How I start a horse in a bit
Jul 14th, 2009 by Carolyn Resnick Method
Hi there again. Before I go on to today’s blog, I wanted to thank everyone who wrote in with suggestions for Cat, I really appreciate all the kind thoughts and advice. Thank you too for all the poems, it was really lovely reading them and discovering new treasures.
OK, on to today’s blog post. Many people ask me what is the best way to use a bit in training a horse and so I thought I would write and tell you the approach I use.
Before you even start to introduce a bit, first make sure your horse is bonded to you at liberty through the seven strings of heartfelt connection using the Waterhole Rituals. Make sure your horse is the kind of horse that loves learning and following your lead and being ridden. I do not use a bit until I have trained my horse to perform three speeds of walk, trot and canter from the ground and also whilst riding, along with having a good stop and go button on him.
I also want to be able to lead my horse from behind and Companion Walk him in walk and trot on a course with turns and straight lines. The reason you need all this ability on your horse is so that when you introduce the bit, it is not used for control but rather as a way to be clearer in your signals.
Make sure your horse is a safe riding horse in an enclosed arena without a bit first before introducing the bit. When you introduce the bit, adjust it so that it is slightly lower in the mouth. Usually I put the bit one hole lower in the horse’s mouth than the bit would be if it fitted to the corners of the horse’s mouth. Now work the horse with a halter as normal, the only difference is that the horse is carrying a bit. Let the horse carry the bit for a week or more. At first your horse will fiddle with the bit for a while and then after a time he will begin to suck the bit up and hold the bit where it is comfortable for him. After a week, when you find out where that is you then can adjust the bridle to where the horse naturally wants to carry the bit.
Let your horse wear the bit through all of your activities, ground work and riding but do not use it in the beginning. Teach your horse from the ground walking next to him how to respond to the bit in halts and turns like he does with the halter or side pull. Alternate between using the bit and the halter when you ride. If you feel any loss of connection then use the halter to re-establish control and when under control you can go back to using the bit. Most people would automatically think to use the bit to gain control. Do not do this in the beginning stages. This is very important. It takes away abuse of the bit and helps to create better horsemanship skills as well as creating a horse that is happy and light to the aids.
When selecting a bit choose a bit that fits your horse’s mouth. I prefer to use a snaffle because my horses seem to like it. Do not choose a harsher bit to gain more control because you think your horse lacks sensitivity. All horses can be trained to be light. You can gain more control by training a horse to be more responsible and responsive to his work. Think that the reason you have a horse is to have the pleasure of training them once you have developed basic horsemanship skills. Enjoy building better horsemanship skills on a daily basis as being the reason you ride and train. Use the journey everyday to bring more integrity to your leadership. Bringing more well-being and positive life experience through the training process with your horse is the way to the art of horsemanship. No matter what you do with a horse you are always put in the position of training him even if you do not know that is the case. A well-trained horse will not stay well trained unless he is managed properly. I see that many people think that a well-trained horse will always be a dream to ride and that is not the case. Horses are always influenced by the way the rider goes about riding them. This influence can take the training right out of the horse or if ridden properly the horse will stay well trained.
Hope that helps
Carolyn
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Dear finabhair,
I’m not sure how available they are in your area, but seek out a Centered Riding instructor. They represent, to me, the epitome of classical riding in which you influence and guide your partnership through what is essentially body language. The first time I rode with my instructor, she was so very pleased and excited to see how my horse could engage and use himself without a bit! Best of luck,
Vanessa
Have we missed Carolyn’s point in writing this post…?
“Why would you need a bit if you already can do anything without it?????”
I really like that Inge ! :>)
It also seems to me that Carolyn’s method (as well as Nevzorov’s, Hempfling’s or any true Natural Horsemanship approach for this matter) should lead itself effortlessly to bitless riding.
After all, the purpose of these methods seems to be the achievement of perfect harmony with the horse – So, there should be no need for spurs, crops and …bits
Hi all,
i think why people use bits in dressage is is comming out of traditional equipment.
One dressage rule says a horse have to be “on the bit”.
In the past they have made a big mistake during translation of this part.
In the whole world there is a discussion about how to use a bit.
Even so over here in the Netherlands.
I can ride my horses / pony without a bit. My riding horse dont even know what a bit is. I have never used a bit.
I can ride everwere i wanted in traffic, woods, heatherfields, beaches or what ever.
I can always ask him for a halt when i wanted to.
It is not the equipment you need.
It is the companionship, be with your horse. Trust eachother.
Know what the horse is afraid of. The horse knows what you are afraid of.
Work as a team and you can ride all around the world.
The rituals of Carolyn can help you by build up your relationship with the horse.
If you have a good communcication with the horse you dont need a bit anymore.
i will ask it different?
The otherway round.
Why would you need a bit if you already can do anything without it?????
You dont need finetuning because if you are good you have already done that.
A bit is not for safety. (it is proofen not to be)
Dear everyone that is concerned I can train a horse through all the levels of dressage with out a bit that is want I do mainly.
I am happy to coach anyone that is intresed in my training methods. To learn my method you need to study with me for a length of time or take my private three day course.
I have a 10 day course from the 5-15 of Sept. on Self Relization through the Ways of Horses course that you could attent and during this course I could incoperate the birdles dressage training with this course.
I have started my horse in with a rope halter and a Dr cook.
She is responsive and totally at peace. I am very confused and a little frustrated because i would like to do dressage bitless and i have seen horses doing high school moves with beautiful collection without any bits or gadgets.. I cannot find any teachers that will teach me once i tell them i don’t use a bit. In England you have to enter dressage classes HC which means you are marked but can’t win or compete as such.
Why is establishment so anti bitless and where can i learn about classical dressage in the way that suits us.
The question coming up for me around this subject is… what advantages and benefits might there be, for the horse (in the horse’s view) in having a bit in its mouth…?
For the human, two questions arise:
1. “when is there no superior alternative to using a bit? when can you absolutely not do without using a bit?
2. “how do bits and bit-less bridles compare regarding effectiveness and safety?”
One scenario that comes to mind might be the time that for some reason you have no choice but to cross a free-way, or descend a narrow, steep, canyon trail, or cross a flooding stream…
What would influence one’s choice in such circumstances for going with a bit, or a bit-less bridle, or only with a free cordeo neck rope (or mane), or perhaps deciding to get off and lead the horse…?
Stuart
I really like this blog.
It is a long and exciting journey to train yourself and the horse to use a bit.
At this point we go bit-less, as i know how long it will take me to be a good enough rider to use a bit. Also to to become a good enough horse trainer to have have trained the horse to respond with absolute lightness and connection.
When you eventually have reached the goal to use a bit, you might even have to take it off for a while as keeping the good connection has to be worked on often.
Yes – good perspective!
Hi Carolyn,
Great Article!!!
I totally agree with your approach on using bits!
For me personally, I am not in any hurry to use a bit, and am not completely sure if I will use one for my horse. I want to do dressage with my horse because I like it and my horse has a lot of natural talent. With him, before I use a bit, I want to be able to consistently ride at whatever speed I ask in each gait bridleless before I try a bit. Then, if he likes the bit, I will use it, if not, i’ll just keep riding bridleless or with the halter.
BTW- I have been on vacation so I haven’t has internet access most of the time. But I just read your article from July 7th “The Foundation for all Equestrian Pursuits”. That was a great post and I really liked it.
Thanks
Nicole H
I was surprised to see this blog about bitting. I am fairly new to your website, having joined about a month ago. I have read Naked Liberty and have the Waterhole Rituals DVD and have done a lot of reading on the Horse Consciousness website and in my opinion, bitting goes against the principals of horsemanship being presented by this group. My own personal experience with bits had led me to bitless horsemanship. I am interested to hear your perspective on bits and why you feel they are necessary.
Hey Carolyn,
I want to ask your opinion on bits to Alexander Nevzorov’s idea of bits being an abusive peice of metal that ‘guides a horse through pain.’ Do you agree with him? Do you think that the bit causes high dicomfort to a horse but has no control because of the bit itself? If your getting the idea I am angry at you or something I am not I am just curious of you answer?? thanx
Could you please address riding “bitless”? Also you state that before the bit is introduced to the horse you have done all the work riding in a halter, is that a regular halter, rope halter, hackamore? Thank you
i completely agree, thank you for writing this post…the bit is for refining the art of riding – only.