Nevzorov

Actually it's quite hard to translate a technical text (unless you are a professional interpreter). I speak several languages myself, and I had a very hard time recently translating a medical paper (just 1 page) for my mom's friend. And my translation was (khmmmmmm) very far from perfect...

Firstly, horses don't breathe through their mouths. They can cough but they don't breathe through their mouths. Period.

Secondly, a bit is a tool. Period. A physical object. It is what you do with that object that will become a good thing or a bad thing.

A knife is an amazing tool. Try to go a whole day without using a knife. It's hard. So, I knife is very useful but can also easily kill someone. It's not the knive's fault, it is the person who used is the wrong way.

So, bits do not cause pain. It is only the hands that use the bit, will use it the correct way (which wont cause pain) or incorrectly (which will cause pain).

This also goes for Bitless bridles, Hackamores, bosals etc.. Used with too much pressure they will tear the skin and break the horse's nasal bone or jaw bone.

I have to ask then Ray, if it's as simple as that, what's wrong with using a knife in place of a bit?? Seems to me it's similar to the 'guns don't kill people' argument... tho it seems that there are a lot more 'people killers' in the US for eg...

BTW I'm not against bits in any situation, just in general. I wouldn't be against seeing someone with the skill of like... JF Pignon for eg riding with a knife blade bit either, but that's not to say I'd like to see that sort of equipment as general use & condoned as not harmful.

Tools don't kill people.... It is what you do with the tool that will benifit or not benifit animal or human.

A knife is sharp and so when any amount of pressure would be put on 'knife bit' it would cut the horse.... I don't recommend 'knife bits' LOL

I can understand what your point is, and I do agree that some mouth pieces shouldn't exist (Such as mule bits and bicycle chains).

But the larger picture is that bits don't hurt horses... It is the pressure you apply to the bit that will determine if there will be pain.
-Example would be, jerking the rein, which would cause a sharp increase of pressure, which would result in pain.

As with knives & bicycle chain bits, tools are designed with a particular purpose. Bits are around because people discovered you could control a horse with force easily when you apply it to a piece of metal in their mouth. Just because people CAN use them with sensitivity, just like some people can juggle knives... Perhaps in your circle you're all well trained riders on well trained horses, but my 'larger picture', not just local, but looking at so many horse events around the world, not just novice stuff by far either, is that bits do indeed *very commonly* hurt horses. Of course it's (usually, unless they get them caught on something) down to the hands on the reins, but most people & horses don't have enough training/skill to ensure they'd never hurt the horse.

A bitless bridle can just as easily hurt and damage a horse the same amount as a bit.

I disagree. Yes, any equipment has the ability to be used painfully, but some, being designed that way, is far more easily able than others.