Do bits control horses?

by Elaine Polny
(Palgrave, Ontario, Canada)

I came across this recent statement by Dr. Robert Cook who has been a veterinarian for many years and an advocate to remove bitted bridles and go bitless. Thanks to him (and others) the facts are well documented that bits cause pain which lead to many other vices in horses.

It's been many years ago now since I read his book and I haven't look back since. I am so grateful for his research, plus I absolutely agree and have experienced his statement:

"It is a longstanding myth that a bit controls a horse. It doesn't. On the contrary, I now realize that the bit is the most common reason why a rider or driver loses control. The bit is the most frequent cause of bolting, bucking, balking, rearing, and another 200 or more examples of pain-induced behavior. The responses are normal for the horse but inconvenient for the rider and sometimes fatal. The cross-under bitless bridle (if you want a generic name) provides comprehensive and much better communication than a bit. Riders and drivers are infinitely safer and far less likely to trigger spooks and spills. Horses are calmer. They "listen" and "learn" far better when they are not in pain. A bit frightens many a horse and makes him nervous, apprehensive and "hot". " Dr. Cook

If you would like more information on bitless bridles and his book Click here.

Your horse will love you for learning this!