BRIDLES & BITS

There is so much to bridles and so many different types of bits it can be confusing to the novice horse owner/rider. Lets look at what they entail. Nosebands such as the cavesson without a standing martingale are redundant. Do any of us take the noseband off? Why leave it there, doesn't the horse have enough on his head? Also the other types of nosebands such as the flash, grackle and drop which are to stop the horse having any movement of the jaw...why? Can't we all just spend more time gently training our horses to do as we ask without reverting to totally restricting his head movements? I remember when bearing reins were 'fashionable' with carriage horses and how cruel that was, it took ages for that to be seen on as a bad thing but eventually people saw how cruel it was. There's also the martingales which stop movement of height in the head, curb chains which work on the movement from the bit, noseband and top of the headpiece. In the wrong hands all these things are cruel to horses.

We all need to look at our riding skills, our trainers and teachers. Even the most highly acclaimed teachers with years of 'experience' can be cruel. The way thousands of people have learned is instilled in their teaching of others, bad habits become the normal thing and nobody questions methods or have ideas for alternatives.

If you don't feel it's correct then question it. It may make you unpopular, people may laugh at you but it may also help the person you're questioning to question themselves. Most people know what's wrong but are too afraid to open their mouths about things and put up with abuse to the horses and themselves.

So, what do you do if you feel you don't need that noseband? Try in an arena, corral or controlled area without it. You may find your horse is fine without it. If you feel your horse does need it then try retraining your horse. Yes, it may take time. Yes, it may be frustrating. But in the end you'll have a happier horse and you yourself will be happier with your riding. No more fighting over the bit, no more shouting or whipping. There are lots of 'alternative' methods of training and riding nowadays most of which come to the same thing which is Natural Horsemanship through kind training and natural methods (refer to our links page). Teaching you to be a better horseman (horsewoman) and riding your horse as a natural rider.

How many of you dream of riding your horse bareback with just a halter like the Native Americans do? How many of you are just dreaming? It's not unheard of, most of the 'alternative' styles of training develop your riding skills on the ground first, then to halter and saddle, then halter and bareback and only then, when you've developed your independent seat and have learnt to control your horse without a bridle do you finally have the privillege of riding with a bridle and bit. Most people abuse the bit in the horses mouth too much. It's not a breaking device and anyone who's had a bolting horse knows it doesn't work as brakes. It's a refined tool for sensitive signals for the horse and rider to communicate with.

The bits themselves seem to get bigger, thicker, rougher and more like torture devices every year. How many times have I heard at a show 'that horse doesn't turn properly, that horse won't stop, that pony just won't jump cleanly...get it a bigger bit, put it in a flash noseband, stop it moving it's head about'. What is all that about, too many people have opinions about other peoples horses and how they should go and too many young influencial people listen.

It would be wonderful for trainers to teach their pupils not only riding but horsecare in a humane, natural way. For people not to be wary of questioning their teacher or employer. For judges at shows to be totally impartial and to judge on the performance. To speak out on anything they see at shows that is cruel or unjust and not be blinded by a perfect turnout such as a well-groomed horse and expensive jackets and boots. To judge the person who is riding on their skills and ability. For large organisations to stop supporting things such as: mane and tail pulling, twitching, stabling in small stables, devices to stop wind-sucking etc.

Bitting a horse is not bad but most people need to learn not to use them for turning, stopping and balance. A bit is a sophisticated tool that allows good riders to use very subtle signals to their horse. If you are using a bit to stop, turn or for your own balance then you should not be using one as you can ruin your horses soft mouth. We need to learn to ride without a bit and bridle so that when we do have one we don't need it! What a concept that is!

In my humble opinion it would be better for all of us to question whether we actually NEED a bit at all, most happy hackers don't need them and people doing competitions should be encouraged to be bitless by competitions only allowing for bitless bridles and good horsemanship in the lower levels so that when you get to the higher levels we don't use the bit for the wrong things.

Wouldn't it be lovely to see competitions with horse not being 'pulled' into an 'outline', for the horse to want to give a correct outline because the human and trainers have taken the time for the horse to find it's own balance and self-carriage.