Good Morning,
YES…I am very excited to have my CA visitors stop by and see me this weekend. Thank you for mentioning this in your responses. I am sure that JOHN will take many photos. I know he’ll be delighted to share them with you! As you may know, he loves photography!
Yesterday, when we talked about the REINS…(and yes…all of those terms you noted do fit Mike Smith’s basic concept)…John mentioned the REINS ARE THE PRIMARY WAY A RIDER COMMUNICATES WITH THE HORSE.
In conjunction with this, John wanted me to add that “HORSES HAVE A WAY TO COMMUNICATE BACK TO THE RIDER…AND THAT IS THROUGH THE BIT! It is ALL ABOUT A HORSE HAVING A HAPPY RESPONSIVE MOUTH.” In RACING, almost ALL of the communication by the rider is through the reins and the bit. The rider’s legs are not as important in giving the horse clues as it is when dealing with riding other breeds of horses. This is because the jockey spends so much time in a crouching position. The hands and touch on the reins holds great significance.
Thus, it is a very interesting dynamic…RIDERS/REINS and HORSES/BITS. The way a horse communicates back to rider through the BIT is how he/she holds the bit in the mouth: tightly, loosely, or on one side or the other. The rider must pay close attention to ‘how the horse is playing with the bit and responds to it”. This is very important.
There are many different types of bits. To name just a few, there are ring bits, snaffle (D-Bits) and leather prong bits. Perhaps if you have time, go to a tack shop one day and just look at the variety available. How a different BIT is selected for the horse depends on the horse, the horse’s response to the bit, and the type of message that needs to be developed through this communication. The trainer makes this decision while working with the horse.
Per John, the trick is for a trainer to find the bit that is most comfortable for the horse. It must be one the horse likes and responds to well when training and racing. The bottom-line is that the horse learns his/her lessons and responds to the equipment when asked by the rider…relax, change gears or pick-up speed.
A horse’s mouth is very sensitive and plays an important part in the ROLE of the BIT. Horses have dentists who check their teeth often…for general health reasons and also to be sure this equipment fits comfortably in their mouths. My dentist, Sonny Wilson, would check my teeth quite a bit. Horses’ teeth can develop sharp edges due to the fact that when they eat, they grind their teeth back and forth. Sonny would FLOAT (file) my teeth when needed. This was approximately every 3 months. He’d do this to be sure the sharp edges were taken care of properly and to be sure my mouth was comfortable.
As illustrated in the photo, I wore a K-K Snaffle Bit with a Roller. You can see the roller in the middle. It has 2 joints in it which added to my comfort. The K-K part simply notes that a special company made this bit and a metal alloy was used in the product that was really nice in my mouth.
It was also very important for ME to keep my tongue under the bit while racing for breathing purposes. (This is true for all horses.) Thus, per John, the roller in the middle of it also acted like a bit of a ‘pacifier’ for me. I would PLAY WITH IT while it was in my mouth and it would also kind of amuse me to do this. BUT, AT ALL TIMES, I also knew to respect the BIT and BE RESPONSIVE to it. I clearly understood all of the different messages Mike and Steve were giving me and what they were asking me to do…and I responded to them. They, in turn, did the same for me! We had GREAT COMMUNICATION!
Communication, as you know, is so important…on so many levels!
Off to play!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Andrea Duncan
that’s a great bit!
Kathy Steele
What is the white strip that is just above you chin?
Wendy
Thank you for all the information. Love you Z
Judy Gadwood Loves Zenny/California
Hi Zenny! I love to read your explanation of the equipment involved. I know that some people (new to racing) may have felt it was inhumane to have the horses tongue tied, too. But, even I, a non-horse person :-) knew this was for the safety of the horse(s)
I can’t wait for the Eclipse Awards (I’m leaving work early shhhh so I can watch it on TV) – a half vacation day, just for my sweetieheart, YOU!
HUGS & KISSES XOXO
Tricia
This reminds me – I always wondered why your tongue hangs out of your mouth while you’re racing?
Edie Dickenson
Good morning, Zenyatta! You are the best!
morgan
i really enjoy reading your diary post. and hope you have a wonderful time at lanes ends.
Shortskinnylady
Great info for the non-horsey set! Thanks, Dottie-Zenny! Do wish someone might discuss lip/nose chains one day. Volatile subject, however, among many people, I know. Thanks so much to all who contribute to Zenny’s diary!!!
Charlotte
More interesting information. Thank you so much. It is really nice for racing fans to have all this information. So glad you are enjoying your retirement Zenyatta, you absolutely deserve it! Hugs back to you. I really love reading you posts and all the pictures that John provides. What a team you have!
Robin
Hi Z!! Thanks for the information, I am learning something new EVERY day about you and horses in general. I hope you have a FABULOUS day with your friends. Stay safe and warm pretty girl! MUAH!!! XOXOXO
Lynette Lucas
Thank You Queen Z and John for sharing a picture and info about your bit. I’m very familiar with that bit. I hope you have fun visiting with your CA friends that came to visit.
Just the diary and photos coming you beautiful girl!!!
Kayte R
@Kathy Steele: the strap is called a tongue tie and it is also to help keep her tongue from flipping up and over the bit while running, just like how the rollers are to help keep her tongue where it should.
Thank you, Zenyatta for keeping us all up do date. A big hug, kiss and a juicy csrrot from me in Ontario, Canada, to you in Kentucky.
Stephanie Hauge
Kathy, if you are referring to the white strip that goes around her chin into her mouth, its a tongue tie down. Keeps a horse from “flipping the bit”. :) We all miss you so much Z! Cant wait to come see you at LEF. :) just a short hour drive from me!
Debbie
Kathy, the white strip that is underneath Z’s chin is called a tongue tie. That is used to keep her from getting her tongue over the bit, thus preventing her from breathing properly. It is very often used with racehorses.
Elizabeth Tobey
It is interesting, Z, that you mention the roller on your bit for you to play with. Did you know that this is a very old concept? I have been working on translating a book from 1550 by Federico Grisone, an Italian horseman, and he includes illustrations in his book of bits with rollers, keys, and other things. He writes specifically that they are for the horse to play with and thus loosen his mouth! So it’s interesting to know that people were thinking about this almost half a millennium ago!
Chris H
Proper bit fit is extremely important — as is floating the teeth. We use hackamores on some of our horses. Thanks for the info. I’ve often wondered if the tongue of race horses is tied in some way (photos show the tongue hanging out on either the left or ride side of the horses mouth)?
Mary McQuire
Very interesting stuff! Can’t wait for pictures of you with your new friends.
Chris H
My question has been answered by several previous posts. Thanks.
Dawn Deems
This info is so helpful, especially to your fans who are new to horses! My dressage also wears a KK bit, but without a roller. You must be easy to ride, as isn’t this a mild bit?
Have fun with your CA peeps this weekend. Looking forward to photos and videos.
Have fun playing in the snow.
Hugs and kisses from Ohio.
-Dawn
The Kennedys in San Diego
So informative and fascinating — thank you, Zenyatta, John and Dottie. The more one learns, the more fascinating all aspects of Thoroughbred racing and breeding become.
Barb France
Another great post…I have always wondered about the workings of the bit. I just love coming to the “Z” classes. Thanks..
Fran
Have a great day Z! Thanks for the post. You always provide such good information! Our Doozey took a long time to get accustomed to the new way Kate rides her. Very different from the track. Kate uses “leg” and rein to direct Doz through her dressage and jumping. No wonder it took Doz a while to “get it” when she found a new life with us (from racing to eventing horse). We are good too. Stay warm, and I know you are looking forward to your family coming this weekend. Take lots and lots of pictures!
Sandy Twigg
This is probably a question for John. Why do I see so many racehorses running with their tongues hanging out the side of their mouth?
Cheryl Smith
Love these informative posts. I hope we all hear soon who your first date will be with! Take care and know that you are loved by many!
Jamie
I used to ride a retired racehorse on a regular basis and he would amost always have his tongue hanging out even though we used a hackamore with no bit. He did this when he was relaxed. When he put his tongue back in, you would know that he was on alert and possibly going to “pull” an unexpected move “or spook” His name was Freebee because he was abanded at the track and given to a friend of mine. He was a fabulous riding horse with a long smooth gait and excellent temperment. We called him “Freebee Tongue” Stay well and happy Queen Z…I am looking forward to your next post.
Paula Higgins
Well, that was an interesting post! This is like Horse Racing 101. Learned alot. I am so glad you are going to see Zenny this weekend. Take pictures please!!! I know she will be very happy to see you all. It makes me happy that you are all still so involved with her care/life. Amazing horse, amazing people.
Shannon
When you weren’t playing with the roller on the bit, we also know that you like to wave at the crowd with your tongue!
Katie Clawson
Thanks for all of the info!! I would love to hear about some different kind of bits and what the purpose of them are. :D Have fun and stay safe Z!
Jan in WV
I love that You and Your Family are helping the retired race horses !~!And your other charities ! this is wonderful ! Thank you ”Z” For giving back !~!
Robin A.B.
We are learning soooo much! Z is so smart that she probably needed alot of things to keep her busy!! Have TONS of fun this weekend! We are so happy that you are getting to do this with your busy schedules.