So, its like the knot on the bottom of the rope halter or bosal?

Absolutely. The severity is in the hands of the rider, it doesn't matter what bit or bitless bridle you are using, if you arent able to use your hands in the proper way, you will hurt the horse you are riding.

I don't think any of them would put any bit in their mouths if it were up to them. Sure some of them get into a mouthing habit, just like we have oral fixations like smoking, but in all honesty and after being around them for over 60 years, I think they would all give them a hard pass if given the choice. However the world being as it is, horses are ridden in bits and what I think about that is that if the rider has good hands, you could pretty much use any bit, however, not as many riders as I would wish have good hands. Its the rider and the inappropriate use of hands that are the problem as opposed to bits. People arent as considerate as they should be.

Super stressed when you are saddling up. Thats the first time I saw someone use a walker. I'm going to join patreon at the end of the month. I need to get the book too. I was just going to say that its good you kept hold because its like a snowball effect if theyre running around bucking, it feeds itself. I knew he wasnt happy by the way he was holding his head as you saddled him. He's a beautiful horse. I'm both sad and impressed at how straightforward and honest you are about stuff like this.

From a 2 year old to a Thoroughbred, when is my shetland pony colt going to turn into a Thoroughbred Brett? You are really on the ball today and making me laugh, sorry for the multiple comments!

You are my absolute favourite. I see lots of people, even here on KZbin being "horse specialists" who could do with a fortnight chained up away from their refridgerators, when I found out about the horses my sister has rescued, first thing I did was start intermittent fasting and lost 10kg over two months, I have never been fat per se, but I'm 6' tall and dont want to be squishing one of the two youngsters I'm going to be working with. I wasnt overweight but getting to the top of the Healthy range on the BMI. if I as a post menopausal woman can do it in a couple of months these people, especially the fat blokes on KZbin should be making the effort, for the horse or Horses who are allowing them to monitize their channels. You tell them Brett!

I lived in the Scottish Highlands and rode my various horses up and down some of the hilliest hills you get, of course this was in an English Saddle, but I have never, ever used a breast collar, occasionally I've ridden horses in running martingales, but, given half the chance I will take it off and ride said horse without it and I have never found any vices that the martingale is supposedly 'curing'. Of course I know a standing martingale is for star gazing and head tossing, but again, when it comes off and I ride without it, the horse never seems to do what it is being accused of. There have always been 'types' who feel the need to kit their horse in everything available in the saddlery shops. I just keep my own counsel, unless I feel its causing discomfort and then I will tell them but it often goes down like a lead balloon.

Really interesting, I think you have more to say about the technicalities than most, its like you are my favourite because you seem to bridge the gap between me as a British rider and decades long horse owner and your life. Over here we handle and do ground work with our youngsters, let them wear saddles etc and do all the general stuff like putting your weight across them but, as a rule we dont back horses (apart from racehorses and thats a whole other disgusting sport that burns them out and is done with them by age 3) until they are properly grown at 3. Now we lunge them and most of my horses, I've actually been on them and ridden them by age 3 but not for long periods, just as youre working with them as they get older but not for sustained periods. I think maybe its to do with the type of horses we tend to have. This is the recieved knowledge and what nearly everyone does or did. Like you I learned from old guys who worked with horses their whole lives and come from Aberdeenshire which is where all those old semi Masonic Horseman's word societies came from. Theres no better teachers than people who worked day in day out with horses, people like you and the people who taught you. Theres a lot to be said for the Oral tradition and I caught the tail end of it learning as I did and living in rural Aberdeenshire by the very last of the old ploughmen and waggoners. Your horses are smaller, more muscular than our two year olds seem to be, ours look young, all limbs and skinny looking even if they are a healthy weight, its maybe the influence of Thoroughbred blood on many of ours, aye, English Thoroughbreds that is. Of course we have our stockier breeds and I worked a long time with Highland ponies and cross bred Highland/Thoroughbreds, the breed itself are very stoic and I remember working in 1976 at a trekking centre and the owners let all the youngsters run wild out on the hill and it wasnt uncommon to be delivered a 3 year old who had only been handled that morning, and be expected to take the daily treks out as usual but to handle, back and get the 3 year old ready to trek within the week. Normally I would replace the last youngster which I would be riding, with the new one, so the last one would be ready by that time to carry trekkers, and I had to lead these 12 or thirteen horses on the green one, opening all the gates and closing them, keeping the others in order because only about 2 percent had ridden before, it wasnt as crazy as you would imagine because I would work the 3 year olds in the evenings as soon as I got them and I would also try out the last youngster as a trekker during that week. There were kids who helped me for free rides so I would take the previous youngster out with one of the kids on board and me on the green one, so with the help of the kids we got by. Then at the end of the season the trekking stopped and ALL of them were set loose to run on the hills until they were rounded up and it all started again. So if the breed wasnt so solid and easy going, you couldn't have done it. Of course it wouldn't be legal now lol!

I wouldn't have ever gone and looked but now I will.

I'm really enjoying your channel and probably will join the patreon in the new year when my finances recover from Christmas! Look at you dancin like Tom Waites! You just became my favourite Horse KZbinr by saying you want to make horses lives better!❤

I'm fragmented, I don't know about linear thinkers and type a personalities, but I take notes like you but I have Aspergers syndrome and also never had to study apart from a read-over before exams and passed all my exams (I had to have listened properly in the actual lesson and I listen properly by taking notes, I don't usually use the actual notes as I usually read the topic over in a textbook before the exam. I would say I don't have a mathmatical mind but seem to see number sequences easily. I also understand animals much more than people, and, thats pretty much any animal. I am still uncomfortable around humans although its better as an older person than in my youth. You would think I would have linear thinking but I can "melt down" and panic exactly like horses do and think this common ground is what makes them respond well to me, well that and 60 plus years experience.

Sorry, but you will be thinking I'm nit picking but what about the flank whorls? I've never, in 60 plus years of having horses, seen a horse without them? It could be linked to chromosomal microdeletions, and affect all kinds of systems in the body. Now higher in the forehead, I dont notice higher or lower.

In the area where I was born and brought up in NE Scotland, there was a type of Masonic deal, it wasnt Freemasonry but was similar and it was called (is called) The Horseman's word. Its secret, has a lot to do with men (because its in no way open to women) who worked with horses. It seems to have something to do with Cain, as well as beimg the murderer of his brother, was also the first Horseman. Its really interesting as Aberdeenshire/Morayshire has a strong history of working horses (Ploughing etc) and there were a lot of old men who I used to talk to who taught me a lot about the horse. My folks owned a pub in the country and the old blokes were always around the pub and a captive audience for me to question. I think "in vitro" means in glass, as in a test tube, "in vivo" means in life. I think you were aiming for "in Utero" in the womb? Now as for the white chins etc., some chromosomes are linked to other chromosomes, so whatever ones which deal with colouration, may be linked to personality, as, I'm sure you have heard that certain white cats are born deaf, thats to do with the colour chromosome being linked to the hearing chromosomes and it can be a group of things all linked to the colour chromosomes, orange cats and their craziness being a case in point.

I'm old, not as old as your grampa but getting there and was a smoker for most of my life. I used to smoke a lot on my various horses and used to do this, I would cross my leg in front of me to actually stub out the ciggie and then keep the butts because you cant throw them away because of the fire risk. Scottish midgies were one of my main reasons for smoking on horses. Of course, nowadays I dont smoke and neither am I fit enough to use the heels of my jodphur boots to stub them out, your flexibility wanes lol! No I actually had a horse stumble and roll across me in 1976 and it pulled all of the tendons (ligaments?) that support my spine out of my pelvis causing avulsion fractures and putting me in a brace for over a year. I still have backpain but thats my own fault for thinking the "get straight back on" school of thought was more important than my back and was practically riding every day which caused all kinds of problems that lasted years, some right to today. Thankfully the horse was fine and thats usually my main concern and not so much looking after myself as much as I should have. Its strange hearing this because I was pretty convinced I was the only person who wished the portable ashtray had been invented lol! You are right about offering the old guys cigarettes was the best way to get them talking, I used to love talking to the old men back in the 60s and 70s, I learned nearly everything from speaking to the old guys who used to work horses back in the day, North East Scotland had a really strong history of working horses and thus the old blokes who knew everything there was to know in my opinion, much better than learning from some lassie in a riding school! That and the fact I always had horses living in the country.

I'm Scottish too, Scotch is a drink btw, yes, I have the customary moths in my wallet too and this was much appreciated, I had thought of making a split crown piece to make a throatlash (it wasnt originally called a throatlatch, that was the internet spreading misinformation!) However I'm not that sure of my leather skills, I did order a wee gadget that cuts straps but it isn't here yet, I was thinking to make a browband and run the crown piece through to hold it in place and have the blood knot deal on the throatlash but that might require some thinking out. Anyway thank you and I will take a look at your other stuff too!

Could you tell me who makes a good bit that is good for the money but won’t break the bank

Great advice. It sounds like the clinic was quite an adventure.

Reminds me of a video you did a while back about giving people a license to try and experiment. (At least as best I can remember) thanks for the good info!

Thank you Brett. Alway learn something from you sharing your experiences. Appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

Great talk. I have a friend that says if you think you should, do it. If it’s wrong better to have tried then do nothing. Happy New Year.

60 years ago I was taught to keep my hands down and I hardly do any big hand movements, its exactly as you say. Maybe its an English or British thing but we never haul a horse about, or at least, I don't its like you say and youngsters especially don't need pulling about! All my movements are in the turning of my wrist (or wrists occasionally as I tend to ride one handed).

Well described 👍

That's some great background sound for going about my work day. I love the stories and life experiences. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas ❄️☃️🌲

What is your opinion about Road to the Horse challenge? Do you watch it, would you ever want to compete in something like that? Sorry if you've answered this before. I really enjoy listening to your All Things Western podcast while I work the night shift. Thanks!

Never was a ranch i loved working at more than the denny, the corrals at the stone house by the rail road tracks was always a good spot to set up camp, had a few run ins with nesters and weirdos but had plenty of fun there

I like greg he sounds like me😂

Thank you for this! I made a pair for a colt that I thought would be a little broncy on the first ride. I put these on, let him feel them out, then climbed up and sat down. He he jumped around a little bit but it definitely helped him slow down and think. Highly recommend these!!

I just figured out you wer talking about Arizona. I thought perhaps it was George P. Denny who had Goose Valley in Red Bluff and Burney CA.... He may have had the Quinn River ranch in NW Nevada...

California Dave aka “Bucky” says Merry Christmas.

I have a mare who was ‚Parrelised’ by her previous owner and she always tries to turn her butt on me to get scratches . And it seems very important for her lol.

Mine are a kinda combination of both. Kinda depends on how pressured up I am. Or the importance of them for some one else to read.

I think front side of paper is normal thinking. Back side is Coors-Pendleton thinking. Amen P.S. 🤣

Your notes are what mine always look like in my classes i take. Ive always been told by teachers that im unorganized because of it. I guess ill just say im a fragmented thinker😂

I’m 45 years old, Bret my notes look like that!! Just got up for work it’s 4am and you have just solved how my brain works, I now understand that I am fragmented 😂

Very interesting.

great illustration

😂

Appreciate it

Ok thanks for the information and permission to come up with ways to fix my mecante. Mine is broken at the end, horse stepped on the leather popper, stopped the unravelling with some tape. I have asked a couple makers with no positive answers. It seems like such a shame to throw out a nice hair rope. I'm working on an idea to clamp the end of it with a half inch steel hose clamp and cover it with electrical tape. Now I can splice the end!

Very cool

Good information to know! I hope you and the family are well. Good job Producer.

Good morning A very good way to quickly repair a mecathy. I have repaired them by actually weaving them back in To help set the hair in the knot to get it to accept it's new position get it wet and let it dry. This will help set the hair into its self. Like you said most people will just go buy a new one or grab a different one. I actually take old mecathy apart and braid them into a 4 stand hair rein eather a look rein or split rein. I started doing this to give me a foundation to hitch over to create a useable art. Have a good day. Enjoy your tips. From Glenn's Ferry Idaho .

The other day I overheard some lady at Farm & Fleet declare to her little posse that "A proper and well-trained horse doesn't need a bit in his mouth!" and some other comment about "Any half-decent rider shouldn't be using a bit." 🤦‍♀🤦‍♀🤦‍♀🤦‍♀🤦‍♀🤦‍♀🤦‍♀🤦‍♀🤦‍♀🤦‍♀🤦‍♀🤦‍♀🤦‍♀ ummm...yeah...I can't...like I wouldn't even know how to start to respond to that. I don't know, but I'd be willing to bet she rides in a treeless saddle too

That’s great information thanks for sharing

Your folks must be proud of you two..

Good Mornin Cowboy, and thank you for your knowledge ~ Brenda ~

Of clinicians in general...seems to me the popularity they hold is on them, but also relates to the audience they cultivate...l think there's much more than just one group they give their presentation to...Yes the audience is intetested in horses. Thats a given. But in no way are the audience members in attendance coming from the same place, or of the same mindset. Some folks attending come from the out skirts of the city...Some come from the country. They are not the same. Which group is more supportive? In the end, more than likely that groups needs and mindset will be catered to. Financial uccess says a number of things. Its doesnt necessarily mean those who are successful are well recieved. Pat has been successful. Good for him. Noting : clinton anderson, yhough successful has made some ridiculous observations about how hard he worked and who he had to 'suck up' to old ladies in order to get where he is...Thats how he gives tribute to his base? It isn't ranch background people he defames in his career recollection. BTW...l met him years ago. The plus...he could start a colt. The minus...he catered to small acreage, one or two horse owners from the city out skirts. Ranch folk? Not so much. His attitude? Arrogant P0$ comes to mind...at least in my mind and l paid to sit and watch him preform...lts just an opinion. In general watching from the sidelines and not giving the clinics myself, l draw ftom the presenter, as well as the those around me. Some clinicians have more talent and are easily approachable. Some fall a bit short, but thats also an opinion. The longer you are in it, the more in tune you seem to recognize what works and what's fluff. Watching Pat's video presentation, he kind of reminded me of Tony Robbins...Keep it positive. What Pat said.. " Good, better, best...never let it rest...get your good better, and your better best!" (- George Burns quote) Amen!

'Love these quick tips! Thanks for sharing with us.

Thank you for speaking the truth. There are criminals and they’re not worth ridding.