Bit or Bitless?
October 17, 2014
A while ago I read on someone’s Facebook post that they were riding a horse and were using a bitless bridle. I have listened to quite a few people who swear by bitless bridles but I always say, “listen to the horse.”
A couple years ago I had a quarter horse mare named Luna. She was a real sweet mare who like many mares, had a bit of a temper. Everything was fine until she decided she didn’t like something then she would just quit. My husband rode her most of the time but she was not happy. I thought hey, I will try her with a bitless bridle and yes it worked wonders. My husband said after watching that first bitless bridle ride, “She is a different horse.” I knew though that there was something going on in that mouth of hers. I took her in to our vet’s to get her teeth floated. The vet asked if I’d like a bit path put in. Sure I said feeling that was what she needed. A day or two later I rode her over to a friends and while I was riding her in the arena I heard her say, “Try the bit.” Ok so she said it more than once. I’d brought the headstall with the snaffle bit. When I changed it over, and got back in the saddle Luna dropped her head in that wonderful quarter horse way and eased right into it. Bitless no yes it was a bit for her. Your horse will tell you and if you cannot hear (yet), you will know if he or she likes the bit you have chosen by the way your horse holds her head, if she takes the bit or tries to move away from it. Not all horses want a bitless bridle and not all horses want a bit. All you have to do is observe and listen.
A while ago I read on someone’s Facebook post that they were riding a horse and were using a bitless bridle. I have listened to quite a few people who swear by bitless bridles but I always say, “listen to the horse.”
A couple years ago I had a quarter horse mare named Luna. She was a real sweet mare who like many mares, had a bit of a temper. Everything was fine until she decided she didn’t like something then she would just quit. My husband rode her most of the time but she was not happy. I thought hey, I will try her with a bitless bridle and yes it worked wonders. My husband said after watching that first bitless bridle ride, “She is a different horse.” I knew though that there was something going on in that mouth of hers. I took her in to our vet’s to get her teeth floated. The vet asked if I’d like a bit path put in. Sure I said feeling that was what she needed. A day or two later I rode her over to a friends and while I was riding her in the arena I heard her say, “Try the bit.” Ok so she said it more than once. I’d brought the headstall with the snaffle bit. When I changed it over, and got back in the saddle Luna dropped her head in that wonderful quarter horse way and eased right into it. Bitless no yes it was a bit for her. Your horse will tell you and if you cannot hear (yet), you will know if he or she likes the bit you have chosen by the way your horse holds her head, if she takes the bit or tries to move away from it. Not all horses want a bitless bridle and not all horses want a bit. All you have to do is observe and listen.