Its stride becomes shorter and, therefore, slower. A horse that leans on the bit loses self-carriage, and becomes heavier on the forehand.As the bit interferes with breathing and as breathing is coupled with locomotion, the bit also interferes with locomotion.Horses are being expected to eat and exercise simultaneously, two activities that are mutually exclusive A bit triggers digestive tract reflexes, which are physiologically opposed to rapid breathing.Measurement of jowl angle is recommended as an indicator of upper airway patency To govern the speed of a racehorse using a bit and traction on both reins depends on poll flexion, which obstructs the airway and leads to premature fatigue, poor performance, and asphyxia-induced pulmonary edema (“bleeding”).The bit can be the sole cause of abnormal inspiratory noise (stridor) at exercise.Horses are happier in a bridle without a bit It can be responsible for a horse's poor attitude to exercise and many behavioral problems in all types of equitation from dressage (e.g., headshaking) to racing (e.g., dorsal displacement of the soft palate).A bit often causes discomfort, pain and injury.The bit method of control is invasive, physiologically contraindicated and counterproductive.( Content by guest writer Claire Lund of Bombers Bits.)Ĭheck out or Bombers range on the ‘Bits’ sub-page on our main menu.The use of one and often two bits, in traditional or normal horsemanship, constitutes a welfare problem, a hazard to health, and a handicap to performance. This is due mainly to our increased understanding of what pressures are created by the different mouth pieces, and our understanding of what effect these pressures have on the horse.Ĭoming in part 2: bit choice and bit fit. Over the last couple of decades, bits have come a long way in the design of mouth pieces (see left – an example of pioneering bit design). In modern times, nickel was a favoured material until about 1940, when stainless steel largely replaced it. These bits are still harsh bits when compared to the bits developed during the 1900’s however. We see more emphasis being placed on training the horse during the Renaissance period, there’s less outright control over the horse as riding starts to develop into an art. It’s not until the 1700’s that we see ‘milder’ bits start to be introduced. Theoretically, such bits were used with very little pressure on the reins. The mediaeval warhorse was often ridden in a curb bit with an extremely high port and long shanks, which increased the leverage on the curb and the pressure on the horse’s poll some bits also put pressure on the nose. The first records of the curb bit are from around the 4th Century BC. Plain and jointed mouthpieces appeared at the same time, often with highly ornamented cheekpieces.Įarly mouthpieces were severe, as training of the horses had not developed very far, and riders merely needed a means of control when riding into war. These discoveries were made in the region of Luristan, in ancient Mesopotamia present day Iran. The earliest records of metal bits date from roughly the 14th century BC and were originally made of bronze. The wear patterns on these prehistoric teeth have been tested against wear patterns created by both metal and organic bits on modern horses, and the results are remarkably similar. Archaeologists have found 5,000 year old equine remains with evidence of bit wear on the second pre molar teeth. This early evidence for the use of bits comes from and archaeological site in Dereivka, Ukraine. These early methods of control were not made of metal instead they were leather thongs, bone or wood tied to cheek pieces made of antler. The early horsemen of Central Asia and Eastern Europe discovered a gap between the molars and incisors of the horse, and realised they could place something in this gap (left) to control the equine.
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