Wawa-I'm going to go horse geek for a sec

[Melissa W.]

Check out the bit on this horse.

Look how long the shank is? Is this normal?

[wawa]

yeah, those are some long shanks, but I know nothing about what is typical in show jumping, so called in my expert. i.e. my sister who did eventing in college.

She sez:

It looks like a regular pelham. Shank is a little on the long side and I would say it's a pretty strong bit. I don't have a problem with it. A bit is only as harsh as the hands and it might be that they're overbitting him for the insanity of the venue. Horse doesn't look on the verge of homicide so I think it's fine.

[ringstrue]

is it a younger horse??

[Deleted]

In my humble opinion: I used to work at a tack shop in the area and saw a lot of hunter/jumpers putting worse in their horse's mouths. He doesn't look uncomfortable and he's giving him plenty of head room so he doesn't jerk him on the landing. I agree it might just be security for the venue and it's not being used to the horse's detriment.

[wawa]

And to add my own thoughts now that I've contemplated it - I think I agree with my sister. But I'd be curious to see their whole round. If they make it through the course with the horse looking that happy and the rider's hands being that soft the whole time, then I don't give a flying fuck what they have in his mouth.

If the rider isn't staying nice and soft like that...well then I'll go ahead and judge.

[Melissa W.]

I definitely agree with the soft hands comment and his release is generous. i just am not familiar with the rules re: bitting jumpers. I thought it was a pelham but the shanks do look long in this setting so color me confused. :0)

The jumps are amazeball. I can't imagine jumping some of that stuff but I also am a big chicken so xrails are the most I am looking to ever too. LOL.

[wawa]

I LOVE watching the jumping. Cross country makes me too nervous to really enjoy and I like dressage, but the stadium jumping is just so freakin' thrilling.

hey ml - whereish do you live? General area I mean. Feel free to PM if you're not comfy with sharing that.