Bitless bridles, are they kinder to your horse?
Bitless bridles have been around for a while, but with more attention on horse sport and the social license that goes with it, would an increase in the use of bitless bridles improve horse welfare?
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Bitless bridles are often seen as kinder for the horse, more welfare orientated and less severe than bitted bridles. There are many bitless bridles on the market from side pull, to cross under and even rope halters. It is part of many equestrian affiliations rules that a bit must be worn, so many equestrians tend to have bitted bridles instead of bitless, especially if they wish to part take in competitions.
Is there a difference in rein tension bitted vs. bitless?
It is often thought that bitless bridles exert less rein tension than bitted bridles. So let’s see if that is the case. In a study investigating horses voluntary acceptance of rein tension (Vogt et al., 2019), found some interesting results. The horses were tested using a range of bitless bridles and a standard bitted bridle, to see how much voluntary rein tension they would sustain in a stable, unmounted. The volunteered pressure was roughly the same, across all the bridles (except the side-pull bitless). The side pull bridle showed a lower amount of tolerated rein tension compared to the other bridles.
The side pull bridle has a thinner and stiffer noseband when compared to the other bridles.
This explains the horses behaviour and reduced tolerated rein tension to the bridle.
From this we can see that horses seem to accept the same amount of rein tension from a bitted bridle or a bitless while unmounted. But what about ridden horses? In a study investigating rein tension in ridden horses (Bye et al, 2017) found that all the bridles, had no significant differences between the rein tension with bitless or bitted bridles. It is often thought that bitless bridles are kinder, as you are not applying pressure to the mouth, but rather the nose. But these studies show that it is the same pressure in ridden and voluntary situations.
So the question is, where do you want to apply that rein tension?
In a study investigating noseband and poll pressures underneath bitted and bitless bridles and the effects on equine locomotion (Robinson & Bye, 2021), found similar results regarding the pressure of the side pull bitless bridle. The pressure exerted by the side pull could be capable of causing tissue damage if sustained for long periods on time. The side pull bridle showed the highest pressure under the noseband, followed by the cross under bridle and lastly the cavesson bitted bridle.
Do horses show more positive behavioural traits in a bitless bridle?
In a study looking into horses responses to bitted or bitless bridles during early training (Quick & Warren-Smith, 2009) (long reining, backing and riding) found that the horses showed more conflict behaviours when in the bitted bridles. The horses showed more pawing, chewing of the bit, tail swishing and opening of the mouth when in the bitted bridles compared to the bitless.
Horses showed more lowering of the head and lower heart rates when in the bitless bridle.
Horses also showed more steps taken after a halt que was given in the bitted bridle. It was also noted that conflict behaviours reduced over time in the bitted bridles. So when training our young horses, it could be argued to use a bitless to reduce stress and conflict behaviours. Once training has been established a bitted bridle can be introduced.
So what about ridden horses?
A study tested the idea that horses behaviour stays the same no matter the bridle. Four horses were ridden in a bitted bridle and a Dr Cook bitless bridle, while filmed and judged on two four minute exercise tests. An independent judge marked the 27 phases of each test on a 10 point scale and comments and scores were recorded.
The mean score when bitted was 37% and for bitless was 64% (Cook & Mills, 2009).
So this trial shows that ridden horses test score improve with a bitless bridle, but what about behaviour? Interestingly when twenty horses were ridden in their own bitted bridle and bitless bridle, ridden through a British Dressage Preliminary Dressage Test found that conflict behaviours were not significantly different between the bridles.
This shows that with these twenty horses, a bitted bridle or bitless didn’t have an effect on the negative behaviors.
Horses seem to have better welfare and rider partnerships in bitless bridles
In a study investigating bit use and its relevance for rider safety, satisfaction and horse welfare (Luke et al., 2023) found that bitless ridden horses had better welfare and fewer hyperactive behaviours when compared to bitted ridden horses. Rider satisfaction and horse-rider partnership was better in bitless than bitted ridden horses.
What does the public think?
In a survey of the opinions of equestrian stakeholders on the use of horses in sport found in the “equestrian concerns” section, tack and equipment was one of the top three concerns for equine welfare. Within that section, 41% was concerned with bits. Similarly, in the World Bitless Association survey, found 88% agreed that there would be improved welfare with bitless horses allowed to compete. Along with this, 93% of the respondents agreed that horses should be allowed to go bitless.
Conclusions
Overall there is a real out cry from the equestrian world for the use of bitless bridles in equestrian sport. More riders and owners are getting concerned with the use of bits and bitted bridles having a negative impact on equine welfare. From the studies it can be seen that training our young horses with bitless can reduce stress, riding in a bitless can improve dressage scores, but conflict behaviours are the same in dressage tests for bitless and bitted. Rein tension is the same in bitless and bitted bridles and the side pull bridle should be carefully considered due to the higher pressure exerted.
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References
Bye, T.L, Walker, R., Shaw-Webster, C.A. and Brewer, D. (2017) “A preliminary investigation comparing rein tension between bitted and bitless bridles”, Horses Inside Out Conference
Cook, W.R. and Mills, D.S. (2009a) ‘Preliminary study of jointed snaffle vs. Crossunder bitless bridles: Quantified comparison of behaviour in four horses’, Equine Veterinary Journal, 41(8), pp. 827–830. doi:10.2746/042516409x472150.
Luke, K.L. et al. (2023) ‘Bit use and its relevance for rider safety, rider satisfaction and horse welfare in Equestrian Sport’, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 259, p. 105855. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2023.105855.
Quick, J.S. and Warren-Smith, A.K. (2009) ‘Preliminary investigations of horses’ (Equus caballus) responses to different bridles during foundation training’, Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 4(4), pp. 169–176. doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2008.12.001.
Robinson, N. and Bye, T.L. (2021) ‘Noseband and poll pressures underneath bitted and bitless bridles and the effects on equine locomotion’, Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 44, pp. 18–24. doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2021.05.002.
Vogt, A. et al. (2019a) ‘Horses’ voluntary acceptance of rein tension with various bitless bridles compared to a single-jointed snaffle bit’, Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 29, p. 152. doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2018.06.019.
What a well-researched summary - thank you!