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Will your horse respond to your bit?

151K views 646 replies 192 participants last post by  DanielDauphin 
#1 · (Edited)
If not, have you considered why?

Recently, I have seen an influx of threads asking advice about "what bit to put my horse in because I don't have control of him/her?" As opposed to retyping my opinion several times, I just decided to have a bit of a 'rant' thread.

First off, if your horse simply refuses to listen to the bit, then the problem isn't with the bit. The problem lies with what training (or lack thereof) and handling the horse is getting. The fact is that 99% of the time that a horse is ignoring the bit, slinging his head, nosing out, or any other action that most people associate as a "bit problem", it isn't the bit at all. It is a terrible thing to see that so many people are not being taught how to properly cue a horse with the bit. They almost always have solid contact and in order to stop or turn, they just pull harder. Those people have hard hands. HARD HANDS MAKE HARD HORSES.

If the horse isn't as responsive as you like in the bit that you have, then work on him in the bit that you have. It is better to go back to a simple snaffle for schooling or corrective work though because it is one of the mildest bits that you can find. If a horse is responsive in a simple snaffle, then you can ride him in anything; however, if you ride him in a twisted wire gag for him to be responsive, then you would have no control in anything less. All the time we see it: a horse gets hard in the snaffle so they move him up to a twisted snaffle, then he gets hard in that so they move him up to a Tom Thumb bit (one of the most worthless bits ever made in my opinion), then he gets hard in that so they move him up to a solid mouth curb with longer shanks, then he gets hard in that so they move him up to a gag bit or a combination bit like those you see with a hard rope noseband and gag bit. Before you know it, the horse is being ridden in a 1/8 inch double twisted wire gag bit. Then 'what a miracle' the horse ends up hard to that too and at this point, they say "Well he is a stupid horse" or "He's stubborn" or "He gets excited". They never for one instant consider that every problem that horse has is rider error and by that point, the poor horse is usually beyond the point of no return.

Not many people are concerned with learning how to be soft with their hands and those that aren't will always blame the horse or the bit for every problem they have. You teach softness by being soft. You maintain softness by being soft. There are certain times, especially when handling a green horse, that being hard for an instant is required but it takes someone who understands horses and knows softness to know how much 'hard' is required and when it will be beneficial to the horse. Many riders should spend their lifetime riding with nothing more than a snaffle because they don't understand when, how, or why to use the bite that a curb bit has. Even fewer people have any business using a twisted wire bit for any reason. Those bits should be reserved for only the most experienced and talented horsemen to use on only the most outlaw horses and only for a few days to re-gain respect for the bit. They should never be used for everyday riding by your typical 'fun' rider, or even a competition rider.

Many horses that end up hard due to improper riding can be re-trained to be soft-ish, however, they will never be as soft as a horse that was taught from the beginning to be responsive to the slightest cues. If you are having trouble at the lope or gallop, then it isn't a sudden problem just because of the change of gait. The issues are there at the walk and trot, they are just more subtle. Any gaps in training at the slower gaits will reveal themselves at speed.

No horse that got the proper training or riding needs to be moved up from a snaffle. We, as riders, choose to move to a different bit because of our preferances or training goals. I choose to ride in a ported curb because I ride one handed on a loose rein and a ported curb is designed for that, a snaffle is not. However, I can still stick any of my horses in a snaffle bit and they respond the same way. If I rode all my horses on light contact and direct reined, would I still use the curb? Absolutely not because it isn't designed for that and it is too much bit for that type of riding. The more advanced bits are designed for finesse, not power.

Anyone who says their horse needs to be in this special bit is just kidding themselves. The horse needs that bit because his training and handling dictates that the rider needs that bit to communicate because their hands only know how to scream. They cannot understand the sublety of a whisper and as a result, their horse has learned to tune out all but the loudest of screams.

Are there horses out there that seem to be immune to the softness of the snaffle from day one? Of course, but those are very rare and that immunity is generally paired with an outlaw nature that is dangerous to handle anyway. If a horse can be trained to accept a rider, then they can be trained to be soft to a snaffle bit.

Some horses misbehave in the bit due to a physical issue, whether it is a tooth problem or a nerve problem in their mouth or some other reason that carrying a bit would be painful. Some riders simply choose to ride bitless. Does that make them less knowledgeable or have a lower worth as a horseman than someone who rides in a bit? No. However, the bitless options out there are no different than the bit options. There are very mild choices like a simple halter or sidepull, there are more advanced options like the bosal, and then there are ridiculous options like those chain nosed mechanical hackamores. The same rules apply to those as they do to bits; stick with the mildest choice unless you need more finesse as the training level progresses.

To make a long story short, a bigger bit is designed to create finesse later in training, they are not meant to simply give a rider more power. A power struggle with a horse will always end up with the horse ruined and the rider frustrated and hateful.

Results come from what you put in their head,
not what you put on it.
 
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#397 ·
what a tortured animal...it's clear that he only looks happy because you are forcing him to with a magical piece of metal.

hmmmm...still waiting on the answers to my earlier questions...she doesn't seem like the type to not have something to say. wonder where she went?
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#400 ·
I think it's been stickied for quite some time..



Hey you could go down to Horse Talk and find the animal communicator thread and find one to ask what your horses think of the god-awful torture devise in their mouths! I'm sure that'll clear everything up. Maybe the group discount thing will work.
 
#403 ·
Bit madness, I like that. :D

Nope, you didn't see wrong. It's been stickied for a while.

A group discount would be lovely. More horses = a bigger discount, right? Because, after all, I do have quite a few horses and they have all been enduring the torture of bits all their lives.
 
#407 ·
I must be real terrible too. I have 7 horses all of whom have been and are subected to the torture of a bit. I have one poor, poor mare who got to spend four years as a broodie. I stuck a bit in her mouth last week too! Oh, the horror!
 
#412 ·
I like how this thread has been going for awhile quite interesting hehe. I don't get why people have to bash eachother just because they don't like what somone uses. My mare hates the pressure caused by bitless and is very soft in a bit in fact I barely need to touch it because she is so good with leg and seat aids. That would all be due to her training.
But I do love that picture in the snow its very cute everyone all rugged up.
 
#413 ·
These bitless people would love to meet Abby. She's basically the definition of the horses they're describing. I'm assuming her second owner did something to her at some point. She's terrified of lunge whips too. Her previous owner said he had her about two weeks and had her super sensitive to cues, but super uptight. She doesn't get a bit because I don't want to eat dirt every time I ride.

While we've got this massive discount from the therapist, I may throw Abby in and see what her problem is with bits.
 
#414 · (Edited)
I am new to this forum so first... hello all, I have to say this is a very interesting thread but seems to have gone a little out to left field. Bit's are a big hunk of metal in your horses mouth that can do a lot of damage and all you people out there making fun of people that don't like bits, you best not forget that. I have no problems with bits but more with the hands that use them.

Personally when I am teaching my students I can not stress enough that it's never about the bit it's about the respect that your horse has for you and for pressure. If your horse clearly understands how to move off pressure then you do not need a bit for simple things. I teach all basics to my horses in a halter and then move up to a bit to refine head position. But other then that I ride in a halter on the trail or for basic schooling.
 

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#415 ·
I am new to this forum so first... hello all,
First welcome to the forum. Glade you have come to join us.

I have to say this is a very interesting thread but seems to have gone a little out to left field. Bit's are a big hunk of metal in your horses mouth that can do a lot of damage and all you people out there making fun of people that don't like bits, you best not forget that. I have no problems with bits but more with the hands that use them.

Bits are not just a "big hunk of metal" they are a tool just like any other tool. Used properly they can and do make a very light and responsive horse. Used improperly they can do damage. No different then any other tool including a bit-less bridle or a rope halter. They can do just as much damage in the wrong hands.

Personally when I am teaching my students I can not stress enough that it's never about the bit it's about the respect that your horse has for you and for pressure. If your horse clearly understands how to move off pressure then you do not need a bit for simple things. I teach all basics to my horses in a halter and then move up to a bit to refine head position. But other then that I ride in a halter on the trail or for basic schooling.
I agree it is all about the hands. As for basic training. I still want the refinement I get from a bit. That starts day one. I do not want to have to go back and refine what has already been taught. I want that to start from day one. No reason to have to reteach something that could have just as easily been taught the first time through. This is why I use the best trainers I can find for my horses. I do not want to have to redo things.
 
#420 ·
Ahem.

We aren't making fun of people who don't like bits. We are "making fun of" those who think people who use bits are abusive monsters.
:wink:
Posted via Mobile Device
Yes, Luveee brought all that "making fun of" on herself. She has no respect for opinions that disagree with hers, but is unable to defend her own opinion in a logical, thoughtful manner when her inconsistencies are pointed out.
 
#422 ·
and Taby you mention only using a bit to refine head position...what do you train I'm just curious? My understanding at least in dressage is that you don't use the bit to place the head in a certain carriage...that should all drive from behind. A bit when used properly with other leg and seat cues can be used to teach that but I got the impression from your post that you teach it first then use the bit last to teach head carriage?

Just curious...not being rude so don't take it that way...unless you want to and then you'll have to deal with my posse here ;)
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#429 · (Edited)
and Taby you mention only using a bit to refine head position...what do you train I'm just curious? My understanding at least in dressage is that you don't use the bit to place the head in a certain carriage...that should all drive from behind. A bit when used properly with other leg and seat cues can be used to teach that but I got the impression from your post that you teach it first then use the bit last to teach head carriage?

Just curious...not being rude so don't take it that way...unless you want to and then you'll have to deal with my posse here ;)
Posted via Mobile Device
I prefer to do my dressage my self but I do also teach a very basic western.

When I say bit to refine head position I should explain I find the halter a lot sloppier then the bit when it comes to communication and refinement for the head and neck positions. You are absolutely right that you drive the horse from being into collection and I am someone that rides through the seat not hands but the horse still can drop it's head to low or bend the jawline incorrectly so to correct that to what is considered in proper position you need something that can communicate a little better then a halter so I use the bit. But this is for finished product not for basic training this is for when I can get a little bit picky :wink:. Hope that helps.
 
#423 ·
Potential boarder (PB): Hi, I'm calling in response to your ad about boarding. Do you still have any openings?

Potential boarding barn (PBB):Yes, we have a lot of openings.

PB: Can you tell me a little about your place?

PBB: We're not cruel here.

PB: Well..Ok.. that's good to know.

PBB: We're a bitless barn.

PB: What does that mean?

PBB: We don't allow use of bits on our horsies. We call them horsies. Calling them horses is cruel. You don't use a bit do you?

PB: Uh, yes I do. I show my horse, uh, I mean horsie.

PBB: Showing is cruel. It forces horsies to do what they don't want to do.

PB: I like the challenge of competition, my horse-horsie does too.

PBB: We have competitions here. We see who can join the most horsie forums & tell people how wrong they are for using bits. It's a great time.

PB:Oh..Ok I gotta go now.

PBB: Let me tell you why bits are bad for horsies.

PB:click
 
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