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Regular
Posts: 56
| Why do you do it? Or not do it?
Pro? Cons?
Also, how do you do it? |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
 
| I used to do it. I don't anymore. It doesn't fit with the way I ride, really it never did. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1286
Location: Mississippi | I read this as BITING a horse back....
Good grief TGIF, continue on.... 
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
 
Location: Kansas | I don't bite....I punch, hard. Got bit once by my 2 year old, punched her hard in the muzzle and she hasn't tried since |
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Veteran
Posts: 277
| turtleaut - 2017-08-11 2:38 PM
I read this as BITING a horse back....
Good grief TGIF, continue on....
haha me too!
As far as bitting back, I used to do it regularly but now prefer to get my feel on their backs. To be honest, my horses were a lot harder mouthed and ran in bigger bits and tie downs when I was doing a lot of bitting back. Who I rode with at the time did a lot of it and come to think of it she rides in really big bits and tie downs. Now all my horses run in really light bits and hackamores. Not bashing it at all, but doesn't fit my program anymore. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Honestly the only people I have ever seen do this do it because the horse has no manners under the saddle.... Maybe your reasoning is different I am unsure and I am not saying this is your reasoning. Just speaking on experience.
I would reasses this horse on the ground and completly rethink the training program if your reasoning is running through the bit, running up a barrel, slowing down, or not listeing to the rider...
I think if the horse is well broke and well mannered they will run at whatever speed you are cmofortable with.  |
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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| I will bit a horse around as part of my program when starting them under saddle as a preparation for ground-driving. I tie them around to the saddle, tight enough that they have to give to the pressure, but loose enough that they get relief without having to really crank their head around. They will get both sides for maybe 10 minutes. I tie them around and then walk away where they aren't looking at me for relief. I keep an eye on them so that as soon as they figure it out I can untie them. Usually I only do this one day, and then go to ground-driving. I don't bit them back vertically, I can get that response when ground-driving.
I typically tie around to the cantle, but recently had a barrel trainer tell me I should go to the horn because that is where the pull will be on the pattern. Tying further back or lower will get more of a flat response whereas going to the horn will get that more elevated response. I'm not sure if I've explained that very well, but it makes sense in my mind!
I like to do this to prepare them for those first rides. If they are comfortable carrying and responding to the bit they are more confident when they have a rider on their back. This is just an introduction to lateral flexion, I agree with the others that our hands are much better at getting them light and responsive.
Something that you'll see when you tie one around is that whichever side you do first, once they figure out that the release is giving that direction, when you tie them around the other direction their first response will be to go the first direction because that is where they found the release. Give them a little time and they'll figure out the way to get the release from that side. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | If you have to ask, the answer is don't do it. You can ruin a horse doing it incorrectly and IMO the risk of injury is too high. I don't personally like that feel in a horse. I either ground drive or do it all in the saddle. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | I think it is beneficial for all horses to be tied around at some point in their life, because it teaches them to not panic if they are ever caught in such a situation.
I was at a barrel clinic earlier this year and tying around is one of the cornerstones of their training program. I did honestly try it for a couple weeks to try it, but I don't know -- it probably does make them a little bit more flexible but for the type of riding I do, it makes more sense for me to be on their backs and getting them soft in the bit and soft to my cues.
If you choose to do it, the most important thing is to tie them very loose in the beginning. If you go too tight too soon, you can make them panic and flip over. You can tie to the horn, or the cantle, or to the tail -- depending on what you want to achieve. The tail is going to be more forgiving because it will "give". Of course, tying to the saddle is going to be no give. Some horses will learn to just drop their heads to the ground to avoid the pressure (moreso when tying to the tail). Then you will need a second rein to the saddle to prevent them from doing that.
So for me, it's not part of my program. But I know it is for others. Do what works.
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Regular
Posts: 56
| Thank you all for the replies. I was just curious of the different ways people do it. Bitting back helps ME get them a little more sensitive so they aren't so dull. I do not use it for horses with major issues (running through bit, running up the fence, etc.) because that would be a waste of time. |
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