Using a bit as a security blanket

Question

Someone else's question made me think of this, and I want to hear what other people think:

I know (knew) a woman who used slightly more severe bits than was warranted, because she was afraid one of her horses might spook or bolt on her. She didn't use anything super-crazy severe, but more bit than her quiet, well-broke horses needed. She was a timid rider and while she wasn't terrible, she wasn't the greatest rider ever, either. Her hands were OK but not super-quiet.

I have no problem with bumping up your usual loose ring snaffle a few notches and switching it to a bit with a little more whoa, if you're going out on the trail and your horse is sometimes fresh. That is OK and honestly, I think it's probably safer that way. But this particular person used slightly-too-severe bits for every ride, indoors and out.

It occurred to me that this might be an issue with other people, too, and a potentially detrimental one. It becomes not only a security blanket, but possibly a crutch as well.

So, anyone else have any thoughts or related experiences? Is this a problem or not and if so, what do you think is a better approach? And what is a timid rider to do when they think that a severe bit is their best bet for safety?

Answer 1

Thats is a good point.  My Horse has stopping issues, but for the most part is well behaved-I upgraded  him to a tom thumb just because it made me feel better, and it didn't seem to bother him,  but he did start star gazing when asked to stop.  I have since gone back to his old bit, just a roller snaffle with copper bits.  It is a valid point though.  My horse isn't that spooky at all and didn't need to be upgraded, but now he is down graded and doing better.

Answer 2

its not uncommon, i know alot of people that do that and i must admit i have been guilty of it myself on a 4 YO that tended to take me off up the road! dangerous but thats the only reason i did it, to stop him cantering head on into a car.

English riders like to feel more in control of their horses than western riders because we tend to have more flighty, spooky horses than you typical QH or paint.

I like to just have enough control so that i can stop my horse fairly quickly in an emergency and that does not mean ramming on my breaks and pulling the horse hard in the mouth, it means gently squeezing with enough effect.

That is my comfort zone and if i give the aid to stop, i dont want to drag on for half a mile slowly grinding to a halt because that is dangerous.

Weather my 'prefered method' takes an eggbutt snaffle or a tomb thum, that is how i like the relationship with my horse and it is a relationship.

i have seen so many riders out hacking in  a snaffle, that pull like h**l on the reins, lean back with all their weight and still have the horse in a reasionable canter - to me, that causes more pain or discomfort than a harsher bit used correctly.

Thats just my opinion and thats the amount of control i need.

anyone can ride my horse anywhere in an eggbutt or a loose ring, but it doesnt mean they have control.  like i said, if you give the aid to stop and your horse carrys on, some people will just keep pulling and this not only gives the horse a hard mouth therefor needing a harsher bit anyway, but it is not proper horsemanship.

I can ride my horse anywhere in a Dutch gag on the first hole and the very moment i give the aid to slow down, he will immediatly start to slow therefor i can relese the pressure.

I dont use a snaffle because my horse doesnt ride well in them, he came with a twisted snaffle and i wouldnt use one of those under any circumtance.

Good question though.

Answer 3

Well I am not a timid rider by any stretch of the imagination.  In fact there is not much I can not or will not ride.  I have to admit my studs attitude gave me time to pause, but he wound up breaking out faster than any horse I have ever owned except for a half arab I had raised.

Yet I will tell you straight that I want a bit that I can use to effect if I have to.  Not for a security blanket but simply because I know how to use it and I find horses that fight the bits as nearly worthless in my opinion.  I ride trails through woods and forest, where all kinds of things jump up and out at you and your horse and you had better have something in your horse's mouth that can handle it if push comes to shove.  I ride in areas rough enough that if I say WHOA the horse had better stop now or it could have a nasty fall (sometimes a very very far fall).  I will not risk my life or the life of my horse on a bit that the horse may choose to ignore.  Nor will I sell any of my horses to people who do not understand the difference between the various forms of show riding, and trail riding, enough to know that you do not use a snaffle on trails.  

Every one of my horses can be ridden with reins clipped to their halter.  That does not mean I will take them out on the trail that way.  The rule on the trail is "Get a good curb bit and learn how to use it!"

I see no problem with using a heavier bit in the arena IF the rider knows what they are doing.  That means the horse can be handled with the finger tips parely grasping the reins.  The problem comes in when people do not know what they are doing.

One thought though....

If this woman was so scared of a runaway that she used such a harsh bit....How much sawing do you think she would have done(out of nervousness or fear) if she just had a snaffle in the horses mouth?

KB you were too eloquent to thumbs down and you have a point.  I disagree however.  I too can ride without the aid of a bit or if I wanted reins and saddle.  The difference is that I see no point.  Not because the bit and reins are a crutch but because any rider no matter how good of a rider can communicate better with them than without them.

Answer 4

I don't have a huge problem with the rider using a slightly stronger bit on a horse who is known to bolt.  For example, I might ride a horse that bolts in like a gag with two reins.  I know that I am experienced enough to separate the reins and just use the snaffle rein most of the time.  But I would have the gag rein their if I needed it.  But I wouldn't do this on a horse who has never bolted before.

However, in my experience, timid riders tend to clench up on the horse.  So my concern is that the rider would start pulling if she got nervous.  I wouldn't want her accidentally punish her horse, and make things worse.

Answer 5

well, i guess i do it..

but not really..

i ALWAYS ride in a d ring snaffle unless we're cross country or doing lots of jumping..

but i also ALWAYS have a second bridle set up with a rubber pelham.. i never use it, maybe twice since i've bought it (for jumping..) but for some reason it makes me feel better to have it there..

but using one all the time seems pointless to me.

Answer 6

Kicking bear has said it eloquently.  Given the examples he has listed, how can anyone dispute that bits are crutches for those who do not bother to develop their horsemanship?  If you cannot ride a horse on trails or anywhere else for that matter without relying on a leverage bit to save you from disaster, you have no business using leverage bits because you do not understand their purpose, and neither you nor your horses is adequately trained in the art of horsemanship.

The woman in your example had no business riding anywhere but in an arena with an instructor training her how to ride a horse....not a mouth....a horse.

Answer 7

I went through something a little similar...I have a really big go-go horse!! I have my horses at home and only use them on trails. I was always intimidated taking her on the trails because I always believed she would bolt off and id get hurt. So what did I do?? of course tighten things up, hold on tighter and pull more. Little did I know this was making things worse. Once I loosened up alot...she was so much more comfortable and was such an awesome horse to ride!! Her rides are fun and exciting...and I am learning more and more with her.

Answer 8

I believe that a riders goal - no matter what event you ride in - is to become the best rider you can.  It the simplest terms, I think that means someone who can better communicate what they want to do with their horse or any horse.

With that in mind I will tell you that the two biggest set backs for people are the reins and the saddle.  Riding is a sport.  But for some it is more, it's more like a Martial Art.  No spin kicks, or upper cuts - rather a continous struggle toward perfection.  

So it depends on how you view riding and the whole "zen" aspect of it.  For some it is nothing more than getting to ride a horse.  In which case, the bit and reins will never be a crutch.  For others it is about perfection between a horse and rider.  For that, the goal is to be able to do as much as you can with as little as possible.... safely.

So a good question to ask is:  "For me, is horseback riding just a sport, or is it something more - like a Martial Art?"  "Do I just want to get by, or do I want to be something special?"

Edit:  Oh look, a thumbs down.  You're right maybe my answer was to philosophical so let me put it this way.  What can you do with a saddle and reins that you can't do without?  Sheri Westfall can do a reining pattern without either.  I have seen plenty of guys cut cows with niether.  Linda Parrelli gives demonstrations on dressage without saddle and sometimes no reins.  I myself can ride a Mustang Stallion at a full out gallop through a course all the while shooting arrows from it's back without reins or saddle.

So whoever gave me the thumbs down either because you disagree that reins and saddle are the biggest crutches for a rider - or because you are just a troll.... why can those people excell without a bit, reins, or saddle?  It is obviously not impossible to do, and the only limits to what you can accomplish are the limits you put upon yourselves!

Answer 9

I have a horse that I used to use a bit on. He is only 5 years old and is a percheron/tb so he is a little hard to handle sometimes. He would go a little faster than I wanted at times and would be very hard to stop. So I put on a more, as you say severe bit on him. He was even harder to control and he bucked like crazy. I tried a hackamore on him and at first he was a pain, but now he is like a brand new, well trained horse (and let me tell, he is not). The hackmore worked wonders. I was never really afraid or scared while riding him until I used the more severe bit. I would suggest loosening up and just see what is right for the horse, not for you (her).  

Answer 10

I agree. It always frustrates me when people talk about having to use even more severe bits. It seems like the harsher they go the less sensitive the horse becomes and the more severe the bit they require. It makes me really thankful for the overly sensitive horse I ride. He requires the softest bit possible and even that can be too severe for him when used the wrong way. Thanks to him I have had to develop my legs and seat for control instead of my hands. It's amazing what a difference it can make. My Arab used to have a very hard mouth (years of my inexperience and ignorance) and since riding my TB I have been able to dramatically soften her mouth and make her so much more responsive to my more subtle aids. I just wish people would take a step back and realize that something is lacking in the training if the horse isn't responding properly. And even if it was like that when you got it, thats no excuse. My Arab used to be really difficult but I took the time to go back to the beginning and undo the bad training instead of masking it with harsh bits and other training gadgets.

Answer 11

Odd that you should ask that as I was thinking that maybe I was doing that with one horse. I was actually considering toning the bit down a little but then he went and proved a couple of things to me while we were in a debate the other day.

He successfully proved that

a he can still present a challenge

b I'm still up to it

c the bit needs to stay exactly how it is

It's a Waterford mouthed Dutch gag on the third ring. He showed me just how easily he can ignore it if he's really pissed.  

Answer 12

My personal opinion is that you should use the mildest bit possible. There are some horses who do require more severe bits and I have known a couple who actually prefere something like a pelham to a straight snaffle and if that is what the horse preferes then go with it, but just putting a stonger bit in because you are scared just says that you ought to sell the horse and get something more sedate and also have more lessons.

Being scared shouldnt' be a reason for putting stronger tack on. I had a really bad experience in January where I was bolted on, I came off and broke my ankles. I haven't riddent my horse I came off again but will in a couple of years when both he and I have more experience. I am ridding my sisters cob again but still in a simple frech link. More tack just makes the problem worse, especially if the horse is just running/rearing etc to escape an uncomfortable mouth.

Answer 13

I suppose my opinions stay to myself when someone who isn't a student or client of mine makes a "bit" decision incorrectly, well, incorrectly to me anyways.  

The way I feel about this is simply that a harsher bit, in the wrong hands (timid=inexperienced/unprepared)  creates a bigger problem, giving the horse MORE reason to resist and have "issues".  I think that if a rider is timid, this results in inexperienced reactions such as putting alot of un-necessary pressure on a horses mouth in an instance such as this one.  I think that alot of times we are going to encounter many different people who do things in many different ways, and we cant change it.  Ultimatley it comes down to opinion (whether it be a qualified opinion or not, as we see in Y!A all the time) what has and has not worked for other people.  Iam personally a fan of Oh' Natural - Iam not a huge fan of the artificial aid however I do respect that in the right hands they can be very useful tools - and even at times a bit change can solve alot of problems...but in the right, experienced hands.  I think that alot of equestrians tend to aim for the quick fix, and unfortunatley at times this isnt always in the best interest of the horse.  For an example, trying to solve a hot headed horse with a "hotter or harsher" bit.  But this is why we have these question boards and people who do have the opinions that, in fact, taking the time on the little things and slwoing a horse down the "right" way can be done, and we get the chance to express our opinions on these issues.  All we can hope for then, is that someone takes the advice and learns from it.  Ideally, I wish the whole world was on relatively the same page with training methods, but then in all honesty we would be a boring horse world with not much to dicuss or "argue" about.  

Good Question :)

EDIT**

I admit that I was the one who gave the thumbs down to kicking bear BUT I obviously severley misunderstood his answer entirely.  My misinterpretation and my appologies.  What helped me understand further is galloppals answer.  So thanks galloppal for helping me better understand what is was that kicking bear was REALLY trying to get across. Again my applogies for misunderstanding.  I ultimatley agree that whatever rider relies on the bit for a control centre is ultimatley lazy in their horsemanship.  Absolutley one should be able to ride a horse without a bit anywhere and should certainly learn how to ride a HORSE and not a MOUTH.  Well said galloppal. And again my sincere appologies.

EDIT**

haha thanks Lusitano :)  I agree, it would really be nice to hear WHY people were disagreeing here.