It Makes Mouths Happy
The bit is the cause of over 100 harmful effects. First and foremost, a bit is painful and it frightens a horse. It makes it difficult for a horse to be happy in its work and for a rider to achieve that harmony so essential to a partnership. It also makes it difficult for a horse to breathe, stride, perform, and stay healthy.
A common mis-conception is that you cannot get your horse "round" while using the bitless bridle
This quote is taken from the Bitless Bridle Website – a revolutionary new bridle that I just began using on the newest pony in my herd, Chesapeake Boomerang aka Boomer. Before discovering this bridle (and before I bought Boomer) I had been using mostly a hackamore bridle on Minnow (which rarely was actually engaged on him because I taught Minnow to respond to seat and leg pressure for guidance). I do admit though that in competition with Minnow I would put him in a kimberwick bit for added security as the excitement of racing sometimes overpowered him and I liked to have a little extra control. If I had known of the other alternatives then I would have tried them.
Boomer the day I bought him - before the bitless bridle
However, that was the past – onto the future – and the Bitless Bridle. When Boomer came to live with me he arrived with a snaffle bit. From the very first day that I tried him he was difficult to bridle, he would clench his teeth tight and raise his head to evade it. Although once the bit was in-place he had a very soft mouth and was quite responsive. At first I thought it was his teeth, being 5 years old he hadn’t had them floated yet. But upon having them done the issue was still present. As I continued on my path of training Boomer he began to develop a bucking problem. When I purchased him I was aware that he was known to buck on occasion – so it was nothing totally new. But this buck a little different, it started off small and then gradually progressed to a full blown bronco buck. I’m talking all four feet off the ground, intent to dump me, wild pony buck! Its amazing he never threw me! It usually happened out on the trail, brought on by excitement and adrenaline. As I began working with a local trainer to fix the issue it became evident that the real source was the bit. I discovered that when something excited Boomer (sometimes it was fear, sometimes joy at the activity at hand) he actually tested me for rein pressure. He would bump his mouth up against the bit and if he felt the slightest bit of rein pressure on his mouth he would use this as a reason to take off bucking. So now that I had the issue diagnosed, it was time to do something about it, my pony obviously had an issue with the bit.
Chesapeake Boomerang at home with Blitz and Minnow
My first solution was to begin working more focused on riding him with the use of my legs and seat only. Much in the same way I started with Minnow, I began teaching Boomer to move off from my leg, stop with the shift of my hips and so on (I think this is important in the training of any horse, not just ones that have “issues” with something). He progressed rather well, but we still have a long way to go. The next step was to actually throw away my reins when Boomer began his “rein testing” before a buck. Now this is no easy task, natural human reaction to your horse on the verge of a buck is to grip onto your reins for dear life. But I succeeded in forcing myself to grab the pummel of my saddle instead of my reins – and it began working (I did feel like I was becoming some sort of rodeo rider though, haha). Boomer would begin his rein test, and when he felt no pressure at all he would immediately relax. But what I didn’t anticipate was that in his relaxation – being a pony- he would dart for any blade of grass the appeared in site. Leg pressure alone would never get my “poor starving Chincoteague Pony” to lift his head – so alas the implement of some rein pressure was needed again – and wouldn’t you know that would just send him right back into his bucking again. Ok, so new plan – now I had him in a hackamore while still trying to use no rein pressure. I saw some improvement, but instead of the buck I now had a head toss – I was willing to take that until I was able to fully train him to my seat and leg aids – but I was having extreme difficulty with still not being able to pull my ponies head up from the grass when the only area I had to work with currently was a grassy field.
While at a horse expo last month I came across a booth for the Bitless Bridle. I debated whether or not it would be helpful, but decided to give it a try. It turned out to be such a success, Boomer is no longer bucking, I can put some rein pressure on him if needed without the issue of explosive behavior, and we are have a much “happier” ride together. I am still continuing to train Boomer to respond to seat and leg pressure – and I am by no means advocating that just switching to a Bitless Bridle is the quick fix to all issues (all horses need proper training) – but I am saying that I think it is a successful training aid that “makes mouths happy”. I think from now on I will continue to use only a Bitless Bridle on all of my horses. I’m slowly converting the rest of my family, and our horses seem much happier with the switch. In the end thats all thats important, making the “work” enjoyable for your horse.
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