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So many times people come to me with horse issues and one of the more common problems when a horse is acting up can be directly related to the bit they're using.  That's one of the first things I want to look at when people are having certain issues.  

By and large MOST people do not know as much as they should about bits or how they function in the horse's MOUTH!  Just as it is important to select proper tack, it is equally if not MORE important to understand its proper use.

Ronnie

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Boy Ronnie - I couldn't agree with you more.  I learned about bits back in 4-H in 1963 and at our 4-H club at the ranch, they are still using the same wonderful information.  Its a class that is always full at a clinic and boy, do I have a collection of them folks have donated to us. I would love to hear you do a session on bits...

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I'll give one anytime, Clairese!

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I completely agree! I don't like training with or using a bit untill the horse has a really solid foundation with groundwork and a bitless bridle of some sort. Once the horse has an idea of what you are trying to comunicate yeah a bit can be a great tool to further sculpt what you are trying to do but even then I feel the pain and confusion bits can cause (especially in heavy or inexperienced hands) can cause / magnify so many more problems. I haven't had any problems with horses running away with me or not listening without a bit as long as you have propely fitting equipment. In fact I think I have better stopping ability and better communication with body language without one.

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Sonya, I think it's great that you train your horses in that manner. I start a lot of my own that way.  I am not however an advocate of the bitless bridle. To me it is a quick fix that takes the riders hands out of the horses mouth and normally amazes those watching at the transformation in the horse.  The same result can be achieved with a bit used properly.  I take the tougher road and I am an advocate of an education for the rider.  Lets face it the horse learns more about a bit in 5 minutes than most riders ever bother to learn in their lifetime.  The horse has somewhat of a stronger motivation because the bit is setting in his mouth. I hate to tell you how many times I wish I could put a bit in somebody's mouth.  I believe in preparing the horse and rider for the real world, because when he gets out there somebody is going to put a bit in his mouth and somebody is going to jerk and snatch.  I often relate a story about my dear momma, asking me " if I had any complaints about the way she raised me".  I looked at her and said, "you bet I do, you taught us to treat people the way we would like to be treated, but you didn't teach us what to do when they didn't". So she didn't prepare us for the real world.

I always get tickled when I hear a trainer telling someone to get out of the horses mouth.  What I've always found is that the instant you place a set of reins in someones hands, they are going to become the choir director before they can sing a note.  I've also seen someone kill the movement in a horse with nothing more than a halter and two lead ropes.  What it boils down to for me, is that if your calling yourself a trainer and you're taking a clients money and you think you have the key to get in that horses mouth, your obligation to the horse and the client is to give them a copy.