Winning Ways - A “Bit’ of History
As far back as 500 years before the birth of Christ, people were using bits on horses. Those early bits were snaffle bits. Curb bits appeared during the Tudors’ reign and quickly spread throughout Europe. The rawhide bosal and the Spanish-style spade bits came to America with the Spaniards early in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Spanish horseman placed a lot of importance on working cattle, and the horses were trained accordingly, with the focus on control and maneuverability. It was from these early Spanish cowboys that the basic principles of Western horsemanship came, along with its tack. The Mexican and Spanish influences took hold in California, and were developed and modified, then carried back to Texas. Clear across the country, the snaffle and curb bits had come to America via the English and other Europeans. Their use spread west and south, invading Texas and gradually replacing the bosal and spade bit there. The rule seemed to be, that when early training was done by a snaffle, the horse matured into a curb bit; with the bosal (Jaquima), the horse continued his career in the spade bit.
Barrel Racing Tips
There are two things I wouldn’t be without in my barn, baby powder and a small stiff-toothed dog brush. I bought the brush because I wanted to use it on my girth cover before and after I wash it. I have found that there is nothing better for getting the fuzz out of Velcro than that little brush. You just run it the same way as the Velcro and it gets the stiff part clean in just a second. The baby powder I use in the winter. I was having a lot of trouble with the hair on my horse’s back at the back of the saddle getting real short because I ride so much. A friend told me it was because in the winter my horse wasn’t sweating as much, and it was causing the saddle to rub instead of sliding over his body. I started using a little powder if I knew I wouldn’t be riding real hard that day and I have never had any trouble since. I also have a friend who rides endurance who was having the same trouble. She tried it and it worked for her, too! Little things like that are small, but they can help so much.
- Betty
Wooley -
New York, NY
