The Elevator Bit and Team Roping
I had a great weekend. It was opening day of the Summer Series at the ranch–let the team roping commence! Even though Leo isn’t trained for roping yet, Jim likes to take him out there so he can get used to all the activity.
I was hoping Leo would be on his best behavior, and he was! Although, he had a hard time concentrating because of the new setting. We worked in the arena before most of the ropers got there, but there were plenty of steer, horses, and strange newness everywhere to keep his ears perked up the whole time.
My friend Monica took that picture of us. He was just as good as he could be. Last month Leo was getting really ornery with the snaffle I was using (D-ring, slow-twist). So when I went to the Les Vogt clinic, I picked up an Elevator bit. It’s a strange looking bit to be sure, but so far, a wonderful training bit. It’s cool because it also kind of acts like a full-cheek snaffle, which seems to help with training in lateral movements. Les says that you give a horse a new bit when he asks for one. I think it finally sank in that Leo was asking for one. He was getting pretty brave with his rearing up and being generally disrespectful.
Last week, first day in the new bit, like clockwork, he had a tantrum and came off the ground with both front hoofs. When he was on his way up to classic Trigger position, I bopped him once (quick jerk on the bit with one rein), he grunted in surprise (and no small amount of discomfort I’m sure) and replanted both hoofs firmly on the ground. I’m not sure if that was the right thing to do, but for the rest of the ride, he was a perfect gentleman. We had two more arguments like that in the days followed, and then he just quit behaving badly. There are no ornery tantrums.
SO! This is what we have so far in terms on the “five easy pieces.” Leo knows how to independently move his head, his shoulders, and his hips on both sides (Yay! Finally turning on the forehand in both directions). He’s great two-tracking to the left, but falls apart on the right, so that’s what we’re working on now.
Back to Saturday at the roping; it was great! Leo was so good. I didn’t work with him long because he was behaving so well and trying so hard. So we hung up the gear, he had a carrot, I had a Cliff bar, and we kicked back and watched Jim catch!
