🐴💕🦄 Ever Thought About Going Bitless?

Natural Horse NZ
3 days ago
3 min read

The good news is, if you can already lead your horse nicely in a halter, you're already halfway there.

Whilst we completely understand how nerve-racking it can seem to ride without a bit if you've never tried it before, after helping hundreds of owners make the transition, we can honestly say that when the correct training is used—which is straightforward and usually takes around 20 minutes to get started—the change is often a non-event.

What a bitless bridle won't do is magically turn a poorly trained, upset or traumatised horse into the perfect riding partner. However, going bitless can often help a horse become more relaxed and comfortable, creating a better emotional starting point for training and allowing many horses to focus on learning instead of worrying about the bit.

I made the switch to bitless more than 20 years ago with all of my own horses, and it remains one of the best decisions I've ever made. Their willingness improved, I felt more connected to them, they appeared happier without metal in their mouths, and our partnership became much stronger.

Since then, I've helped hundreds of owners make the transition to bitless and have watched the same look of surprise on their faces time and time again. Many expected it to be difficult, only to discover that with a little preparation and the right training, their horse understood the change remarkably quickly.

We've found there's very little we can't do bitless that we previously did with a bit, with the exception of some competition disciplines where bits are still required under the rules.

Having a happy horse has always been our top priority here at Natural Horse NZ. It's part of everything we do, and over the years we've found that, when introduced correctly, bitless riding often creates a happier and more enjoyable experience for both horse and rider.

🌿 The next time you put your bridle on your horse, take a moment to think about what your horse is experiencing.

❤️ Some horses accept a bit without much concern.

🐴 Others simply tolerate it because they don't know any different.

🦄 And then there are those horses whose entire outlook on being ridden can change when the bit is removed.

💕 Sometimes the greatest changes don't come from asking our horses to do more...

❤️ They come from giving them one less thing to worry about.

🐴💕🦄 Part of The Bitless Horse Series

Every horse is an individual, and bitless riding is about far more than simply removing the bit. Throughout The Bitless Horse Series, we'll explore the science, behaviour, training and practical knowledge behind riding without a bit, helping you better understand how horses learn, communicate and respond to pressure, so you can make informed decisions for your own horse.