Bit vs. Bitless Experiment, 1st horse (bitless)

In October, 2008, at the Certified Horsemanship Association's International Conference, Dr. Cook undertook a unique experiment. It demonstrated that the performance of four horses immediately and significantly improved, within four minutes, when their jointed snaffle bridle was replaced with a crossunder bitless bridle. Four riding school horses that were being ridden in a crossunder bitless bridle for the very first time, completed two four-minute exercise tests, first in a snaffle bridle, then in the BitlessBridle. The film is presented in nine sections ... Part 1. Introduction; Parts 2-7. Individual performances; Parts 8-9. Results and Discussion. The entire experiment (in better quality video) is available on DVD - go to www.bitlessbridle.com for more information.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• dr. cook
• bitless bridle
• bitless
• equestrian
• natural horsemanship
• hackamore
• sidepull
• bosal
• crossunder
• cross-under
• bridle
• horseback riding
• english riding
• dressage
• eventing
• cross country
• cross-country
• show jumping
• western riding
• barrel racing
• rodeo
• CHA experiment
• nurtural

[FrostedFoxEquine]

I see your point but is asthough people are saying that we ride our horses in hackamores, gags and chifneys all the time! I ride both my horses in a snaffle for eventing and hunting! I think your also forgetting that the horses most sensitive part is his poll and that is how these bridles work..?

[ptronius]

@FrostedFoxEquine: Under normal riding conditions the communication with the Dr. Cook BitlessBridle is primarily under the chin, along the jowl and over the nose. Most riders find that a very light touch on the reins is all that is required to get the proper response from their horse, in which case the poll is not engaged. The Dr. Cook BitlessBridle only activates the poll when the rider puts moderate to heavy pressure on the reins, assuming the bridle is fitted correctly.

[SamCowgirl658]

I'd like to see some SHOW HORSES in these. I know most horses won't collect unless they are trained to respond to slight bit pressure. I don't really think a horse would do anywhere near as good in show with a "bitless bridle"

[ptronius]

@SamCowgirl658 - I'm not sure what you are looking for when you say "show horses" - that covers a lot of territory - but do a youtube search for "jennifer lawrence on pacemaker" and "dressage in dr cook's bitless bridle" to see a couple of dressage videos

[ptronius]

Please do not put The Bitless Bridle in the same category as a hackamore. It would take serious effort to harm a horse with The Bitless Bridle as long as it is fitted correctly, whereas some hackamores can be extremely severe, utilizing bicycle chains and other forms of extreme pain-inflicting devices. This is not a forum to promote all forms of "bitless" bridles, these videos are here to show the results of switching from a bitted bridle to The Bitless Bridle, all other things being equal.

[ptronius]

Many of these comments are missing the point of this series of videos. Regardless of whether the judge was impartial or not, regardless of whether the rider knew what they were doing or not, what this experiment proved, and the videos are here to show you, is this: all four horses did significantly better with the Bitless Bridle than they did with a bit. That's it. Nothing here says that bits are bad. However, even the inexperienced riders saw immediate improvement with the Bitless Bridle.

[parellichick]

Been riding my OTTB bitless for 2 years. Never going bitted again.

[S0XF0X]

For those who've said that bits have been used for a long time, therefore they must be a good method (never a very good argument), many native american tribes that had horses to help them in hunting buffalo would steer the horses with their feet and not by using a rein system at all. When a horse isn't in pain, it is more able to pay attention, and if you can't teach your horse to pay attention to you, then you need to learn proper horsemen ship before riding your horse.

[horsecrazy098]

There is nothing wrong with the majority of bits in the correct hands. Any bit is harsh in the wrong hands, and some bits are designed poorly. However, this horse had all the same problems with the bit as it did without, aside from the open mouth and exaggerated headset. This horse most likely needs its teeth checked as many teeth problems cause this. With its teeth done it will most likely do better. Other causes can be ulcers, abscesses or back pain.

[D0N0tJudgeMe]

@ptronius Actually, I would say you are missing the point. In any true experiment, the judge must be impartial for the experiment to be deemed a success. And I would argue that if a rider experienced with bits were to ride these horses, you would see even more improvement. This vid proved nothing. Because frankly, the horse didn't look much more comfortable to me in the bitless bridle than it did with a snaffle. And by the way, I ride both ways.With a bit or in a rope halter hackamore.

[ArdeanPark]

Uhm ... What's with the 'square halts' and an 8 comments. Both times the horse leaves one hind leg way behind!

[iMazRocks13]

I ride bitless, and I truly love it, I'm sure the horses do as well. I'm not against bits but I love bitless :)

[squigsrule]

@MYRuffian1975 plus the commentator was quick to say what was wrong with the bitted horse but when bitless its all roses... but actually anyone who knows what their looking at will see that 1 the quality of riding was better with bitless although still shocking! 2 the horses ears dont change and its happy with both 3 u should not ride with u hands firm on the bit like this 'rider' is doing my horse will go perfectly up and down in a contact with no pressure at all - Thats real riding!

[hightaileventing]

@MYRuffian1975 Um... have you ever seen a war bridle? It was used my the native americans frequently and involves running a piece of rope through the horse's mouth. In fact several 'bridles' they used involve rope in the horse's mouth. The difference is they spent a lot of time building a relationship with their horses and learning how to ride correctly and efficiently for their animal. It has nothing to do with the equipment.

[MYRuffian1975]

i love how more responsive the horse is to the bitless bridle...and for the people who dont agree...that is fine you are entitled to your opinion, but just brush up a little on your history...Native Americans did not have bits and bridles, and they rode their horses just fine...maybe even better...the military put bits in their mouths...for control without training.