on the bit?

[neeny5]

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right we were in our Theory of Equitation lecture at college today talking about the BD rules. someone mentioned bitless bridles and about doing dressage in them, which you cant.

and this is going to sound silly because our tutor then said "well you cant be on the bit in a bitless bridle or can you?" so we then had a discussion, can you be on the bit in a bitless bridle? and couldnt come to an answer so just wondering what you think?

we came to a sort of conclusion that you could be as some horses work beautifully round in a nice outline in a bitless, whereas other don't.

anyway tell me what you think

 

[DarkHorseB]

I suppose to be technically correct you cannot be "on the bit" without a bit but you could go in a similar outline to create the same shape as being on the bit...

 

[Booboos]

Yes you can! "Being on the bit" is quite an unfortunate phrase as it really refers to the horse's way of going, which could be as good in a bitless bridle. There was an item or story or webpage recently of a study where bitless horses (in different combinations) did a dressage test to see whether the horses could show true impulsion, engagement, etc. without the bit and the answer was yes, but not all of them.

 

[Booboos]

Here's someone doing a dressage test bitless (it's not a perfect test, but looks better than many of mine with a bit in!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icrwPQWshrE

I can't remember where I read about the study though (HHO? BD website?), it's bugging me now!

 

[neeny5]

thanks for this guys

i agree not a bad dressgae test in the bitless

 

[kezimac]

it shouldnt actually be called on the bit - should be on the aids. Its not all the bit that makes the horse round its riding it off your aids so should be called 'on the aids'