Which Bits Should Be Banned And Why?

Alyth said:
ROTFLMAO....ok I'll bite!!! Every bit should be banned. If everyone rode bitless and all competitions banned bits then horses would be a lot happier!!!.......'hard' hands can do less damage to a noseband than to the sensitive parts of the horses mouth!!! Rollkur wouldn't happen, nor would some of those horrific showjumping pics!!! No steel should be allowed in the head area of the horse......Let the popcorn abuse of this opinion begin!!!
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This is rubbish to be honest- I have seen some crack a horses nasal bone with a bitless bridle, horse bolted on the beach. Some (and incorrectly fitting) bitless bridles can interfere with breathing. The horse's nose is very sensitive, infact the horse's head is... full of nerve endings etc.
Just remember that on the end of the reins is a horse's mouth/ nose and how it would feel is someone ragged that about.
 
No bit should be banned the government should stay out of people's lives as much as possible.
However the organisations who organise horse sports should take a view on what they allow and don't allow and I think they have the balance about right ATM.
I am a keep it simple person my self but would not seek to interfere with the judgements of others.
 
EKW said:
Yes they are used on kids show ponies and that is what annoys me most! Giving an inexperienced set of hands a bit that exudes vast amounts of poll pressure. They fix ponies in an outline and it takes a LOT of time to reschool a pony that has been subjected to one of these. They are not dressage legal and thus should not be allowed in kids classes in the show ring.
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They have absolutely NO poll pressure - the angle of the bit changes in the mouth when the reins are used. To get poll pressure you need to have the mouthpiece fixed down in the mouth so that it cannot move upwards.

I'd rather see them on a kids pony with the pony going kindly than see a terrified kid being carted or hauling on the reins in an atempt to stop. The fact that so many childrens ponies go so nicely in them must prove that they are working - any pony unhappy with its mouth would be reacting in a less than child proof manner.

The bit I'd like to see go is the Dutch Gag - so misused and causing discomfort to so many horses, especially when used with a running martingale.
 
On that horse nation link they are vile- except one. One is a MikMar combination, and whilst looking severe is actually a very useful refined piece of bridle work for a sensitive horse with a good rider.
 
Wagtail said:
The reason I hate waterfords is that the thin bars of the lower jaws sit between the nobbles. The bars are very thin and fragile. Any slight unbalance in the rider results in severe pain for the horse as the bar is caught between the nobbles. It's all well and good saying that it is fine with good hands, and most of the time, I'm sure that it is, but sadly no one can guarantee that they would never pull the bit sideways in the mouth, for example if the horse should spook or swerve. The potential for damage is too high with this bit IMO.
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THIS ^^^^^^^ - I don't like how they work either - I also don't like double jointed bts for the same reason - they joint either side catches on the bars and their edges are razor sharp and can so easily be bruised.
Bruising caused by the joint of a double jointed bit
Damagedonebydoublejoint.jpg
 
I use a double jointed bit with no issue at all, no bruising or anything.
Most bits have their purpose when uses correctly, and they only become dangerous or unkind to the horse when the hands at the other en don't know what to do.

Re: the twisted snaffle. I've ridden in one of those with a strong pony before and it was far better to use that and have to do a small squeeze than hauling on an ordinary snaffle.

It's not about what, it's about how...
 
lula said:
thats interesting.

i always use to hate waterfords, thought they were terribly severe.

Ive never needed to use one myself but i know of people that have used them with success for horses that put their head down, lean on the bit and tank off so am undecided.

once again, very much depends on the hands holding the bit in question i suppose..
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I'm with wagtail. I detest the things. They are so heavily advocated now and even marketed as "kind". I think the description here is a good synopsis:

Quite the opposite is the waterford bit, which is made up of 5-9 linked pieces which act as a chain in the mouth. For those riders used to sawing the bit to and fro in the mouth of the horse, this is probably a blessing, since it runs so smoothly, and still causes so much discomfort that the horse will yield. This knobbled and bumpy bit has so many joints that it will easily wrap around the lower jaw of the horse but give him nothing to stretch forward to. It's simply not for dressage.
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Horrid modern monkey of a bit. :(

Ditto the dutch gag!
 
Dominobrown, I must say that a horses nose is a lot less sensitive than the inside of his mouth......a simple sidepull rope hackamore would have to be one of the mildest forms of communication there is. And of course you all realise that a horse does not automatically understand that pressure on a bit means 'stop' or 'slow down'...they have to be taught this....and then again we all know the automatic response in an 'oh no' situation is to grab the reins and go into the foetal position!!! And of course also everyone uses both reins to slow down? Or do you use one rein at a time? A snaffle is supposed to be used one rein at a time. Using 2 reins at once should create impulsion....sorry, should have said 'engagement'!!
 
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