When you realize something has been stolen, it’s natural to panic. Brains flood with cortisol as we realize our property has been violated and it can be hard to think clearly. I remember this experience well from when my horse trailer was stolen while I was showing solo at the Kentucky Horse Park. In the …
A war bridle is a unique and very unusual piece of horse tack. There are several variants of a war bridle, but the most common is comprised of a loop of rope that encircles the horse’s lower jaw. The loop of rope passes through the horse’s mouth and rests in the same area that …
Full cheek snaffle bits are popular in both English and Western riding. They are allowed and legal for most horse sports including the AQHA and USDF dressage competition (the latter being one of the most bit-restrictive horse show organizations). In 2009 I had the opportunity to visit a stable in Germany where the Olympian Isabelle …
All About Billet Straps on an English Saddle This photo shows the part of an English riding saddle known as the “billets”. The billets are three straps underneath the top flap, on each side. The billets are the anchor to which the girth is tied. The billet straps are securely attached to the tree (a …
A Pelham bit is a horse bit that functions as both a snaffle bit or a curb bit, depending on how it is used. A Pelham bit is essentially a plain dressage-legal snaffle bit, but with a second rein connected to the bit at the end of a short shank. This shank, which creates curb action, …
