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by: Sarah Getchell For six thousand years, the bit has been the means by which humans have controlled horses. Most of us never question our use of the bit or what we might stand to gain by doing away with it. A few years ago, dressage trainer Allan Buck, frustrated by the horse's natural resistance to the bit, designed a bitless bridle which he called the Spirit Bridle. Upon learning how this bridle benefited horses, veterinary researcher Dr. Robert Cook, FRVCS, PhD, Professor Emeritus at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, continued to develop it and now manufactures and markets it. The Bitless Bridle works by means of two simple loops, one over the poll, the other over the nose. It has the effect of pushing rather than pulling. The reins form part of a figure eight that goes from the rider's hand through two loops on the noseband and crosses under the jaw. Dr. Cook describes it this way: the bridle controls primarily by applying pressure either on one side of the head for steering or both sides of the head for slowing or stopping, enabling the rider to "benevolently embrace the whole of the head." Dr. Cook has found that far more training problems than we might ever have imagined are the result of bitting, and these could be solved by going bitless. In fact, he sees the bit as "contra-indicated on physiological grounds, counter productive as an aid to maximum performance, and, in the wrong hands, potentially cruel." His observations on the effects of bits and bitlessness encompass such varied aspects as neurology, poll flexion, reflexes, respiration, musculature, body mechanics, injuries, and more. Those interested in learning more about Dr. Cook's compelling conclusions can find them at www.bitlessbridle.com. To the rider who tries the Bitless Bridle and is instantly won over, the scientific explanations of the bridle's benefits suddenly pale next to the extraordinary experience of using it. An improvement is immediately noticeable, a transformation that bears experiencing far better than it bears describing; those who have not yet experienced it have a wonderful discovery to look forward to. Some riders may fear that losing the bit means losing control; what usually happens is that the horse becomes more manageable and responsive, and the sense of partnership and trust between the horse and rider flourishes. At Groton House Farm, we believe in the Bitless Bridle. We find that not only does it encourage the horse's natural movement and thereby improves his attitude, but that it also fosters in the rider better position and balance, greater effectiveness of the aids, and increased confidence. We think every horse and every rider could benefit from it, and we hope it will one day be as common as the bit is now. ADVANTAGES OF THE BITLESS BRIDLE
THE BITLESS BRIDLE IS INDICATED FOR ALL HORSES, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT EXPERIENCE: For more information, go to http://www.bitlessbridle.com. |
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(c) 2008, Groton House Farm |
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