Bits and Pieces

xpioti and I get asked about bits, so I am going to try to simplify the system a bit (pun intended).

Basically there are 3 types of bits:
Direct action - aka snaffle
Leverage action - aka curb
non-bit - can be a bosal, side-pull, hackamore, e tc.

Each type of bit has variations of mouthpiece design, metal, cheek design, etc. which will yield more information (e.g. rubber egg-butt snaffle) gives more info than just snaffle.

( a bit about bits )

I encourage people to ask questions and post more comments..>

Smithsonian

I wanted to sing the praises of the new exhibits at the Smithsonian that I saw over the weekend.

The Mammal hall is quite good. You get to see the animals in poses that look amazingly natural (and capture motion in many of them). It is a bit, um, disconcerting to realize that I think I may know the names of some of them (no, I am not sure and I don't think I want to know), but it is so well done and you can get so close to them without stressing them that it is way cool. The number and arrangements of the pieces is well done and the movies do help with some of the concepts (though the "Poop" at the end of the one on ruminent's was a bit silly).

The Transportation Exhibit at American History is fabulous. I love the way that the main artifacts are set off by models of people, horses, etc. to bring the setting to life. In one section there is a cat chasing a mouse as people are getting ready to board the train, a nice little touch. The information seemed to be very user-friendly and while simple in many cases it didn't feel 'stupid' if that makes any sense. I also really liked the engine room off to one side. Wonderful!

Having read in another LJ about the security precautions, I was going fairly light in what I carried (left most of my change in the car). The first guard that I went through the metal detector told me that I hadn't needed to take my belt off. I thought I probably did need to (and it did set American History off ... but going to amusement parks has made me a relative expert at getting it all the way off to go through metal detectors in a hurry). The guards were helpful, reasonably friendly, and fairly quick at getting people through the lines.

I didn't take the time to go ride the carousel but it was running (yes, I l ooked). I enjoyed hearing the bells from a local tower and was very proud of myself that once I was reminded where Federal Triangle was, I led xpioti to it without any errors..