I came across this video on YouTube about how bits are painful to all horses, even the simplist snaffles. What do you guys think of this take on bits?
(Hope the link works)
(Hope the link works)
The bit has absolutely nothing to do with control. Training is what creates the control. If a horse has bad training, then the strongest bit on the planet won't make him do what you want him to do. For goodness sake, the average horse outweighs me by nearly 10 times. I can't force them to do anything that they don't want to.I understand all of you and already agree. My point is not that snaffle bits are completely bad, but most people just don't know how to use them. I've seen people shaking their heads wondering why their horse tosses their head or rears and then I see that they have tight reins and are constantly in their horse's face.
And how is that the bit's fault? I've seen horses do the exact same things when being ridden in a bosal or a halter or a "calm and gentle" bitless bridle. That is a rider problem, not a tack problem. Regardless of whether they are in a snaffle or a bitless, the horse is still in pain.
And what happens if your horse steps on his reins while wearing a bit? What happens if your falling off and you are yanking on the reins? Your horse's mouth gets severly injured, that's what happens.
What happens if they get step in a hole? What happens if they slip in some mud? What happens if they get tangled in hidden wire? What if they trip and fall while loping along?
Things happen. Sometimes it results in injury and sometimes it doesn't. Whenever my horse steps on a bridle rein, he gives to the pressure of the bit, stops, and steps back off of the rein. BUT, I also train my horses to not move if I leave a bridle rein loose and if I suspect that they might, I don't drop the rein on the ground.
As for falling off, if I fall, then the horse likely did something to unseat me like bucking or spooking big. In that event, then the bump in the mouth might help to teach him not to do it again. You might think that reasoning harsh, but when you've been riding colts as long as I have, you'll appreciate every little thing that makes them think "Oh, maybe that wasn't such a good idea"....and you'd appreciate not having to walk 2-3+ miles back to the barn or to find the horse, especially if you're injured.
My question again, Why would you want to use a bit? What benefit other than a false sense of control and that you must wear one in a show ring?
I just have to answer this one.And what happens if your horse steps on his reins while wearing a bit? What happens if your falling off and you are yanking on the reins? Your horse's mouth gets severly injured, that's what happens.