[Heather]

Oh and just to stay somewhat on topic. I definately tend to be in the snaffle camp--and as such I presume far to many people in the world are riding with far more bit than they would need if they'd just train their frickin' horses. I also know first hand there are some horses who just ain't going to go in a snaffle, no matter how glorious their flat work. However, I think the number of hroses like this are far fewer than the number of horses who will be bitted up to next TUesday when they leave the box.

I also have a low confusion/tack fussing threshold. I HATE dealing with complicated tack--one of those new fanlged high-set figure 8 nosebands with the metal rings damn near did me in yesterday, and I know in the realm of tack it's not really all that complicated.

And yes, I tend to think for any strong bit, the monkeys with razor blades analogy is a good one. I have good hands, but that doesn't mean I don't miss and get left when jumping from time to time. Would hate to subject a horse to that sort of mistake with that bit.

I can't envision the circumstance under which I would be interested in using a bit like this--the truth is as an amatuer, I'd probably sell the horse that was that strong on XC and buy something more appropriate for myself.

[itsallgood]

OK, all of you who are bashing the bit...have you tried it? It may look bad but really is a fairly gentle bit. Try it before you bash it!

[Pixie Dust]

I haven't bashed the bit. But I wouldn't try it, because my horse is just fine in a snaffle.

I do not smirk. But if I did, this would be a good opportunity. - Worf

[Emstah]

"...could put a person in a pretty "giddy" mental state..." That seems like a fair excuse for a 9 year old girl who just finished her first novice event! But how about a pro who competes every weekend on multiple horses? Not sure giddyness is an excuse for giving our sport a bad rep. and our young riders a bad example http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...n_rolleyes.gif

"One needs an end to journey toward, but it's the journey that matters in the end."

[Mary in Area 1]

Heather--
Just FYI, I was at the competitor party that night. The MOMENT we walked in, we were informed that the woman from the NYT Style section was there, talking to people. There were a lot of people around her, and EVERYBODY was nosing in, trying to get attention. There was NO WAY someone could have been oblivious to her being there. She was not lurking about, listening in. Maybe she wasn't "interviewing" people, but she was certainly identified.

BYW, the photos of the barn area were mislabelled. The girl kissing her horse is Lisa Malek, a Young Rider from Area 1, not Karli McGuinness. We were stabled just to the right of Lisa (all the blue and yellow stuff).

[rusti]

Wouldn't want my horse in that bit. There is no way you can convince me that its gentle, good lord, just look at the thing!
I'm not saying there isn't a horse out there that needs it or that someone with the skill level of DC can't use it tactfully, but there is no way in the same hands its easier on the horse than a big fat snaffle.
As for any comments regarding DC, with a few exceptions, I just don't see where he's being trashed. Post after post gives cudos for his abiltiy and record. Maybe his comments to a major publication were not particularly appropriate but I don't think that makes him a bad person and it certainly wouldn't keep me from using him as a trainer if I needed one. Now, the bit choice may make me think twice if indeed he was using it on his entire string of horses and not just on one or two.
I do wonder why the hangover comment needed to be brought up in this thread? don't like him, don't use him. Seems like whenever the guys name comes up a few people take the oppurtunity to make subtle negative comments. If he's done something horrible that can be substantiated please enlighten us if not get over it and move on.

[Heather]

Well, my trainer didn't know about it, Mary, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe she was late or something, or came in another door, but she was definately taken by surprise. It's not an excuse for making dumb statments in public, and thankfully mine didnt' (she was one who was quoted as saying "Oh look, they're showing cross country, that's the best part"). She said she had been getting calls all day about it, and was like, "What are you talking about?" She remembered the "nice lady in the hat" who followed them on the show jumping walk, but had no idea who she was. Then again, she isn't the type that would be "angling for attention" anyway--she leaves that to others.

And rusti, well said, I'd be leery of any trainer (in the collective sense, not pointing a finger) who thought ANY thing/piece of tack/training method, could/should be applied to every single horse. The critters just don't work that way.

[Blaufelden]

Yes, Emstah; "giddy." According to Webster's, "lightheartedly dizzy ~ possibly from exercise." Seems perfectly fitting to me to use the word in this context.

[Gry2Yng]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> I'd be leery of any trainer (in the collective sense, not pointing a finger) who thought ANY thing/piece of tack/training method, could/should be applied to every single horse. The critters just don't work that way. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

A true statement, which also applies to the snaffle.

[Emstah]

"Entry:Â*Â* giddy
Function:Â*Â* adjective
Definition:Â*Â* silly
Synonyms:Â*Â* bemused, brainless, bubbleheaded, capricious, careless, changeable, changeful, dizzy, empty-headed, erratic, featherbrained, fickle, flighty, flustered, frivolous, gaga, harebrained, heedless, impulsive, inconstant, irresolute, irresponsible, light-headed, punchy, reckless, reeling, rocky, scatterbrained, skittish, slaphappy, swimming, thoughtless, unbalanced, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, vacillating, volatile, whimsical, whirling, wild, woozy"

Seems perfectly fitting to my too, Blaufelden, now that you mention it.

"One needs an end to journey toward, but it's the journey that matters in the end."

[Jumpoff]

I just talked to the Style Reporter from the NYT. She said she embellished everything Darren said, and that the Mikmar Bit is as misunderstood as most of her newspaper articles.

Darren and his bit, both books being judged by the cover!

Notice there is not one comment about his bit in this chat, from someone who tried it, or uses it, and doesn't like it.

[goobs]

Wow and double wow. If the lady that was interviewing him was the woman who was trying to talk to him with her eyes a flutter while the poor guy was trying to put plate on his food then no, she certainly did not act like she was interviewing him. More like she was trying to flirt with him and was obsessed with his every move. Darren was concentrating more on his plate than her and although he was very polite, you could tell this overly starstruck woman was reluctant to lose his attention. If she was the reported I could not believe her behavior with him. After reading her article and witnessing the "interview" I laughed.

Darren seems like a very nice person. I watched him warm up his young riders and I've seen him ride a lot. He knows his stuff. I do not know him personally however or ever had any kind of experience with him to say otherwise. I also saw the bit in question and it caught my attention and my friends. I don't have anything to say about it as I've never seen one before but his horses looked very happy in it. Someone once said to me that there are no things as harsh bits, just harsh hands. I've seen people ruin their horse's mouths in just plain snaffles.

Mary in Area I - too bad you didn't tell me you were there, I was there also! It was a great party!

[Robby Johnson]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jumpoff:
I just talked to the Style Reporter from the NYT. She said she embellished everything Darren said, and that the Mikmar Bit is as misunderstood as most of her newspaper articles.

Darren and his bit, both books being judged by the cover!

Notice there is not one comment about his bit in this chat, from someone who tried it, or uses it, and doesn't like it.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Jumpoff,

You are *so* lying! No reporter - hard news or social set - would ever admit to "embellishing" anything, particular after the recent NYT debacle with plagiarizing/embellishing reporter Jayson Blair.

Robby

Take me to the river, drop me in the water
http://community.webshots.com/user/rbjohnsonii

[Jumpoff]

Jumpoff,

You are *so* lying! No reporter - hard news or social set - would ever admit to "embellishing" anything, particular after the recent NYT debacle with plagiarizing/embellishing reporter Jayson Blair.

Robby

Dear Robby,

That was an attempt to ad some levity to this ridiculous banter. Of course the society reporter would not say that, and knows nothing about horse bits. This is thread is so far off the original question, I tried to give it some full circle closure. Lighten up.

[GotSpots]

Jumpoff: Falsely stating that someone is lying can be construed to be the basis of a lawsuit, particularly when the statements implicate someone's job or professional abilities. It's called defamation, and can open up the speaker to a number of fairly severe penalties. Even on an "anonymous" bulletin board, a subpoena can easily uncover the IP address from which a message was posted.

[Jumpoff]

Gotspots; Thanks for clearing that up.

[Robby Johnson]

I sort of figured you were being cheeky, Jumpoff. I didn't mean for my response to you to sound "heavy." But would you have stepped up and admitted your hijinks had I not called you on it?

Good thing to know we've got the fabulous and slinky GotSpots on board to do her Law Thang! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...on_biggrin.gif

Robby

Take me to the river, drop me in the water
http://community.webshots.com/user/rbjohnsonii

[GotSpots]

I don't slink. I strut, thank you very much. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c.../icon_wink.gif

[deltawave]

Ah, but one can be slinky and still strut... http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...on_biggrin.gif

"If you think your hairstyle is more important than your brain, you're probably right." Wear a helmet!
Kelly
Bonnie
Gwen

[Robby Johnson]

I meant slinky in a very rive gauche Tom Ford for YSL sort of way. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...on_biggrin.gif

Robby

Take me to the river, drop me in the water
http://community.webshots.com/user/rbjohnsonii