Home, home on the range...

It's so weird coming home when it's completely dark outside. I don't like it all that much, since I don't get to see my horses when I get home from work. I always feel a little guilty, since the dark makes me feel like I've been making then wait forever to get fed. It really doesn't matter, ultimately, since they are grouchy even when I feed them on time.

Speaking of my horses, I've been thinking about getting a Bitless Bridle for Reiny. It's a bridle that was developed by a vet and he claims that it is more humane to use than a bit. It's also supposedly more humane than a hackamore or a bosal. It uses pressure on the poll of the horse to provide response as opposed to using a bit in the mouth.

There are quite a few testimonals on the site, and the one that I found interesting was from a Paso Fino owner who had one that didn't gait. As soon as she started using the bitless bridle on her horse, he started gaiting immediately. I have the same problem with Reiny in that he doesn't gait. He paces, trots, skips... whatever, and I have had a hard time getting him to gait. My friend had gotten one of the bitless bridles, so I tried it out on him. To my surprise, he went into his gait. My friend has offered to let me use it the next time we go trail riding so that I can see if it was just a fluke or if it really works. If it really works, I will be sold.