Bitless – Yay or nay

Will Sanef's decision to accommodate bitless dressage spell the eventual demise of the bit, that PID (pain inflicting device) as Patrick Kayle calls it? A discussion on www.horsejunction.co.za indicates that the jury is still out.

By Patrick Kaye: I have ridden bitless, bridle-less, and even brookless (on a lonely beach) … Nothing compares to my delight that now, at last, bitless dressage will be allowed ... At last the world is "waking" up to the idea that there is a quicker, kinder, better way to train horses. At last the horses are going to get a better deal ... It is not a "giant leap" to go bridleless. It's a set of easy-to-follow steps.

By Guy: Formal bitless dressage starts on 01/01/09. You should register as a bitless rider at the Bitless Dressage Committee – ­bitlessdressage@webafrica.org.za. Any dressage show can be ­entered, but initially only pre-­novice and novice may be ridden bitless. The tests will run separately, directly after the ­bitted tests in the same arena and with the same judges. They will score grading points in the same manner and the rules are the same.

By Vickie: Why not just learn how to use the "pain inflicting device" correctly? Then we can all compete on the same footing.

By Fabian: Nearly everyone believes they ride lightly on the bit ... Recently the Germans tested top European dressage riders on the rein loading, which is supposed to be 0,25 kg. It was around 25 kg! We all snatch at the reins – over jumps, for balance, in fear, to turn ... and over 20 kg (even momentarily) must be commonplace.

By Satine: I don't believe that the bit should be blamed for every problem the horse has. This is very short-sighted. I see way too many riders who are unbalanced, falling forward and upsetting the horse, and yes, maybe for these riders it would be better to ride bitless. But that does not mean the bit is the problem and that bitless is the answer. IMO, horses would be much better served if we took greater responsibility as riders, for how we ride, how we influence our horses with our bodies and how we care for horses as athletes.

If trained properly, a horse can be very soft and responsive on a bit without being hurt at all. I don't believe that riding bitless can hurt a horse any less. In fact, because the aids are sometimes not very clear, a horse is sometimes quite more confused bitless than what it would be with a bit.

By Fabian: A loaded gun is "harmless" until picked up, pointed and the trigger pulled. So, obviously, a bit is harmless placed in a horse's mouth – it is how it is used in action, because there is no doubt (even among pro-bit activists) that a bit causes pain/discomfort/injury when used heavily. Horses and riders are often unpredictable/fearful/careless and the bit is used violently – even if only briefly.

You ask why horses don't display a dislike of bits? Just look around/read the threads/open your eyes and heart. There are thousands of abused horses that clearly scream: "I hate this f...ing bit". The ones that don't are either bloody tolerant or they are unfortunately falling into the horse survival mechanism of not showing pain, so they don't get picked on by predators.