The bit debate is becoming increasingly more popular as equestrians throughout the world are trying to decide which is more humane. Kinder methods are being recognized more and more as equine welfare has become a common discussion within the industry. So is it better to ride with or without a bit?
Misconceptions About Bits
There's lots of thoughts and opinions on bits, but how much of them are actually factual?
Bits DO NOT equal control. Oftentimes people feel that bits provide better brakes or that they create a more responsive horse. Bits operate as an aversive stimulus, meaning a horse may appear better behaved... when in reality they're just doing what is necessary to avoid pressure in the mouth. This can also be called pain compliance, the use of painful stimulus to control an individual. Bits do not create desirable behaviors. Training does. At the end of the day, we will never fully be in control of the horse. They are 1200lb animals, we are scrawny 100-200lb humans.
Bits are NOT abusive. Some animal activists claim that all bits are harsh and evil torture devices. While there are some bits that honestly have no place anywhere near a horse, bits are only as abusive as the hands that operate them. As mentioned, bits act as an aversive stimulus. You know what else is considered an aversive stimulus? Leg pressure. Rein pressure. All the methods that fall into the category of negative reinforcement. This means that a bit communicates in the same manner as a rider applying leg pressure.
The purpose of a bit is communication WHEN NEEDED. Not control. Not torture. Communication when needed. A good rider uses mainly their legs and seat to communicate to the horse. If a rider is using ONLY their hands to communicate, they are doing it wrong. A bit is just an extra tool that can be used for fancy maneuvers, increased pressure, etc. If a horse responds to the rider's legs and seat, the bit should just be sitting in the mouth. As a lot of big name trainers say, the less you use your hands, the more they use their brains.
Misconceptions About Bitless
Bitless is NOT better than a bit. In the wrong hands, bitless can be just as harsh as a bit. If a rider uses mainly their hands (and has heavy hands), the bridle can put excessive pressure on the face. There's a lot of sensitive nerves in the horse's head, meaning too much pressure in the wrong areas can cause pain and discomfort. This is also why it's extremely important to make sure whatever bitless bridle you're using is adjusted properly.
Certain behaviors cannot be taught or performed in a bitless bridle. This is more false information society tells us about bitless riding. There are champion reining horses who do entire routines of complex maneuvers without a bridle. The discussion of horses being "behind the bit" or "above the bit" has nothing to do with your gear, and everything to do with verticals, collection, and how the horse carries themselves. Everything you train in a bit can also be trained bitless.
Riding bitless DOES NOT mean you have less control. Training is the only determining factor in whether you and your horse are able to communicate effectively. Your equipment plays a very minor role, as with proper training, a horse should be able to ride with a bit, bitless, or even bridleless.
How to Determine if You Should Ride Bitted or Bitless
When you're trying to decide whether you should ride your horse with or without a bit, there's a few contributing factors to pay attention to.
It's all about what THE HORSE finds comfortable. I've had horses who's focus improved tremendously with a bit with rollers as they constantly had something to occupy their mind. I've also seen horses who become entirely different animals the second you remove the bit. There's also horses who associate certain gear with certain tasks. You have to figure out what works best for each individual horse.
Start with the most mild option, and increase overtime if needed. How does the horse respond in a sidepull? A bosal? The more you experiment with different types of head gear, you'll start to get a better idea of which your horse prefers. This process takes time, as there's so many options for both bit and bitless to play around with. Be patient and be sure to ask why your horse may be responding better in one setup compared to another.
How skilled are you as a rider? If you rely on your hands for everything, you do not need to be using strong equipment. An inexperienced rider can cause more damage in even the mildest of equipment than an experienced rider in a complex setup. We all start somewhere and we all have room to improve. While it's important to know what your horse does best in, it's just as equally important to know if you are capable of handling certain equipment properly. Once you understand the mechanics of bits and bitless setups as well as know how to ride with your legs and seat, then you can start experimenting more with different options as you are less likely to cause damage due to inexperience.
Whether you ride with a bit or without a bit, it is strongly suggested that your horse at least knows basic commands in a bit. Even if you plan on keeping your horse till death, you never know if they may end up in the hands of someone who isn't experienced with bitless. The last thing you want is for some ignorant rider to throw a bit in your horse's mouth and beat the shit out of them because the animal has no idea how to respond.
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