the people doing them so I can't say a thing one way or the other... I'm a packer so it's a safety issue that my saddle horse be able to work without a bit, briddle, or halter. Things happen to tack when you're in the mountains for extended periods of time ...if you pack long enough you WILL end up with a broken briddle and have to ride with what ever you can make work. I rode from northern California to Canada using a rope halter and a piece of pack rope for reins after my briddle got caught on a tree limb breaking the buckle and it fell off the ledge ..which meant I rode the rest of that ledge for several hours with nothing on his head and nothing in my hands. So the training I put on my gelding paid off in a big way...I'm still among the living. :) I learned that type training as a teenager from my parents on our ranch ...briddless riding isn't new at all ...I'm 66 years old. lol I can't even count all the times those type things have happened through the years. I think the most under estimated horses are the pack string saddle horses...they have to be able to do sooooo much more than the average horse and stay calm and cool no matter what big wreck is going on around them. That gelding is the gray in my profile photos.... am I bragging on him ? you bet ! He's a good one ! Yes, he's an Arabian. So I'm with Vicky...quit over managing the tack and horse...get in the darn saddle and RIDE some where over land...you may just be shocked at how much more your horse can, and will, do.

I guess this means I shouldn't buy that barbed wire correction bit I was looking at.

I'm no "natural horseman" expert as Rancher knows, but my 40+ yrs. of riding has taught me to stop micromanaging my horses when riding. I went to rope halters due a bit-soured horse and watching Parelli & Anderson. I like riding in rope halters; just enough control, and body language is very important. It only took a couple of round-pen lessons before I was able to ride anywhere, and I now run barrels in the halter, too. The horse learns to do his part with less pressure and is much more willing, but not all horses will adapt so easily. I tried the ball-bearing bit on my bay, but it did not convince me it earned the $150 price tag. Sure is fun to ride w/the halter, no resistance, no head tossing, etc. Fun stuff, you should try it. It will keep your horse lighter in the bit, too. Vicky

Justacowgirl, thanks for the video site. We have this on our dish thing but didn't know how to get it on computer. Evelyn and I really enjoy watching this. I have seen many highly trained horses, particulary in dressage but due to the nature of this rider and the type horse, this one makes me want to get on one of mine and get busy working on those cues. The video on line skips over his dialogue on the cues that makes this horse tic. I think just about every one here will enjoy watching this. Also agree with the tom thumb bit comments.

This bit reminded me of the following article written by Mark Rashid www.markrashid.com/trouble_with_tom_thumb.htm I agree with the others that getting through to the mind of a horse. Harry Whitney discusses letting the "reins be a comfort to the horse". Now there is something to give serious thought to! Best, Kathy

That Chris Cox video you're talking about is on this link . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODDSXWioYOw

Pbear, you and I seem to think much the same on a lot of things. In the past several years we, horse people, have changed our thinking on how we communicate with our horses and how to recognize what they are communicating to us. It is a comprimise of wills. I think the "Perfect Bit" is a name as opposed to a description of a bit. I have a hard time recognizing my own thinking on handling horses because I was raised in an environment where horses were trained by physically causing them to submit. We finally learned a horse without a will was not a good horse. So most of us have stopped taking their will away from them. We learned they need self respect as much as we do. Of course there are wrong bits to put in a horses mouth but not necessarly a correct bit. Again, hands, seat and legs control a good horse not his mouth. A very good example is Chris Cox's demonstration on his red roan as an introduction to his current tour. Dang I wish I could locate a copy of that performance. **Edit** That video is running this week on RFD. It is incorrectly labled "Equine Dentistry"

AMEN RANCHER!! Unfortunately for the horse, people try to attach new fangled devices and vices to the horses mouth and head thinking that will make them better to ride. It usually does the opposite, as a bit can be dangerous in the wrong hands. If you do not have the horse's mind with you, the body will not follow no matter what is attached to the head. Just like dancing with a good partner, you need to communicate to the horse from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. No metal mouth piece could ever make me like Ginger Rogers on the dance floor if my partner has two left feet.

Is anyone familiar with the "Perfect Bit?" I saw the creator at the NFR and was curious what your experience was. Thanks