Below is a list of things I'm selling in hopes of clearing out my closet.

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The Gag Bit VS the World:
Why a Lack of Knowledge Lead People to Misuse the Gag

From experienced horse trainers to the novice rider, the gag bit is extremely popular in the riding ring. However, people tend to forget that when using a tool it’s important to read the instruction manual before mounting your steed and galloping off into the sunset. Do to the gag bit’s misuse and the ignorance of novice riders, the gag bit has become known as abusive. However, through proper education that claim of abuse can be written off as a myth, just like any other assumption based solely on emotion and a lack of knowledge.

To understand the gag bit, one first has to understand the fact that the bit is a form of communication. When riding a horse, the bit should be used lightly, as when a rider pulls back even just a quarter of an inch the horse can feel it. Generally, horses’ mouths are very sensitive and using violent pulling motions is detrimental to the horses’ health and mental stability. Instead of relying only on the bit, a well-trained rider uses their seat, legs, and the position of their weight as aids. The goal of using all of the aids in unison is an understanding between the horse and rider, and in time, fluidity.

Mainly, the snaffle and the gag are used for two different kinds of training. The snaffle is a non-leverage bit and is used to attain maximum lateral control of the horse. A leverage bit,either the curb or gag, is supposed to be used for only special training purposes. Monte Foreman, who has ridden over 25,000 horses in his professional career, said that, “Fig. 4.33. A gag bit. The rope headstall slides through the top hole and bottom hole of the ring. It is effective in forcing the horse to raise his head and to retrain an insensitive or soured horse.” (Foreman 25) Note the fact that the gag is meant to retrain and not train. When a horse is being trained the snaffle is used. A bit with lateral control allows even a novice rider to circle a horse to a slower gait, and it allows a seasoned horseman to train a young horse to respond to the finessing of the bit properly. Jessica Jahiel, a writer of various books on horsemanship, reminds us that, “The gentle, educated use of a well-selected bit allows a rider to communicate to a horse subtle requests concerning the position of his nose and also gives context to requests made with seat, legs, or weight aids.” (Jahiel 3)

One of the main things people seem to forget about, or just not care, is that the size of the port of the gag bit is what determines its severity. In a snaffle, the bit does not deviate from a straight line, but in a gag the bit curves upward in its center. Edward L. Johnson and Kylee Jo Duberstein, two scholars who both have PhDs in the Department of Animal Sciences claim that high port bits should only be used on finished horses. They said, “The function of a high port is to bump the roof of the horse's mouth causing the horse to respond by lowering its head and flexing at the poll with minimal pressure applied to the reins. This is a learned response and should only be used on "finished" horses that have already learned to yield readily to rein pressure.” (Johnson, Kylee) Many uneducated riders feel that a high port bit should be used to force their horse into a sliding stop, whereas this type of bit should be used for slight, barely there aids.
Sadly, the misuse of any bit can be painful for the horse, but it can be especially painful when bits like the gag are mistreated. Novice riders tend to have the misconception that since a horse is large in size, a few harsh jerks to the horse’s mouth now and then cannot harm them. In the long run, with repetitive actions, it most certainly does. Doctor Cook, a British emeritus expert with over fifty-three years of experience supports these claims fully. He notes that

Many people do wonder why so much pain can be inflicted on a horse without it becoming aggressive immediately. Horses, in general, are prey animals. Evolution has created them into an animal that hides any factors that would attract predators to them. Cook even goes on to say that, “Painless communication is the key to harmony between horse and rider.” Bits, like any tool, can detract from the task if hand if it is not used properly. Of course, novice riders will make the mistake of being harsh with the reins, but it is up to their trainers to promote and enforce the education of how the bit operates.

Within my seven years of experience I have never thought once that the gag bit was a necessary tool to properly ride a horse. However, horsemen with experience that goes far beyond mine understand the power of the bit, and that it is also used for communication and not punishment. Through the teaching of their pupils, trainers all over the world should feel empowered to teach their students just what exactly they are putting into their horses’ mouths. Many people are guilty of never reading instruction manuals, and even more are guilty of never reading the fine print within the manuals, but knowledge is not something to be taken lightly when one is riding atop of a thousand pound animal; just like your mother is not to be taken lightly when she tells you to do your homework.

UMMMM YEAH. THAT TOOK ME HOURS AND HOURS OF BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS. THE WORK CITED PAGE WAS A PAIN IN THE ARSE. 

Seriously.

I've never met someone who was such a bitch in my life? I have a disagreement over Macs with her and now I'm "nitpicking" at everything she says. I don't even care.

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Mostly because either we never talk or it's a dead journal. Bye guys, have a nice life, etc. There's honestly no hard feelings.

Also, if you feel you want to defriend me, go right ahead.

Real Madrid; 21 (Mostly Jose and Mesut)
Anna Arendshorst, Haruma Miura, Vocaloid; 19
Total; 40



The rest are here.

I think I've found what I want to do in life. Rather, I think football has chosen me and I've chosen football in return. It's a game that ultimately has begun to change my life. Rather, I'll have somewhere to turn to once I turn eighteen. I want to keep enhancing my skills in German and pick up Spanish again. My greatest desire is to become an International Manager.

My parents are not supportive. They think I do not have the drive to learn of the game. However, I don't think they realize that when I want something I will get it. I wanted to go to college, I'm going to college. I wanted to graduate two years early, I am graduating two years early. Yet they seem to ignore this. That's fine. I will become a manager. In short, I will fulfill this dream.

I want my F and E level licenses by the time I have my AA. They're both two day courses within different parts of America. With my job, I will have enough money to pay for them in full without my family's assistance. If I have to go it alone, then so be it.

It's legit. pretty lonely over here I guess. I meant to start this journal on a happy note and I fully intended on doing just that! But then shit happened. And shit happened pretty shittyly. Like seriously, Devon needs to stop fucking texting me with all of his victimized bullshit. You don't have to send me a paragraph about how much of a ~horrible person~ you are. It's not going to make me feel guilty. It's not going to change the fact that you were an A Class asshole.

Hilarious, isn't it? How I can actually try to fucking forgive and forget and this shit is what I get. I just honestly feel fucking miserable.

I lost two friends that were really close to me in a matter of two days.

Stephen is moving to a different state. Will is moving to Japan.

So, yeah, I get to have no fucking friends within a 20 mile radius of me. Awesome. I mean, I'm glad they're moving up in life it just fucking sucks being the one left behind. And it fucking sucks ending up alone one a Saturday night with no one to talk to.

There's beer left in the keg. I fully intend on drinking it. And some vodka. Fuck this shit, I'm out.