Do you let your horse eat while bitted?

So I'm not riding Piper atm. Long story but basically because the lady who gave her to me has asked me not to.

Anyways I tack Piper up and take her for walks along the road and often stand on the verge with her where she grazes different shrubs, plants etc that aren't plentiful in the paddock. Kind of like self selection of medicinal herbs.

I think I heard somewhere that you should never let your horse eat while tacked up/bitted but am not sure if it applies to us? We met this handsome fellow on our last walk.

No I don't. It's bad manners and seems they couldn't chew well enough to me with a bit in.
Posted via Mobile Device

The reason to not let your horse eat when tacked up and being rode is that it is letting the horse not focus on you. Some feel that it let's the horse show disrespect. When I am starting a horse, I would not allow them to eat. When they are trained, I don't have a problem letting them do it.
Posted via Mobile Device

I am not to found of the green slobber that gets all over the bit.

I do not do it while we are working. If I am walking my horse out (and only in western headstall) I will allow them to graze a bit. But I do not do it at all in an english bridle. Between the tight noseband and the bit, I think its just asking for trouble since they can not chew sufficiently.

I don't let them eat while going down the trail but when I stop they are more then welcome to have a bite. People don't like to let them eat while being ridden because if you are not careful they'll keep stopping to eat instead of doing what you have asked.

I have no problem letting a horse snitch a bit here and there. Keeps the gut moving.

I don't in large part because I hate cleaning the grass and green slobber off the bit.
Posted via Mobile Device

I do not. My old pony I bought this spring was rode by kids and learned that she can just pause and take a bite whenever. It's annoying, and it's taken me a long time to break her of this habit (still working on it, but much better). Whenever you're stopped, she'll take advantage of the situation and if the grass is long enough, reach over and grab some.

My friend and I joke that she has two emotions: Hungry and Apathetic.

My younger mare, on the other hand, was never taught that it was possible to eat while being rode, and it's great having a horse you can ground tie on grass and that will stand there without looking around to try and find something to eat. It's great that she doesn't yank your arm off, either.

Plus, it's nice to have a clean bit not coated in a slimy green goo..

Yep, I sure do. Nelson is 22 and he has paid his dues and if he wants to munch on some grass here and there, then so be it. Also, just as mls said, it helps to keep the gut moving, which is greatly important since their digestive systems require consistant roughage flowing through.