Dan Dauphin Talks About Bits and Horses
Dan Dauphin knows the mechanics and physics of bits. Honestly, I put a snaffle in my horse’s mouth and don’t think much more about it. What goes on in there is a giant mystery to me. Oh, I know that when I pull on the right rein; the horse goes right. But, I can’t really see what’s going on down there and can only imagine what’s happening in that giant cavern in his head. Dan Dauphin studied the build and mechanics of not only the horses’ mouth, but the bits and how the two interact. The bit is a communication device. Used with your seat and leg aids, it’s how you talk to your horse.
Dan breaks everything down in a video session titled “More than a Bit of Information”. (https://www.dauphinhorsemanship.com/mercantile/) Dan spent 6 months researching the information in this video. He talked to equine dentists, veterinarians, and other specialists learning the variety of ways bits exert pressure to send signals.
Building a Better Horse
The more time I spend around horses, the more I want to become a better rider for my horse. This takes effort. Sometimes it means researching videos and trainers to find an answer. Sometimes it requires setting long-held beliefs aside and be open to new ideas. It’s difficult and embarrassing to analyze your riding looking for ways to improve. When something goes wrong, many riders are too quick to blame the horse. I encourage you to take advantage of knowledgeable trainers like Dan. Look at the information he provides and decide what is right for you and your horse.
Links to Dan Dauphin Horsemanship
DVD / Download Bit Video Series
Dauphin Horsemanship on Facebook
Bits, Spurs, and Good Sense Facebook Group
Dauphin Horsemanship YouTube Channel
Join Us on this Journey
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You are an enormous part of why we do a podcast. We really love getting your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for the show. Email us at John@WhoaPodcast.com
Thanks for listening,
John & Ranae
Episode #181
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As an international trainer Dan Dauphin who was not known to me before listening to him on your podcast is just be one of those guys that that excelled in one or two areas and then instead of using his knowledge in the main stream way chose to use it with his passion.
Many would ask the question: What has engineering got to do with horses?
The answer for Dan might be,, just about everything!
I do feel like he is a kindred spirit!
As a human health care practitioner many have asked,: What has that got to do with horse training?
My stock answer is, just about everything!
John…….In the book, “War and Peace” Tolstoy wrote: “The names of the two greatest warriors are Time and Patience” So when anyone asks what did Tolstoy have to do with horses your stock answer just might be……..just about everything! Google Tolstoy and horses he knew a thing or two about horses!
Many equine scientists have suggested that horse science is or is almost complete. The problem is that scientists have not found a way to get their message across to most horse trainers.
I would say………….Almost anything can be related to horse training if we look deeply enough into it!
The question always asked of horse trainers always starts with: How do I …………….with my horse!
The least most asked question of top horse trainers is: How do I learn to think like a top horse trainer?
You very nearly got there in the podcast!
Dan had previously foxed around systematic thinking and in fact clearly mentioned critical thinking.. Now Dan is not afraid of a theory because Dan knows a theory is just an idea! Dan also knows that it is ideas or theories that drives practice and that it is reflection that has the ability to improve the practice of the trainer and the horse! When just about all said and done, Dan might also think laterally whilst thinking systematically and critically. If there is something else Dan knows it is that when he formulates a plan that plan must be moral, ethical and legal, that is just commonsense. Of course there is nothing common about commonsense and the only thing rarer these days is horse sense!
That will sound very cryptic to most but I assure you it is only cryptic to those that have not put it all together yet!
Hey, Cowboy, Great work!
John, Read everything William Youatt wrote as well!
Thanks, Drew. Interesting comments. If one looks, he can find just about everything has something to do with horses! Thanks for listening.