What exactly does it mean when a horse is riding on the bit!?

Question

May sound like a stupid question....

is it also true that most riding school horses don't ride on the bit?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

when a horses head is neither held too high nor sunk to low. when it sits nicely on a slight curve and when the pole sits evenly. and it's not trying to evade the control of the rider

Answer 2

A horse is on the bit when you can draw a vertical line from his nose to his forelock when viewed from the side. Yet, there is so much more associated with the horse on the bit that many riders are not aware of. The horse is truly on the bit when has rounded his outline (back and neck), engaged his hind quarters, stepped forward with impulsion, and brought his nose to the vertical.

Answer 3

when a horse is "on the bit" or in a frame it means that their back is up because their head in on the vertical...ugh here ill just hav to show you a picture(s)

on the bit:

http://www.classicaldressage.net/members...

not on the bit:

http://www.marthaolivo.com/articles/imag...

Answer 4

This is when the horse has accepted its rider and is working forward and listening well. you will find the hock come underneath them more and have more a drive from the hind. The horses head will lower and his nose points more into his chest. It is alot easier to work a horse that is on the bit as you tend to have more control, how ever make sure you dont let them overbend as this is a way of them avoiding the bit.

Yes most riding school horses dont go on the bit as some riders arnt very soft on the reins and not relaxed enough, also lack of seat is very common on beginners as everyone has to start somewhere and the horses constantly have different riders on them so it is very hard for them to go down as over time they develop a "hard mouth* and usually become dead to the leg.

Answer 5

Bitted horses may work ahead of the bit (head high), or behind the bit (head flexed but avoiding contact on the bit), or on the bit, which is desired.  Before a horse will take the bit, or work on the bit, forward impulsion has to be established.  Once the rider has succeeded in getting the hindquarter engaged and forward impulsion comes from the rear, that energy is caught by the bit and the horse becomes balanced betwen the bit and the hindquarter, with the rider's legs, seat, and hands doing the driving. The horse that works on the bit is ready for anything. Many riders can get a "headset", but often the horse is not on the bit at all, but usually behind it.

And, this is not a stupid question at all.  In fact, it's a very good one.

Answer 6

A horse on the bit looks like this:-

http://www.myequinenetwork.com/Portals/0...

http://www.stablefiechter.com/images/cha...

basically means they are curving their head down, commonly used in dressage

Answer 7

Most people have answered this question for you with regards to what a horse looks like.  However, I just wanted to put in a defence of riding school horses!!  At the stables I ride at we are all taught to ride on the bit and this is all we learn (once the basics are there) before we learn too much.  All the horses where I am taught can be ridden on the bit and although it's rare to find in riding school horses please don't think it never happens!!!  Good stables will teach you this as a priority!!!

Answer 8

The reason you see his head go down should be because he has tuched his butt, and raised his back making a natural arch which will then natural drop the horses head. If his head is in the air then it is because you are not riding his backend enough. This can not be acheived by only getting the head down by sea-sawing or pulling or by pushing a tense horse.

Riding school horse can go on the bit, they choose most the time not to. They are sick in tired of begginers that they either fake going round or avoid it all together. When they get a fairly experinced rider on them however they can move very nicely.

Answer 9

it means that the part that goes in the mouth is in. its called the bit.

some schools dont. depends.

Answer 10

The 'bit' is the piece of metal that enters the horses mouth at one side and comes out the other. It sits accross the tongue and attached to the head piece, bridal.

I suggest you search for --horses bit.    there you will find lots of information.

Answer 11

For the horse to be on the bit, he must engage the hind end, lift his back, and flex his poll.  This is caused by impulsion, and the impulsion caused by the riders driving aids.  Most riding school horses don't ride on the bit because (if you noticed) they don't have enough impulsion usually.  The people that usually ride these school horses are only beginners; therefore it is better if they go slowly on a loose rein for the riders safety, as they have probably not achieved a state of good balance.  In order to put the horse on the bit, the rider must give correct driving aids for the imputation to do so.  For some horses (like school horses, who tend to be quite lazy), you must put a LOT of leg on.  School horses should be able to get on the bit, it's just better if they don't for the purpose they serve.

Answer 12

A horse that is on the bit is one who is light and attentive, ready to respond to any command and who is very balanced, with an even pace, ready to move away from the leg without much effort from the rider.  Generally, a pleasure to ride.

Answer 13

It basically meens that you have a good feel of the horses mouth on your reins, and they are going between your hands and your legs.

And this is true about riding school horses

Answer 14

Alot of riding school horses dont because they are not good quality.

When a horse rides on the bit, it drops its head and "gives" to the rider.

It moves well and its head curves in like this http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbvie...

This action helps the rider to connect with the horse as the riders feelings (excitment, adrenalin etc) travel through the reins to the horse.

It is very useful because it enables you to control your horse more easily and the horse doesnt feel 'pushed'.

It develops a much better relationship and makes it easia and more comfortable for the horse to compete in things like show kumping and is a nessecty for dressage.

I hope this helps.

Answer 15

Being "on the bit" means the horse has taken contact on the bit and is in self carriage.  Most of the time people think of it as the horse being ridden and the neck is arched and the horse's nose is on the vertical...basically perpendicular to the ground.  It is more than that though.  Many horses that are forced into that position appear to be on the bit, but in fact aren't.  They are stiffly holding their heads in that position, are held there, or are not flexing thru the poll but rather thru mid neck.  A horse that is truly on the bit will have the arched neck, but they will be lifted in the whithers (up in the back) carrying themselves on a light contact and have freedom of movement thru the back and hind end.  Sometimes it's hard to tell.  School horses in general don't carry themselves like that. Most are just horses that were purchased that were safe to put beginners on. Bouncing hands and moving arms don't encourage taking the bit so most will not. Doesn't mean that they weren't trained that way at one time, but most won't do something that is uncomfortable for them and being hit in the mouth by the bit when someone loses their balance does not encourage them.

Answer 16

The bit is a piece of metal attached to the bridle, that goes in the horses mouth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bit_(horse)

Never heard the phrase before, but perhaps it's possible to control a horse without one?

"Chomping at the bit" is a metaphor, it describes a horse anxiously chewing his/her bit because s/he wants to be off- so it describes someone impatient to get going.

I don't know whether horses dislike the bit, but I can't think they actively enjoy it.