Bit question

[csabugler]

The subject came up in a recent conversation with my vet about bits. She asked me if any of us rode without them. She has several clients who ride with the reigns connected to a halter with no bit . I am not aware of anyone doing so in the hobby, so the question arises.
I am well aware of the potential control issues associated with riding without a bit, and don't imply that I'm a good enough rider to do so.
I'm just wondering what the general thoughts here are regarding it. has anybody tried, can you give a reason why not to?
To the best of my knowledge, the American plains Indians rode without them, and I have heard them referred to as being among the best light cav in history

[IowaYank]

Re: Bit question

Pat, I have ridden just with a halter before. When I do that I take the lead line and run it back over top of the withers and tie it to the halter square on the opposite side using it as reins. Now granted, when I was doing this it was mostly just to go water or take a lesiurely ride. This isn't doing anything at a gate greater than a trot. This was also done on horses that are fairly well bombproof. I am not sure how well this would work with a pretty green horse.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Bit question

Many many years ago, when I was doing mounted medical and courier occasionally, I had a horse that could be ridden with just a halter, and even with just a lead rope, neck-reining one way and direct-reining the other. This was before the internet and all the research material that's available today, and I haven't updated my research. But what I was finding at the time, was that although it surely could be and was done, the typical mindset in the period was the better rider, the more bit. Yes, there were Indians of course, and circus riders and Rarey horse-tamer types who could do anything, but I'm talking about your average middle-upper class horseman.

Portraying a well-to-do officer/doctor most of the time, it just didn't seem to fit "who I was." I had a low-port curb, though honestly, I should have had a double bridle, but I got out of doing mounted before the horse and I got used to that. But that was the mindset that kept me from going without a bit.

I bet further research or, more likely, a different persona, would make a difference though. For example, I have no doubt plenty of country folk were used to riding in the same half-cheek snaffle they used for driving because it's all they had, though it wouldn't be in any horseman's manual.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[csabugler]

Re: Bit question

My girl friend rides our big goofy-assed percheron cross with a rope halter/reins Parelli rig. Works fine around the farm, she hasn't tried yet out in the real world... :)

[csabugler]

Re: Bit question

Hank, I hadn't thought about the social/status aspect of it. I do almost exclusively rank and file cav/mounted infantry, so that probably would not affect me, but a good point to ponder.

[NC5thCav]

Re: Bit question

A recent article in one of the equine magazines had an article on bitless riding. The jist of the article was that bitless was better on the horses and worked well with horses and riders used to it. Historicaly, however, I think Hank hit the target. Most people would have used bits that the common thinking of the time considered better. Much like not riding spotted horses, conventional wisdom of the time would have dictated a bit.

[Fenianboy]

Re: Bit question

Patrick, The modern(?) bosal is a leather covered bent piece of shaped reed which fits over the horses nose and is used with heavy cotton reins reiminescent of lead ropes.Nothing in the mouth and strictly neck reining. I used to use one with my Appaloosa stud colt until someone told him what stud colt meant and it was bit time.I believe these have Native-American origins.

[Mike Ventura]

Re: Bit question

A bosal is sometimes called a hackamore (not to be confused with another piece of headstall called a "mechanical hackamore").

The bosal itself is the oval piece that fits around the horse's nose. It is connected over thye head, behind the ears in a halter fashion by the "hanger." "Mecate" is the name of the reins. Traditional mecates are made from horsehair but some may be made from nylon or other synthetic materials. The nicer horsehair mecates are made from mane hair, but some are made from tail hair, which is coarser.

Typically, a bosal is used for training, and as the horse progresses he or she will usually move out of the bosal and into a bit. Although every horse trainer has their own way of doing things, it is common for an unbroke horse to be started in a snaffle bit, then graduated to a bosal. When the horse reaches an advanced stage in the bosal, it will often then be ridden in both a bosal and a curb bit, then ultimately ridden in a curb bit alone.

Bosals are commonly made from rawhide braided over a core also made of rawhide. You
can sometimes find a bosal with a metal core, but most professionals despise these as being too rigid and wouldn't consider using this type. Bosals also have a large knot at the back, behind a horse's chin. The knot provides weight so that when a rider touches the mecate the shift in weight is noticeable to the horse. Bosals come in a wide variety of diameters, with the largest diameters usually used on the greenest (most inexperienced) horses and the smaller diameters on the more advanced horses.

[Longbranch 1]

Re: Bit question

Gents,

An alternate use of a bosal is on a tender mouthed horse.
I have worked with a few horses whose previous owners had "yahooed" way too much. They became bit shy to the point of hand shy. Very panicy and therefor trouble from the start. A gradual introduction to a bosal is usually satisfactory for an intermediate rider.

One of my first instructors in Hunt Seat had a maxim; " Proper riding and control of your mount is 60% in your head.... 40% in your seat....., and 10% in your hands. Now keep your mind on your business, your damn heels down, and your damn hands quiet!"

Regards,
Kevin Ellis

[csabugler]

Re: Bit question

Kevin, that is how the conversation with the vet started. Ole Dan Tucker is a pretty calm horse, but he gets a bit nutty and anxious when I ride. He chomps at both of my period bits, both are mullen-mouth walker type, one real extreme, one not. I am the first one to admit that my riding skills are lacking, being mostly self taught. I'm probably heavy handed.So we were wondering about the bit causing some some sort of horse-anxiety. Or maybe it's just my fat butt!!

[Jeff Prechtel]

Re: Bit question

Patrick-

Both Hank and Mike covered excellent points.
As far as the natibe american angle; what you're referring
too, is what's called a plains "war" bridle. Utilized mostly
on the plains, especially the northern plains. It was simply
a piece of plainted rope (buckskin, rawhide combo, or buffalo hair)
that was looped at the end, with one end through the loop, much like
a choke collar for a dog, then looped over the horses lower jaw.
I'm sure this was pressure sensetive, and was used on a well
trained mount' ie: a war or buffalo horse...although I'm sure this
method was more envogue, in the 1830s to late 50s, before the
apex of the plains "Horse culture", and introduction of the
bridle and bit.

[Mike Nickerson]

Re: Bit question

Pete, how about you ride Turbo at our next reenactment bit-less? It should be a-walk-in-the-park! :tounge_sm

Mike Nickerson

[csabugler]

Re: Bit question

Dang Mike, I already knew you didn't like me, but I didn't think you wanted to KILL me!!!! :)

[Bob 125th NYSVI]

Re: Bit question

Can it be done, sure I've done it myself.

Was it done? Probably in an emergency and maybe occassionally when taking horses to water.

Was it done in action? I doubt it very much since combat is so much different than pleasure riding.

The noise confusion etc can cause even the best trained horse to spook occasionally andwhen that happens you want the most control possible not the least.

So I doubt very much it was done in a combat situation other than in extreme necessity.

And quite honestly if I was an event organizer I probably wouldn't allow it dpending on local laws and insurance requirements.

One out of control horse can do much more than just ruin an event.

[csabugler]

Re: Bit question

Well, based on discussion here, I think I have an intellegent answer. that being, It was done, but pretty much nobody is doing it regularly for several good reasons. That is sorta what I thought, but just wanted to get some opinions on it. Thanks for the responses.