Are bits inherently bad or cruel? Why use a bit at all? By Anneliese Gillett With all the recent attention on animal abuse, in particular horses in competition, many critics have focused on bits and why we should do away with them. As I mentioned in my previous blog, bits are inanimate objects and only have an effect on a horse once a rider takes up the reins. Leave a horse in a field with a correctly fitted bit and bridle and it will happily graze without any discomfort. So