On Bit Position...

I absolutely believe that the traditional "two wrinkles" bit position puts the bit in a constantly engaged position in the horse's mouth. Most traditional trainers will notch it up there; I've heard it explained that there is less slack to take up before the rider has contact with the horse's mouth; I've also heard people insist that it is the only way to keep the horse from getting his tongue over the bit. But how can this possibly induce softness? I don't believe it can. I think, actually, that if softness is the goal, cranking the bit up in the horse's mouth immediately makes softness a little harder to achieve.

I don't recall where I first heard the idea to do it differently; I do know I've heard the idea echoed by most of the really brilliant natural horseman, like the Dorrances, Buck Brannaman, Leslie Desmond. They all agree that the bit should rest comfortably in the space of the bars, neither so high that it pulls back the corners of the mouth (wrinkles), nor so low that it hits the horse's teeth. The idea -- and believe me, it works -- is that the horse then learns to carry the bit in his mouth. Not just pack it around, but take it up with his tongue and his lips and hold it in position, softly. The very act of holding it thus softens the jaw, promotes salivation, and teaches the horse to handle the bit softly on his end...which is the very first step to a soft feel, flexing at the poll and yielding the jaw...which is in turn what soft contact is built upon.

Want to know more about bits? Here is a fabulous, detailed article by Theresa Sandin at Sustainable Dressage:

http://www.sustainabledressage.com/tack/bridle.php