DO BITS CONTROL HORSES:

I certainly used to think so! And back in my youth I never questioned the use of a bit.

For me, it was only after having a break from horses that when I returned to riding in my 30s, with the help of a giant draft horse who had other opinions about using a bit, is when I learned there was another way to ride.

Since then, I’ve gone on to rehabilitate and teach hundreds of people and their horses how to ride Bitless to very pleasing results.

I do completely empathise with all riders if bitted riding is all you have known on how nerve-wracking it can be to take the plunge into riding without a bit.

However, I can confirm that for 99.9% of horses and their riders it honestly is normally a non-event, as most horses by far ride do equally as well, and often better when we ride Bitless, and they allow us the myth of us having control by listening and complying to all we ask of them.

As I can assure you that riding with a bit for control is a myth, folks.

So, much so that at the start of everyone of our first Bitless lessons, we make sure all riders understand this, and when I ask everyone this question it always makes everyone have a good think on that....and is normally received with a good smile and a genuine laugh.

So here goes:

“Surely you don't believe you can "control" a 500, 600, 700 or even a 1000kg horse with a 5-6inch metal bar do you?”

Lol .... And everyone normally agrees that this sounds preposterous when it’s put that way.

As the bottom line with horse riding is if the horse doesn't want to comply with the rider's request, a bit won't help... as horses can and do ignore the bit, or put it between their teeth and just go anyway!

As is demonstrated in a bolting horse ... as even the most well-trained horse, like this one from the Queens Royal Artillery, won’t be stopped by a bit if he doesn't want to stop...

So, if bits did work to offer this so-called "control" the horse surely would have stopped ... And the rider could have dismounted safely...

But it rarely happens that way .... As is clearly shown here ......the exceptionally well-trained professional rider of this horse has fallen off but the horse is still going? Still wearing his bit!!!

So come on folks ... Let's get real here-Bits don't control horses ...

Thankfully, horses are by the most part a charitable enough animal, who mostly choose to cooperate with us ...and 99% of those who have ridden Bitless will confirm that is normally the case when we remove the bit too.

After working with hundreds of horses, some of which were dangerous behavioural cases at our horse rescue & rehab centre over the years, I can assure you a bit plays no part in successfully rehabilitating any of the horses that come through our care.....and unfortunately we have found that by using one on horses who have experienced people associated traumas, it can often makes matters much worse. As a lot of equines have sadly learned to have a psychological fear of the bit.

Plus no matter how “good” your hands are - putting a metal, or even a rubber bar, into the horses oral cavity and attaching reins to that does cause them discomfort, along with breathing issues and leads to the production of excessive stomach acid which leads to ulcers too, as the body thinks food is incoming when the horse has something in his mouth and produces more acid to cope with that….., and on top of all that sadly sometimes bits even cause direct pain to horses as the very nature of some bits are to prod and push into the horses soft palate with those with the centre hinge mechanism.

Just imagine for a moment having a bit in your mouth, that you can not dislodge. I’ve tried it and can confirm it’s not a good experience and the over-production of saliva alone is enough to drive anyone to despair, and that response is certainly not normal for horses either.

Whilst I agreed that all bridles and head stalls, whether bitted or bitless, can cause discomfort if used incorrectly or harshly, I have also found that nothing has such a catastrophic affect on a horse’s body and mind as the misuse of a metal bit. Which I’m afraid are very easy to misuse and you only have to attend any equestrian event or even see a horse on tv, to sadly see so many examples of this.

We choose Bitless here at NaturalHorseNZ as we believe the horse is happier for it through our own hands on experience of seeing better results with Bitless riding.

But as always, it is not just the tack but the actual relationship that counts between the horse and their people. ... so we do also acknowledge that some riders can attain harmony whilst riding Bitted too.

Whatever your personal preferences, we can highly recommend trying Bitless riding, even if it’s just to give your horse a break from the bit. We find that riders feel very little difference in their hands and how the reins feel, whereas the horse will normally feel a massive change for the better and be so much happier for it.

So, if you’re thinking of trying Bitless please see this link for our range of Bitless Bridles and Riding Halters which we make available to New Zealand owners as to help every horse get a better deal from their riding experiences plus we supply guidance and training on how best to make the transition too : https://www.naturalhorse.co.nz/bitless-bridles