A 'Bit' of Wisdom

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 the bit itself does no harm.

Once a horse is correctly trained and in harmony with its rider, it can in fact perform high level dressage and even jump a course of obstacles without the use of bridle and bit at all.

So, why use a bit? A bit, correctly used, helps the knowledgeable rider balance his horse during training and performance. This is done by correct use of hand aids to lift, extend, or bend the neck, and thus to balance and re-balance the horse. All disciplines require the horse to be balanced in order to perform optimally, but balance is never static and so must be constantly regained. In dressage competitions it is also supposed to demonstrate the horse's trust in the rider's hand. Double bridles in particular have been villainised recently, but the point of the double bridle is in fact to demonstrate ultimate finesse and softness of communication between horse and rider.

When horses are started correctly and ridden correctly they do not experience any discomfort due to the bit. It is bad riding and lack of knowledge that causes discomfort in the mouth, and any disobedience from the horse is simply a response to the pain.

So should we be getting rid of bits altogether? My answer is no, it is not necessary. Rather, we need a system that educates instructors and riders to use their hands correctly. The bit is not the villain. Lack of knowledge is.