How do you feel about bits...

Question

Before people start to say bad things about people riding horses and how the equitment is harsh... remember ONE thing... the equiptment cant be harsh by itself... the person using it is using it in a harmful way! There are people out there that know what they are doing and know how to use the equiptment. You can hurt a horse with any type of equiptment... it ust depends on how you use it!

Answer 1

I entirely agree. A huge bit that you tug on harshly does absolutely nothing- a horse that is being kicked hard with a sharp bit that is also being pulled on just makes the horse angry causing the horse to buck, take off running, or just not move at all. The smaller and gentler the movements are the more you get out of the horse.  

Answer 2

Good job Jordan!  Bits are a tool to be used to help communicate with the horse.  But it is more than that.  Bits people typically call severe often tend to be less harsh than snaffles providing the rider knows how to use it.  This is because the horse tends to fight it less.  

That said my only qualm is when people go out on trail with a snaffle.  Not a good idea.  No matter how well a horse is trained, there is always a chance of a runaway.  I have seen too many people get hurt by using a snaffle on a trail.  If you ride trail get a good curb bit and learn how to use it.

I do have one horse (the one my little girl rides) that uses a leverage hackamore instead.  But that is about as good.

Answer 3

It depends on the horse and what you're using the horse for... for instance, if you are using the horse for cutting, sorting, barrell racing, etc, you will most likely need a bit. But if you're just pleasure riding, I find that a hackamore is easier for both the rider and the horse. All it takes is a little test-run.

Answer 4

I use a Hackamore on one of my horses and the other one gets another type of bitless bridle. I agree it's not the equipment, it's how people use it. Most people and students don't know how to use so they are not only hurting the horses but teaching the horse the wrong way of getting them to do something.

I believe natural aids are better for the horse to learn rather then whips and harsh bits and spurs and things of that sort. Only for fox hunting I bring my spurs, just on my 5 year old (and they are still very small) and for lessons when he is being bad I bring s a crop just in case.

Answer 5

i think as long as i can stop my horse out hacking fairly quickly at a gallop, im happy.

i have seen so many riders using snaffles that go out and when they want to stop, they pull and pull and pull on the horses mouth and about 6 minutes later the horse stops - in my opinion, this causes more pain and discomfort than a harsher bit like a tom thumb used correctly.

i can go anywhere on my 15.2hh ID in a dutch gag on the first hole. I like to know that if we are hacking and my horse spooks or takes off, i can slow him down or stop him if i need to, without it taking 10 minutes!

that is just my opinion but i agree with you. its not the bit its the rider.

i only need to give the slightest signal to slow down, a tiny twitch of the reins and he will immediatly start to slow, if i apply more pressure, he will slow faster but i only ever apply the most amount of pressure needed.

i was on a hack with a novice rider the other day, she was riding a horse with a mullen mouth pelham and her hands were all over the place!! i felt really sorry for the horse but thats novice riders for you!

as i said in another question, anyone can ride their horse NAYWHERE in a loosring or an eggbutt, but it doesnt mean you can stop them or control them!

i think if the rider feels comfortable (and that doesnt mean using a double bridle on a snaffl emouth horse) but as long as you are within your comfort zone and dont abuse the power of the bit (and use it properly) you and the horse are on gold really.

Riders that flap their hands anno me, no matter how harsh the bit is so use your iron well people.

Answer 6

i am a strong believer in riding your horse and using natural aides to help you and  your horse be a better team. i dont think the solution is putting a stronger harsher bit in your horses mouth to solve a problem, because it does not solve anything it only creates more problems. example, a harsher bit with a handsy rider makes a hard mouthed horse.

i ride my gelding in a french link for flat and a training d bit with the french broken link in the middle. no artificle devices either, no side reins, no martigales, no draw reins. i do it all the old fashioned way, a bit of elbow grease!

I think people sometimes really just use a harsher bit to get a quicker result from their horse for a response .i dont agree though. i think its the easy fools way out

Answer 7

i totally agree.

i work as a trainer at a small farm

and i recently was mortified when i saw

the way one of my new students was using

some of the equipment.

some people no how to use the equipment

but others dont, not all horseback riding is bad.

as long as u no what ur doing it will be

fun for both u and the horse.

Answer 8

What you said is very true.  Heck, a hackamore is capable of breaking a horse's nose, if the rider misues it enough.  Riding is the same as anything else I approach:  Use the gentlest, least invasive way of getting the job done properly.  That might be a D ring snaffle, or it might be a hackamore, depending on the situation, the horse and his anatomy and preferences.  I generally don't agree with people who say "ALWAYS do ONLY this", because there is always more than one way to get a job done.  The whole "iron-free horse" thing is a bit extreme, to me.  

I have always used bits, but would not in any way be adverse to using a bitless method.  In fact, they intrigue me and I am looking forward to an opportunity to try one (or more) out and experiment for myself.

GAAAH friggin' YA "spellchecker" is telling me I misspelled "hackamore".  t says I need to respell it as "sycamore" or "hickory".  Hickory? Really?  Good Lord!

Answer 9

I agree that it is the rider's hands that determine the harshness of a bit.I also believe that if the hands belong to one who thinks a bit is to be used to control a horse, especially to stop a horse, then they have not been trained adequately to be using a bit, much less a leverage bit.

The bit is a communication aid, not a set of brakes.  Developing horsemanship is the answer to all control issues with riding.  You will hurt every horse you attempt to stop by engaging the bit every time you do it. You can't be using a bit to control a horse and not be misusing the bit.  Again, bits aid communication, and trained hands use them for that.