Big Day: Graduating to the "Big Boy Bridle" - and one guy's sportscar is another guy's tractor

Yesterday was the Big Day for Remy: Introduction to the "Big Boy" bridle - aka the double bridle. I was lucky enough that Saumur's bridle and Sprenger HO curb fit Remy, I only had to get a new Sprenger bradoon (call me a snob but I do like German quality). I stuck with the recommendation of having the bradoon the same size as his regular snaffle bit (5 1/4") and the curb 1/4" smaller. The curb chain is a no-twist "Kinnkette". And no, I am not sponsored by Sprenger--

Speaking of quality bits: years ago I was on a trailride with a friend on a hot and unpredictable TB. During one of his bolting episodes on a dirt road the -bargain- bit broke! Luckily no car came und horse and rider survived unscathed but shaken to the core.

Roz helped me adjust the bridle and bits, and Nicole complimented Remy on how handsome and grown up he looked. We were off to a good start, but I nevertheless wondered how he would be under saddle: Head-tossing? Hopping? Not going?

Well, to my immense relief it was very uneventful. Roz guided me through it as I was almost too afraid to take contact. It's so different with Remy: He is introduced to the double bridle because his training is at a stage where we can ask for more refinement. Saumur, OTOH, needed the double bridle because he had learned to use his big neck muscles to ignore the snaffle. Hanging on the snaffle is definitely way more harsh than a double bridle used tactfully. Also, it should not be one or the other exclusively.

In the evening I talked with my friend Ingrid in Germany, and she told me her significant other had just purchased a Porsche. We both got a big laugh out of it when I told Ingrid "Well, yours is happy in a Porsche - mine is happy on a tractor!"

And when it comes to world cup soccer only one in our household seems to be interested: