I have a horse in training with me right now who is one of the biggest, um, "rebels" I've ever seen. He bucks, rears, you name it. I took him in training to keep him from killing the young teenager who owns him! He's a really attractive horse, when he keeps all four feet on the ground. Anyways, I ride him at home in a gag bit (with two reins, so I can use it as a snaffle while he's behaving) to keep him from being able to get into a position to buck me off. I rarely ride ANY horse in anything other than an eggbutt french, but this guy is an exception.

Anyways, his owner wants to eventually be able to show him, so we've decided that he needs to go everywhere I go for the next year. I took some students to a schooling dressage show yesterday, and he tagged along. His owners paid the grounds fee, and I was able to school him on the grounds, using the gag bit. He wasn't any better or worse than he normally is at home, so I was fairly pleased with him.

I talked to the show management, and they're going to let me ride him in next month's show in the gag, if I show HC. I want him to know that the rules DON'T change, and that the bit still bites back if he tries something.

Other than that, here's how our show wound up:
My trainer, on a 4-year-old Hanoverian, took champion of the training level division.

My 8-year-old student: two 4ths at intro, at her second show ever.

My 10-year-old student: off course in her first test, but 4th in her second one. Good for her--this student is EXTREMELY nervous at shows, and her pony was very good.

My Adult ammy student: riding a young horse at her third show ever, doing first level with her for the first time. They scored in the high 60s and low 70s, so it was a REALLY good show for them! Two firsts and a third.