I have a question. The other day I went out to look at an Arabian as an endurance prospect and when I saw her she had very deep, bleeding cuts in both corners of her mouth. When I asked the seller why she had these, he said very nonchalantly that it was because of the bit he uses (twisted wire snaffle). He said he was training her to be a reining horse and that this was common practice. I've had reining horses before, and didn't think this was the way it was done. I don't ride western anymore, but have seen quite a bit of abuse on the part of "reining trainers" with regards to spur marks on the shoulders and flanks. Please set me straighten me on this subject before I lose respect for the discipline altogether.
Monica