I like to start all my horses bitless and ride them for the first couple of months like this before I might switch to a proper bridle – or not. This is due to the fact that I do my groundwork bitless, so for the horse, bitless riding is just one step further. I usually introduce the bit after around 2-6 months into riding, when the young horse has understood the basic leg and seat aids. With some horses I never do the change from bitless to bit, I just change from a natural hackamore which is basically a rope halter with reins to a side pull or a hackamore.
Why do I like to ride bitless? That is an interesting question and one I thought about quite long and hard. In the beginning I rode bitless because I could. It was more a game for me, a challenge. Particularly to challenge the Indian belief that a horse can only be controlled by force and strength. I liked to show people that I did things differently.
Today I mostly ride bites because it is great for trail riding, if the horse plays along. Without a bit in the mouth, the horse can drink water and eat grass unhindered at each little stop or break. No need to remove a bit and put it back in after the break.
Some horses profit a lot from the transformation bit to bitless. Other horses cannot be ridden bitless, at least not in a safe and controlled way. And as our horses are going out on trails with different riders, safety is a must.
So, I read a lot, tried out different bitless bridles from a natural hackamore to a side pull to a proper bitless bridle and also a mechanical hackamore. I read some books and made my own experiences with what worked and what did not.
In the West, bitless riding is the new thing to do. It is considered gentler and bitless riders claim the moral high ground, condemning riders with bits as brutal and cruel to their horses.
At the same time, the bit riders also have their own reservations and believe that bitless is fine only if you plan nothing more ambitious than ambling on trail rides.
But we must not forget, horses are just as individualistic as us human beings. And just like there are hundreds of different bits, there are also hundreds of different bitless bridles. Additionally, a horse’s bit should not be that relevant as we strive to ride with our seats from back to front and not pull on the reins the whole time. So, when your horse is balanced, smooth and ridden correctly, it should really not matter whether there is a bit in his mouth or not.
Also, I always say, listen to your horse. Some horses like being ridden with a bit. They might prefer a double broken snaffle or maybe a solid unbroken one or maybe they are happier with no bit at all. It will let you know if you listen to him.
There are so many different ways to ride bitless. There are rope halters, natural hackamores, bitless bridles, side pulls, flower hacks, S-hackamores and so many more. Some are harsh when they put pressure on nerve bundles on the horse’s face or have shanks and chain curbs. These definitely cannot be called gentle or soft anymore. Cross-under designs cue the horse on the outside cheek when you ask with your inside rein. They need some getting used to by the rider and the horse.
Some horses like the pressure on the nose, others don’t. Try it out and see what works best for you. But don’t pressurize yourself when you feel something does not work for you.
Sometimes when people talk about bit or bitless, there is a lot of passion and shaming involved and people claiming moral supremacy. After riding for more than thirty years, I can only say, riding bitless is not necessarily gentler than riding with a bit and not at all better. It is just different. I have seen horses on a double bridle being ridden extremely gentle and soft and I have seen riders who pulled at a hackamore with so much force that it was definitely neither gentle nor soft and definitely not nice to look at.
The equitation bitless = horse friendly and bit = cruel does not work. Just because I am putting the pressure on the horse’s nose or head rather than on his mouth does not make it a soft, horse friendly and gentle way of riding.
What is true however is that riding bitless comes more natural for the horse as he understands pressure on the nose better than pressure on his lips and tongue at least in the beginning when he has been handled before and taught to yield to pressure. Accepting a bit is a whole new world to a young horse and the bit needs to be introduced slowly and gradually.
By the end of the day, we must not forget that tools are just that – tools. A bit is a tool, a bitless bridle is a tool, a draw rein is a tool. They can be useful and if we need them there is nothing to be said against using them, as long as we always keep in mind the welfare of our horse and use our tools with care, understanding and consideration. I prefer a good rider who uses a double rider for a fine-tuned communication with his horse to one who misuses a hackamore or a witless bridle to hurt a horse. By the end it all depends on how fine and soft your hands are. On the other hand, I like to have my students riding with a bitless bridle until they have mastered control of their hands and a fine-tuning of their rein aids.
But generally speaking, our riding and communication with the horse should be built upon a firm relationship of trust and leadership. This is the key to good riding! If you have a good relationship with your horse, you can ride him without any bridle or saddle or use a double bridle to enable a fine and effortless communication to lift your horsemanship to the highest level, it does not matter. But if you do not have a good relationship with your horse, you can use all the tools you like, you will lack the basics and nothing will come effortless or easy. Work with your horse will always remain a struggle
So, working on your relationship with your horse is always recommendable and should be the first and foremost task of the rider. Once you have a working relationship, listen to your horse. It is as simple as that!
I have so far trained and ridden Rajmani bitless. I have now switched to riding him with a simple, double-broken bit with a nice copper middle piece. This is due to the fact that Rajmani and I have not yet developed a full working relationship. We are still in the process of finding it and determining the roles. Rajmani has learnt to distrust people and to take matters in his own hooves. I have to slowly show him that he can trust me but that I lead the way and set the terms. He is well on the way and to give him some time to mull over things, he has now a summer holiday while I spend some time with my family in Germany.
