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So I wanted to ask on this big group of real life equestrians since I have no other sources of opinion. What do ya'll think about bits? There are countless aggressive bit haters who argue, throw insults, and make crappy claims so I decided to go on a much more civil HEE and ask so I don't get attacked for putting my opinion and stuff that happened. Here is my take on the whole thing: There are some bit designs that are made to hurt and some that aren't and people who dislike bits mostly look at the severe or harsh ones, people who ride like crap in bits, and bit "damage" from blogs (which are opinions and not factual). Honestly if you look at it from a veterinary point of view (like me and a few others) you laugh at their attempts to change educated peoples minds about an inanimate object.
Its not the tool itself its the rider. Anything on a horse can be hurtful if you (the rider) is making it hurtful. An inanimate object cannot hurt unless it is being manipulated to hurt by a living thing.
Here is the thing about people saying they cause "damage" like "cracking the teeth", or "cutting tounges", or "it hurts the gums". If (and there are thousands of examples out there of mouth damage) the mouth on a horse was in pain and so damaged as you think they are, the horse would eat or be eating as much. It would cause obvious signs of pain in the jaws or whatever you claim hurts so much and obvious signs of weight loss. Pretty much anything painful in a horses mouth decreases its ability to eat properly due to pain while chewing or biting etc. There would also be visual signs of the "damage" such as the alleged "cracked teeth" and the gums having the area where the bit goes a different color. It just doesn't add up.
Then there are other factors that basically decide if your horse should go bitless also. (Not every horse can go bitless and not every horse can have a bit) There are some horses that do not like the mouth pressure *the pressure from the bit* which is a sign you need to watch how you use your hands or if you need a softer bit. If you change and you horse still isn't "working properly" then try out a bitless bridle and see how he goes.
Not every horse like the bitless pressure either *the pressure being on the facial nerves and the nasal bone*. The rumors of a bitless bridle breaking a horses nose are pretty much false but the pressure can be unessecary and painful especially to the nerves. A horse has a bunch more nerves on its face than he does in his mouth. If he doesn't like the bitless pressure, again, watch how you use your hands or switch to something less harsh.
Not to mention showing and riding in circles in an arena have different needs so make sure if you are showing that bitless is allowed. Whether you can ride bitless depends on if your horse is comfortable with it and what you are doing with him.
Bits aren't harmful, humans are.
Sorry for the long post but I needed to get that out lmao. So anyways, what is your opinion and what do you use with your precious ponies? ^^ |
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Any bit is fine if used by knowledgeable, soft hands. And you should always consult your trainer or someone also very knowledgeable when making bitting decisions.
I only draw the line at Tom thumbs and similar or worse bits and I'm not a huge fan of the nutcracker action. Again, that's more personal.
Like I said, wether a bit is bad or not really depends on who's using it. That's my opinion, and where I'm from that's a very general one. Quite a classical one, I believe.
I have two ISH in real life; a 15.2hh mare who has absolutely no respect for any bit I have tried, wether it be the kindest of snaffles or a Dutch gag. She's hard in the mouth, gets tense to the point I can't put my leg on and gets to fast and strong when jumping. The only solution is to ride quiet with soft hands and to stay in light seat and out of her way. Everything has to be gentle and as soft as possible with her. Unfortunately her mouth has been ruined by years of producers pushing her for Showjumping age classes. She's 7 years old and has been jumping nonstop since she was 4. Due to all of this, we just put her in a snaffle and leave her be. I've only had her 6 months, and solving her problems has been a complete migraine for me. She's complicated but not bad in anyway, just incorrect and poorly trained for a 7 year old.
The second horse is 17hh, all legs. He's very enthusiastic and does get fast and strong round a course. He throws his head up and shoves his nose in the air when jumping (It's NOT out of pain, it's pure excitement. He's a very exuberant jumper) this was causing me to lose control, so he rides in a universal bit with roller links. When riding on the flat he rides in a simple, French link loose ring snaffle.
At the end of the day, wether you're for bits or against, it's so important to have control. No control = dangerous situations. You have to pick the options that keep both horse and rider safe and happy. |
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I agree bits aren't harmful it's how the rider uses it I've always used bits as that's what my horses have been comfortable in yes I've had to use a certain bit on my old horse as he didn't like the other bits but bits in no way are harmful it's how the rider uses their hands to control the horse. I've attempted to use a hackamore and I will never use one again as my horse went absolute skitz over it so I went back to the bit and she was fine.
I feel like that if people are saying bits are cruel that must mean every piece of gear must be cruel to. I think people need to step back and think about it like this they don't own that horse they don't know what that horse is more comfortable in and or how that horse works |
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Fireball Stables said:
I agree bits aren't harmful it's how the rider uses it I've always used bits as that's what my horses have been comfortable in yes I've had to use a certain bit on my old horse as he didn't like the other bits but bits in no way are harmful it's how the rider uses their hands to control the horse. I've attempted to use a hackamore and I will never use one again as my horse went absolute skitz over it so I went back to the bit and she was fine.
I feel like that if people are saying bits are cruel that must mean every piece of gear must be cruel to. I think people need to step back and think about it like this they don't own that horse they don't know what that horse is more comfortable in and or how that horse works
100% agree Not to mention they hate bits so much that some people go too far and put their horses in painful hackamores with SHANKS and claim its so much better. Any piece of equipment can be harmful if You the rider make it that way and people cannot seem to grasp that. |
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Mediterranean said:
Any bit is fine if used by knowledgeable, soft hands. And you should always consult your trainer or someone also very knowledgeable when making bitting decisions.
I only draw the line at Tom thumbs and similar or worse bits and I'm not a huge fan of the nutcracker action. Again, that's more personal.
Like I said, wether a bit is bad or not really depends on who's using it. That's my opinion, and where I'm from that's a very general one. Quite a classical one, I believe.
I have two ISH in real life; a 15.2hh mare who has absolutely no respect for any bit I have tried, wether it be the kindest of snaffles or a Dutch gag. She's hard in the mouth, gets tense to the point I can't put my leg on and gets to fast and strong when jumping. The only solution is to ride quiet with soft hands and to stay in light seat and out of her way. Everything has to be gentle and as soft as possible with her. Unfortunately her mouth has been ruined by years of producers pushing her for Showjumping age classes. She's 7 years old and has been jumping nonstop since she was 4. Due to all of this, we just put her in a snaffle and leave her be. I've only had her 6 months, and solving her problems has been a complete migraine for me. She's complicated but not bad in anyway, just incorrect and poorly trained for a 7 year old.
The second horse is 17hh, all legs. He's very enthusiastic and does get fast and strong round a course. He throws his head up and shoves his nose in the air when jumping (It's NOT out of pain, it's pure excitement. He's a very exuberant jumper) this was causing me to lose control, so he rides in a universal bit with roller links. When riding on the flat he rides in a simple, French link loose ring snaffle.
At the end of the day, wether you're for bits or against, it's so important to have control. No control = dangerous situations. You have to pick the options that keep both horse and rider safe and happy.
100% agree. I have a few horses who won't take even a soft bit and go crazy in them but then I ride in a bosal and they calm down and do excellent. Then the rest need bits or they completely disrespect or hate the hackamore/bosal and go nuts. I have only a few who can do both. It just depends on what your horse is comfortable in and what you are going to be doing with him. |
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The thing with bitless bridles aka hackamore, is their placement on the horse. If it's placed to low it restricts the horses breathing, among other issues and if it's placed too high it is uncomfortable. It has to be placed just right.
Of course every horse is designed differently, what works for one horse may not work for another, when it comes to bits. If I ride my gelding in a regular snaffle, he throws his head because the break hits the roof of his mouth and he hates it. Whereas, almost all of my driving minis wear snaffles, or a butterfly. |
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Cassa Belle said:
The thing with bitless bridles aka hackamore, is their placement on the horse. If it's placed to low it restricts the horses breathing, among other issues and if it's placed too high it is uncomfortable. It has to be placed just right.
Of course every horse is designed differently, what works for one horse may not work for another, when it comes to bits. If I ride my gelding in a regular snaffle, he throws his head because the break hits the roof of his mouth and he hates it. Whereas, almost all of my driving minis wear snaffles, or a butterfly.
Exactly. The thing too about bitless is they press on the sensitive facial nerves. Them breaking a horses nose is slightly true but not really but it does cause unessecary pain and pressure. |
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Bits are only as harmfull as the rider makes them to be. If used correctly even the harshest bits can be harmless and the softest snaffle can cause pain, it all depends on how it's used. I have a very old-school view on bit's and I believe, if there's no health issue that make bits unusable (like previously broken jaw, permanent teeth problems, etc.), every horse should go in bits, for the safety of both the rider and the horse.
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Wolfcreek said:
Bits are only as harmfull as the rider makes them to be. If used correctly even the harshest bits can be harmless and the softest snaffle can cause pain, it all depends on how it's used. I have a very old-school view on bit's and I believe, if there's no health issue that make bits unusable (like previously broken jaw, permanent teeth problems, etc.), every horse should go in bits, for the safety of both the rider and the horse.
You deserve a medal. People just cannot seem to grasp what you just said or they do and choose to ignore it. |
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1 am totally with all of you. This is only a few bits that hurt a horse by being in their mouth. The rest of the bits being "hurtful" is all rider. I have a neighbor that rides in bits that I would never even imagine in my horses mouth but all of her horses are wonderful and soft and love to be ridden (She rides western pleasure and uses curbs and has no contact except for corrections which last about 5 seconds and it's her adding contact for a bit so horse will drop their heads) I ride my horse in a neck rope, loose ring, loose ring French link and a bit less bridle, he hates hackamores. I ride in bits for flatwork and dressage and neckrope on play days and in the winter. My horse is so relaxed in a neck rope it makes me so happy. Sorry, side tracked. A rider with heavy hands or a temper who is quick to yank can make even a rubber D hurt a horse. A rider who gives and takes along with riding soft handed could ride in almost anything and have it comfortable for the horse. My small pony cannot do anything but a bit, he goes in a teenie driving but or egg butt. Occasionally when he's being a real A hole he gets a twisted wire because his favorite pass time is dragging people across the yard. Side tracked again, lol. The whole bit thing makes me so angry because people who don't know anything about horses at all are putting in their 2 cents and they have no idea. I'm so pissed. |
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Morning Drizzle, but Clearing later
