| I have seen so many horses with bleeding mouths | | | | premature fatigue, breakdowns etc. |
| from a bit and also acting up so bad it is hard to ride, | | | | I read and studied every article I could find and did |
| with one horse flipping over backwards because a | | | | research on english bitless bridles and since I had been |
| child pulled on the bit so hard. I had to write this article. | | | | riding with just a halter and lead rope because my |
| FIRST AND FOREMOST: How many of the 'horsey' | | | | dear sweet gelding just could not take the bit banging |
| people out there know that a horse can't 'YELP' like a | | | | in his mouth any longer. People told me he would kill |
| dog when hurt; or scream loud 'MEOWS' like a cat | | | | me without the bit. These are those people who have |
| when in pain; or make these very loud noises like most | | | | had more experience being ON horses than being |
| animals can when in pain. | | | | WITH horses. I don't think they really knew the horse, |
| The horse is usually silent and a very stoic animal and | | | | they just use them for their own means that had no |
| usually takes the pain. I say usually because the horses | | | | end. Well I had Panama over 13 years, he never |
| that are very sensitive and CAN NOT take the pain, | | | | bucked me off and certainly never tried to 'kill' me. An |
| they are the ones that are labeled 'bad', 'bad | | | | animal that is treated with kindness is not stupid. They |
| tempered', 'spoiled', 'disrespectful', because they show | | | | know you are kind to them and will not try and hurt |
| pain by rearing, bucking, bolting, kicking, and other things | | | | you. I know for a fact these people, deep down, are |
| people don't like. | | | | afraid of horses. They will never admit it but they are |
| Have you ever been around a mare when she is | | | | afraid of them. They should buy a camel instead of a |
| giving birth? She hardly makes a 'peep'. Oh she might | | | | horse to ride. I had Panama for 13 years, not once did |
| breath heavily or moan very low but basically she | | | | he ever try to buck me off, get aggressive or try to |
| 'takes' the pain. Why? Because these animals are prey | | | | 'kill' me. |
| animals and if they were to make loud noises in the | | | | I knew there had to be something out there that did |
| wild, their 'hunters' would know they are in trouble and | | | | not have a bit! Especially all that I had just read on bits. |
| they would seek them out for the kill. | | | | Yes riding without a bit is possible and also a bit does |
| Now I know I am going to probably get a lot of emails | | | | NOT STOP YOUR HORSE!! The bit is just not good |
| from this but the bitless riding is getting more popular | | | | for any horses mouth. |
| so I might not get that many emails saying I am crazy. | | | | I told you just a few of the problems a bit causes, |
| Don't take my word for it. Do what I did, RESEARCH! | | | | things that I read and did research on and learned from |
| Due research on how the bit does terrible things to a | | | | a Vet who studied this over 40 years. |
| horse, both physically and emotionally! | | | | Again, please investigate! Read about how a horses |
| Of course common sense would tell you just by | | | | mouth was not meant to have metal in it! A rope, is |
| looking at that 'metal' contraption, that it can't feel nice | | | | what the American Indians use to use; a string; |
| inside their soft mouth. I remember when I was very | | | | whatever, just not metal!!! |
| young, I had more common sense than the adults and | | | | They invented this torture device back in the 'Dark |
| told a gentleman that was riding with a bit that I would | | | | Ages' when they used torture devices on humans too. |
| think that would hurt. He did not say much. Just kept | | | | Lets put on our thinking caps my equestrian friends. |
| walking. | | | | The bit does not make sense! Stop using it as a crutch |
| I still talk to people today that still believe this LIE: 'Oh | | | | for true riding. |
| foaming at the mouth is good, he is taking the bit'. I do | | | | How sad these trainers are that teach the children to |
| not believe when Any living creature, animal or human, | | | | ride with a bit, when they can't even sit straight and |
| foams at the mouth, that is not a good sign. | | | | their hands are all over the place. I have seen the pain |
| Oh, and that stupid term "Taking the bit" who in the | | | | in theses horses eyes, trying to take the pain because |
| world came up with that pathetic saying. Or the other | | | | they know a child is on them. Is this fair to do that to |
| dumb one "On the bit" This saying has been going on | | | | our sweet horses! |
| for years, world wide and is a gross misunderstanding | | | | With all the easy access we have to research things, |
| about the use of the rein-aid. | | | | why don't they do this! Because deep down they are |
| Another term that is used alot (and the people that | | | | scared (so why have a horse then?) and also they |
| use this term, don't have a clue) is the term "collected | | | | just don't care. |
| or collection". The bit has been proven that it prevents | | | | I cared, so I researched, found out it was not good for |
| TRUE COLLECTION. A horse needs 'Neck Mobility' to | | | | the horse (just like I researched about shoeing, found |
| have true collection. I cannot go to Dressage | | | | that wasn't good either) so I changed for the sake of |
| competitions any longer as I go crazy when I see | | | | the horse. |
| those poor horse's with their riders pulling on them so | | | | All I am asking is for you to read about what a piece |
| hard to bend the horses neck (over bending)or severe | | | | of metal does to that sweet horse. All the 'trainers' |
| poll flexion caused by the bit. This not only obstructs | | | | who have been into horses, riding horses, raising |
| the horse's airways but can also damage the neck | | | | horses and whatever for hundreds of years but never |
| and spine. | | | | went to school to study these effects, they will |
| Getting back to the 'foaming of the mouth' and | | | | probably not believe it because deep down they just |
| believing that is good! The bit causes reflex salivation | | | | don't care or they would do whatever it takes once |
| and chewing. The bit causes this foaming because | | | | they heard something is bad for a horse, to fix it! I was |
| that is a response to eating not exercise. Can you eat | | | | one of them at one time but I investigated it because |
| and run normal at the same time? Well to the horse, | | | | my sweet horse was not acting right when it had a |
| when you put that metal bar in its mouth it causes a | | | | simple snaffle on and of course had people tell me he |
| reaction like it going to digest food. | | | | was just being bad! How sad for people to blame the |
| Also, in the wild a horse breathes with every stride. So | | | | horse right away! |
| if you obstruct some of his breathing due to the metal | | | | If you read how the bit was invented. That alone |
| bit in his mouth, it will cause problems with the stride of | | | | should be a wake up call! |
| the horse! | | | | They depend on us to treat them with love and |
| So, stop believing this lie, that a horse has to have a bit | | | | respect. |
| because that lie comes from hell! | | | | If all they get is hurt and torture every time they are |
| The bit is a common cause of head shaking | | | | with us, if they could talk they would probably say |
| syndrome, dorsal displacement of the soft palate, | | | | something like this: |
| epiglottal entrapment, collapse of the windpipe and | | | | "Instead of being hurt by you every time I am with you, |
| pulmonary bleeding. The bit has also caused | | | | I would rather have you send me to slaughter, at least |
| Asphyxia(thickness of wind, roaring, and choking up) | | | | that is only one time. |
| Also the bit reduces the supply of oxygen, resulting in | | | | |