Overcoming the 5 Main Areas of Pain Caused by the Bridle with William Micklem
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- Опубліковано 20 лют 2019
- Equitopia @ www.equitopiacenter.com explores 5 areas of facial pain caused by the bridle. Learn which areas of your horse's face to avoid putting pressure on. Equitopia speaks with international coach, speaker, author and inventor of the Micklem Multibridle, William Micklem, as well as UC Davis faculty member Dr. Monica Aleman, one of the few veterinarians in the world duel board certified in both large animal internal medicine and neurology by the American College of Veterinary Medicine (ACVIM).
This should be more viewed and liked! It is very important that your horse is comfortable at all times !
Seeing the actual skull was the proof. I don't think anyone who rides ever WANTS to hurt their horse and will be just as shocked as I am at the pain caused by the nosebands. This needs to become known so relief will become the norm!! I have been watching the different videos and was really impressed by the ones on lameness, or subtle lameness.
deni g down to ignorance/ plan not knowing. But u also have a high majority of idiots as well who refuse to believe they are inflicting pain. Plus many who simply don’t care as long as they are achieving their horse to be over bent ( dressage riders in particular)
I see a lot of horses used in dressage that are pulled into such a tight collection that the 3rd and 4th vertebrae are so distorted.
Many people are saying that all bits are abusive and all horses will prefer a bitless bridle but that's not necessarily true. It really depends on the individual horse's preference! My instructor has 5 horses and 2 are in bitless bridles, two wear simple snaffle bits, and one goes well in both. Remember nothing is black-and-white...
Animal Lover Yes, some things are black and white, like the fact that all bits should be banned, period. All bits are painful to the horse, and the rider uses a bit to cause pain to the horse, as a short cut to a desired behavior that the rider is too lazy to teach the horse because teaching takes time. And stop saying some horses like the bit. That is just like saying, some children like to be smacked, and some don’t. Start thinking for yourself, and stop listening to the experts who make there millions off of treating horses cruelly.
@@shawnaweesner3759 oh please stop preaching bitless as perfect!! I have a horse at my barn who ended up with a fractured nose as a result of the ever-so-friendly bitless riding. he can't tolerate any noseband, not even a micklem. he can't wear a halter, he's terrified of any pressure on his nose!!!! put any pressure on his nose and he freaks out. I'm talking rearing, bucking, kicking, all of it. other than that he's the biggest sweetheart, and loves humans and cuddles. we have a special collar we put on him when we have to lead him, and we ride with a soft rubber snaffle in a western bridle. He opens his mouth voluntarily. we hold the bit up and he opens his mouth and moves his head towards your hand for you to put the bit in. he clearly doesn't hate the bit. so it really is a very individual thing.
Idiots abound in every discipline. A rider who has not developed a secure, independent seat is the MOST abusive thing done to a horse because they cause top line syndrome and kissing vertebra arthritis. Shall we ban all riders? I rode 60 years, am a certified Horsemaster in the British tradition and further trained in the French, German, and Austrian traditions in Classical Dressage. There are so many so called professionals who are clueless about how to properly fit and use tack that I would love to have a dollar for each time I have observed one. So called “natural” horsemanship that I have observed used the psychology of the horse to induce exhaustion and fear to “train” the poor young mustangs they had at their mercy. I am disgusted by the amount of misinformation and stupidity exhibited by people who are SO SURE that they know what is best for ALL horses when horses are as individual as we are. Horses are our teachers. Treat them with RESPECT and control YOUR OWN BEHAVIOR because the horse is always the mirror of the rider.
The fact that he can’t tolerate any pressure isn’t that due to the fault of his rider though. I get what your saying, I truly do, but I think some horses tend to avoid the pain more and are more compliant but that doesn’t negate the act that a bit by it’s very nature is pain to get the horse compliant.
How come horses are the only animals where it’s ok to shove metal in their mouths and pull?
Would you think it’s ok to put a metal bar in the mouth of a dog?
The mouth of the horse technically doesn’t have space for a bit. The mouth is not designed to house a bit. Horses cannot swallow and breathe properly with a bit in their mouth as they need to be able to move their tongue freely and create a vacuum seal with their mouth to do both of those things.
And even with soft hands bits cause damage in the mouth INCREDIBLY often. Teeth get worn down, the mouth gets worn down, the tongue gets worn down. The mouth is too sensitive and unsuited for a bit to justify using one when it’s possible to ride bitless on every horse.
Yeah, every horse. Just as how young horses need to be trained to accept being ridden with a bit, a bitted horse needs to be trained to understand bitless. It takes time and effort to get some horses comfortable bitless simply because they aren’t used to it. It can take years to train some horses because they are so used to bits they get frustrated and don’t understand what the signals mean.
Yeah bitless can be abusive too, but with soft hands a normal well fitted bitless bridle CAN’T cause damage, a bit can still cause damage even without even holding the reins at all and even if it’s ”properly fitted”.
If every rider just minded their own bussines, and actually listened to their horse. It really doesnt matter what you use on your horse, bit, bitless, tackless. Everything is okay as long as the horse and the rider is comfortable.
AMEN
Trouble is the person who does not know if or how a horse is uncomfortable and/or isn't interested in knowing or prefers to go with their own convenient fantasies.
@@virginiamoss7045 That's because they are not listening to their horse
@@coollikegrass2489 - Exactly. I would guess that at least half of all horse riders/owners are in that category. That's a lot of miserable horses.
Not necessarily true, many horses perform well in harmful gear. Horses enter a state of learned helplessness and they’ll do their job while tolerating pain. I think next to listening to your horse is listening to science. I’m amazed at the gear still used by so many riders when the knowledge of their poor mechanics and use of pain is available to us.
Our poor babies are being subjected to horrible pain and cruelty. We must spread the word. We must stop doing this to our beloved horses. Every tail swish, every mouth reflex, every eye wrinkle, it's the horse communicating "I AM IN PAIN PLEASE STOP HURTING ME." WILL YOU LISTEN TO YOUR HORSE? I am stopping riding until I have studied and learned more. I may never ride again. My horses come first, not me and my wants.
I need to tell my barn all this stuff and to watch this channel so our horses are safe, comfortable, and riding safely!
I’ve always hated how bits can cause horses pain and discomfort. I didn’t know there was more parts of the bridle that are just as bad. I do my work experience at a horse riding school in the UK and I ride there. The horses I ride are often uncomfortable with their bits and I can tell this when I ride them. I feel bad for them. There’s one horse who hates having his bridle on because it hurts him and I watched my supervisor struggle with him to put it on. I wish I could help these horses but sadly it’s not my place to tell my boss what they can and can’t do with their horses. It affects my riding, as I know whenever I pull I’m causing my horse pain. One horse I ride a lot has session after session so when I ride him I know someone else will ride him after me and I know he’ll be in even more pain.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing" I think a great phrase to live by. Tell your supervisor what you learned here and maybe you can save some suffering of these amazing horses even if it causes you pain and losing your job. You will feel so much better about yourself and pass on this amazing information. Anyone who calls themselves a trainer but is so ignorant of these facts doesn't deserve the honor of working around animals. Just my opinion and I know it's hard to have a confrontation but how else is the world to change. From someone who has lost good friends and positions by being a friend to the horse and trying to pass on information as gently but with knowledge. Good luck.
Sneak into yard at night, and release them. That's what we did in england
Released them into where? On to the road through an open gate?Into a garden? Into a paddock? Into a horse truck or trailer? Did you steal horses? 🤔😳
Maybe you could send your boss this video and say how excited you were to learn more.
Go bit less.
WOW! Thank you for that important lesson. All stables and privet stables should have a monthly "what's new to understand about a horse"!
this seems good, and bitless is good too
I agree with everything he said here, with the exception of the bit. He can create the same in a halter, and get rid of the bit altogether. I just don't like bits, period!
Bits certainly aren't ideal, but after learning more about bitless methods, I honestly think it is just different for every horse and rider combination, bad hands can do damage with anything that is on the horse's head as a means of control and communication- having soft, considerate hands seems to be the best way to guarantee the least amount of discomfort.
I have no direct experience with bitless, so I could of course be wrong...
That's neat
When I first saw that kind of bridle, I thought is was just more stylish. I didn't think it had that many differences compared to a typical bridle
why would think we are being stulish it ALL has a function
I ride one of my horses in both a hackamore and a bitted bridle, and the hackamore is sooo much stronger, I only need it when jumping big or showing. Bitless isn't always kinder or softer, it depends on your setup and your horse. I've always wanted to try a micklem, think I'll pick one up.
Very true!
And I would love to try one of his bridles as well!
I use the Micklem it is the only bridle my mare goes well in!
I found this article about the bridle and another one I viewed on the horse's hooves to be very interesting and informative. More people who own horses should have access to your education on U TUBE. I'll do my best to spread the word about how excellent you are in educating equestrians!! We need to be completely tuned in to the needs ad language of our horses when they are trying to tell us they are hurting or uncomfortable!
I like how their message is "let's make driving comfortable for the animal" instead of the eco activist "we want to ban horse riding"
To be fair ...if you REALLY are a vegan ..to me wanting to ban horse riding makes ethical sense that i can respect ..i suspect these people who are 'vegan horse riders ' or preach bitless ...are simply having an identity crisis of who they are ...or just trying to make a buck. If you think any piece of tack is inherently cruel rather than the rider ...with SOME exceptions ...i mean huge shanks and stacks are out for me ..then you really should think that all riding is cruel.
Thank you so much for this channel!
That was so informative and well researched!!
Love your mission statement ❤️
That was wonderful. Thank you!!
I don't think the 3-ring snaffle is the most popular bit in the world. I'm glad it isn't though.
in the english disciplines it has become very popular; if you count all who jump; polo, etc. similar designs in western now too.
@@foundationdressage the most common bit I've seen in English (I ride English) is a loose ring double jointed snaffle, one of the kindest bits you can get. at my yard we all ride bitless exept holly and Jeff because they are ex racers and don't go well in a bitless
@@C.Woodford same
These videos help me so much, thank you!! Especially this one, which does help me understand about the horses pain. I usually prefer a hackamore over any type of bit, though. I love dr cooks bitless bridle, not only because it is a hackamore, but because it also does not put too much pressure on the face.
great video its a must see !!!!
I have a Micklem bridle--only now it is used with a little s hackamore bit, My horse is very happy with it as a hackamore, and it fits him perfectly. He has worn it for nearly 3 years now.
This needs much more views
You've just got yourself a new subscriber, your videos are very informative and helpful
Thank you for your feedback. Much appreciated.
Very informative vedio, all points covered if are watched closed then we shall never face problem in regards to restless horses.
thank you for sharing
Thank you do much for this video. In a very roundabout way I saw my gear as possibly causing discomfort and rode without anything or just a neck strap. My horses were calmer and we to work together better. However this was only on my farm not sure if the equalise industry especially at Olympic standard with change
thanks for this!
As some with a lot of ENT and dental problems I can really identify with horses and try to avoid those pain triggers
Splendid!!🤍🐴🤍
I'm convinced. Now to convince my lease horse's owner to get this
Thank you.
GREAT alternative for those who don't want to switch to hackamores all together
What have i done to my boy all this time..
Anny Lee I know right, I feel so bad about my ignorance.
don't feel bad about not knowing before!! now you know and can improve!!
I use a micklem multi bridle and my horse loves it! I ride him bitless with it
so beautiful love this video
fear and pain > resignation > acceptance > trust and confidence. Good to see this headgear development. Read Xenophon on horsemanship (of about 2,500 years ago). There is a notion of psychology in there. But, to control the stallion - apparently they did not ride mares - the bridle is a "rasp": a stiff bar with pointy shapes on them, very crude and painful.
My fave horse there uses those low nose band things and i feel so bad for him. Obviusly my stable wouldve changed it if they knew. I wish i could tell them but im still quite young so theyll say that im inexperienced and that im wrong.
Get up the courage to tell them - for the sake of your fave horse! Show them the video or grab pics from the drop-noseband part and explain it. Don't chicken out because of assumptions about how they will react. They may not change immediately but you might have planted the "seeds of change".
Dolores Galen thanks ill tell them asap
Show them this video! Even if you are newer to the barn, knowledge is knowledge and when the welfare of a horse is involved I would hope they would listen to ANY well intended comments and/or suggestions regarding the horse's tack...
I would definitely say something, if nothing else they will respect your concern for the horse's well-being!
If they have rejected you, try putting it a bit higher if you get to ride him images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/547f1440e4b024050a45cc42/1576954983288-98RGS91RYNGRE9W8DHTU/geroge+tradtonal+drop.jpg?format=500w Changing the height to something like this might be helpful!
💙💙🐴🐴thank you for making this video and spreading awareness
What about bitless bridles? Can you do a video about them please? Which are the best and which are bad?
I dunno why i cried on this video
How can “Natural Horsemanship” followers justify the use of a rope halter? The constant discomfort and pain can only be imagined. I refuse to subject my horse to a rope halter, one of the few at my barn. I also use a Micklem bridle and wholeheartedly endorse their use. Great video.
Yeah people told me to use rope bridle , nah thanks I'll stick with my flat web halter or the ones with sheepskin
@@fonjadidi rope halters dont cause pain if you're not an idiot with them. Web halters are dangerous, get caught on things, cut eyes, and break. Rope halters are not pain halters. Nobody should be yanking and pulling on a horse in any type of equipment. And in regular web halters just teach the horse to lean on pressure. You are wrong about rope halters. They can be bad if. You. Are. Bad. With them
@@doriennaraine3004 any halter works with pressure and release, it's on a greater area so spreads out the pressure a bit more.. my halter wouldn't get stuck in thicks because I don't leave it on in the paddock and any halter could get stuck on things, I don't like how rope halters have knots for pressure points in such a fragile body part. If I want a smaller area of pressure on the head I will use my hand to teach my horse something. I've never had a web halter just break? Or cut anyone's eye! I have had ottb break a rope halter when she was getting very hot and upset but who knows any halter could have been broken. Mostly it's not the equipment you use but of you use it.
@@fonjadidi you're right any halter can get caught, its just more likely for a webbing. The first thing to break on a halter is the buckles which can cut a horse's eye. You can certainly teach a horse in one but it will take alot longer. And it depends on the quality, if its made of good quality yachting rope, that thing will never break. Rope halters just require a lot more feel. Eventually i might get a sheepskin cover for the poll once i work on collecting. Otherwise it works.
@@doriennaraine3004 I like the sheepskin ones but not in summer hahaha too hot
I just don’t use a noseband and all that stuff. If you have soft hands the horse doesn’t open it’s mouth because there is no pain that they need to escape on. People rather should work on soft hands and if they’re still learning they should ride bitless rather than stopping the horse from escaping pain. We need to fight the source not the symptom like a dropped noseband does.
Depends symply on the horse
If someone has harsh hands, putting them in a bitless bridle is still a bad idea since it can actually fracture the nasal bone if too much pressure is put on it.
Sarah Monson not really if it doesn’t have leverage. Ofc they should learn having softer hands but a bitless bridle is softer if it doesn’t have leverage
My horse sadly needs extra support from a noseband to keep the bit a bit more balanced. I use a high fitted low noseband( images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/547f1440e4b024050a45cc42/1576954983288-98RGS91RYNGRE9W8DHTU/geroge+tradtonal+drop.jpg?format=500w Something like this) that I can fit my whole hand through as that's the combination he's been most content with (:
Why is there no throat latch on the ergonomic bridle?
On my god I need to buy this.
its a pretty common bridle ...should be doable.
just go without bit. if you are so experienced as a rider, why cant you not control your horse without a bit?
That shows you that bitless can be just as painful as a bit, many bitless bridles put pressure on the sensitive nose area...
This makes me wonder if many of the behavioural problems we see at my barn are in fact due to ill-fitting tack, it is a PATH certified therapy barn and they are always low on funds, tack is mostly whatever gets donated so the fit is often not ideal, if it is even taken into consideration...
I will buy my lesson horse her own tack if I have to, I have fallen in love with that opinionated mare, haha, and I cannot stand the thought of her being uncomfortable like thAt- she is very reluctant to be forward, and everyone just attributes that to her being a "mare"- but it might very well be that she is in pain from an ill fitting saddle, I am checking next week!
More videos like this should exist, it is vital information that all too often is not even taken into consideration...
If I would ride in a bit I would definitely use this bridle
there are bitless options for a micklem bridle too if you're interested! they're called rambo micklem multi bridles :)
My horse hates the extra strap on the cavesson. She doesn't mind the cavesson as much, she just absolutely hates the low strap. She seems a lot more comfortable with the Micklem bridle though, and I must say, it looks quite good on her.
I don’t know how to react to this
I’d love to see him incorporate suggestions on bits into the video.
loose bridle snaffle or rubber snaffle ...good hands ..good seat ..you can rarely go wrong...
Largely because of the way uk riders ride with tight reigns and also they dont need bits ( previously owner of twelve horses) if you can ride well you can do it with a head collar.
head collars are NOT designed for riding dude that isnt even a bitless bridle and uk riders don't have tight reins ..they keep contact whereas the contact is diff for a lot of western riders because they use shanks. and no you should not ride with a head collar.
I prefer to ride in a rope halter and loose reins. My hot headed thoroughbred listens just fine. She's been taught to respond to the slightest preassure so discomfort and pain is simply not needed
i like the micklem bridle design. i still dont want a bridle with a noseband and maybe ill ride bitless if my horse is responsive enough.
My bridle is a bit looser
Question: is the Mikelem bridle allowed in recognized competitions? USCTA/AHSA/FEI etc... I know they have their standards...but (since I’m no longer competing) I’m not up on their rules. Are they keeping up with the important advances in humane equine science and training? The horse world has a real love of tradition, but I hope that it can also embrace the humane revolution
Yes! It is allowed- at least in all forms that I've competed in, which is some lower level dressage and eventing. There's no real reason why it shouldn't be.
Persephone P good to hear! I’m all for the humane advancement in the horse world. (Now, if we only could have a revolution in the racing industry- especially grotesque lately with the increasing deaths on the track...)
I use it as a little s hackamore in open jumping. I place every time in the top 5. (Jan Griffiths, on hubby's account).
I use the Micklem in eventing and dressage. I have also competed in unrecognized hunter shows with it.
Its is allowed for most competitions. Only ones that I am aware that you cant go in are high level dressage shows. There you can only have bridle for double bit (no idea for proper english name, it's basically one small bit and bigger with shank )
What do you think of bitless bridles??
I would love to hear his opinion on them myself!
@@pariahmouse7794 The Micklem bridle was designed with two different options for using it as a bitless bridle. Depending on the version, it also includes “bit clips” which are (in my opinion) the best way to transition away from a bit, and/or to give the horse in a bit more protection from the rider.
If I were teaching youth riders, beginners, or any horse that was resisting the bit, I’d have them in the Micklem with but clips (though my preference would be a wide soft bitless sidepull).
I know dozens of people who bought the Micklem originally as a way to help transition away from the bit, (including me, almost ten years’ ago) but if for some reason I *had* to use a bit, I’d still be using the Micklem for it.
I thought she said it can cause nummnahs i was like what? But its numbness
riding bite less is so great. tho i had a baby bite on my horse riding western and would pull only with my index on the reigns to make my horse come to stop from gallop. Only ONE FREAKING INDEX... no pressure needed. So yeah english mount is beautiful to look at but i HATE the fact that so many riders pull so hard on the reins and don't seem to notice their horses head and mouth demanding FREAK HUMAN LET GO A BIT you're hurting me
I ride w a halter😊
First we teach our horses to be soft in the face and flex both ways with very little pressure before the snaffle bit is put in the mouth and some ride fine without the bit.
love the videos - really don't enjoy the background music which is just distracting ... sorry - wish we could turn it off
When you don’t have a correctly fitted bridle or bit
These people should see a professional bridle fitter. But it actually doesn’t hurt them. The horse will tell you if it does. If your horse doesn’t lie the bit, go bit less or find a bit that is comfortable with your horse, if your horse is uncomfortable with a bridle, see a bridle fitter or go with a neck rope.
But if equestrians minded their own business and listened to their horse, they could go with a bit or without, tackles or not. Please do what’s comfortable for your horse and make the correct decision
Please keep in consideration that you should be able to fit four fingers in between the throat lash and two fingers in between the nose band. DO NOT do things up too tight.
Thanks for reading :)
( I may be wrong it’s just my 6 years of riding what I’ve learnt as well as owning 9 horses over the years. Please no hate on this comment )
You better have good hands if you use a hackamore
Or maybe just don't use them at all
I think these bridles and great they are just soooo expensive!!!😭
Would a hacamore be better ( sorry if I spelled that wrong)
Allison Arts sometimes, it all depends on how you ride and what your horse prefers. Some horses (most probably) would be fine with both, however it’s important to listen and see if the horse is in any way experiencing pain or discomfort. Bits can work just fine, and hackamores can work just fine. A horse should NEVER be in pain, and that’s all that matters :) good luck
I always say " If those equestrians actually love there horses then dont torture them like that" They always try to hide the fact ( that they are torturing them with those nasty bridles) That's utterly disappointing, dont call your self a true horse lover if your just going to stand there and do nothing about it!
true also they don't admit that they are torturing their horses because it would let them look bad
I feel that's rather unfair you've got to understand that this thinking is very new and a lot of people have been riding for years and grown up with system they thought where right and kind. I dare say in 20 years time our knowledge will advance further and all this thinking will be outdated. So yes there are some people who are actively cruel, but a lot of people who just don't understand that there are better ways.
I don’t think ignorance counts as “torture”. No one wants to hurt their horse, they just don’t know that they are hurting them. That is not torture.
@@VoyageSailor I wrote that a year ago LMAO my mindset changes
We all should just ride without bits.
maybe you vegan people should just not ride it doesn't seem to sit well with you
Whats the point of the bit in the horses mouth if it just pulls from the reins to the noseband. Bits are invading and mean. Basically the bit is usless in that briddle because it has no pull. Taket the bit off and call it the bitless.
Phsyco Rider
Guess your name checks out. Bitless can be worse then bits and can fracture the nasal bone. Shove that bitless is better bullshit back up your ass where it came from
@@sarahm3295 stfuuuu it shouldnt even be low enough to cause fractures!
it distributes the pressure a bit more for gods sake
Personally, I think all horses and riders should be trained to work together using no bit at all.
Jane Taylor I bought a halter specifically for ridding. Bits aren’t a cure all like people think. I much rather have the mind set that my horse knows what to do by good training, than making it do it and never teaching it how.
It all depends on the horse. My horse absolutely hates bitless bridles, dunno why but he hates the pressure on his nose and will toss his head, swish his tail, and try to escape the pressure. It’s selfish and uneducated to say all horses should be bitless.
Sarah Monson Have you tried just ridding in a halter? I’m asking out of my own nosy curiosity lol
@@sarahm3295 No horse wants a pain inducing bar of metal in their mouth. If you ride with your body and don't just rely on the mouth, any horse will go bitless. Unfortunately, many riders can't ride properly and rely on pulling the head around by the bit instead of full body riding. Not getting properly trained is selfish in my opinion.
@@sarahm3295 you never taught him to respect it and accept the feel of it. Its your fault, not the horse or equipment.
So u want us to ride bridleless?
The more you learn, the more ignorance begins to disgust you.
So true! Especially when the most ignorant ones are the "experts"... Some "horsepeople" shouldn't be allowed around horses, their motivations are so purely selfish and only centered on positive results in the show ring, it should be less about winning and more about positive connection and partnership, but what do I know...😳.
Not saying shows can't be fun, but it should never be about winning at all costs- it should be about doing the very best you and your horse can do as symbiotic partners, but the competitive world will never change, it will always be about 1)MONEY and 2) prestige- and guess who cares about those things? Humans. The horses just want to be as happy and comfortable as possible, what we do to them in the name of our own desires is just plain wrong and mean, especially when you think about how willing they are to please us. We should never ask unpleasant things of our horses just to further OUR misguided agendas...
They don't have agendas, they just want to BE, and we should let them simply BE as much as we can! And possibly follow suite ourselves, but that is another kettle of fish... Competitions should be about you and your horse's personal best, not some arbitrary standard that not every horse/rider can even achieve through purely positive methods, but again, what do I know...😳
more the arrogance
I think it says a lot, when an expert who explains everything in detail simply says "It's just cruel" and leaves it at that.
There a even better solution stop riding in bits!!
Michelle roy really? Because bitless aren’t all super amazing either.
Just think at a bit as a knife.
How it’s used depends on the person holding it.
If the wrong person holds it, it’s a dangerous weapon.
But if the right person holds it, it’s a tool.
Now hackamores or bitless bridles can also cause damage if the person is too harsh or isn't using them properly.... one of my horses can ride well in a hackamore but actually prefers my snaffle bit and shows clear signs of that while my other horse hates hackamores so it all depends on your horses preference and how you ride
@@hannahhyslope7254 So true! 👏
As the others have said, bitless can be just as harsh in the wrong hands- it just affects different areas of the face/head...
Considerate hands are probably the best thing for comfort, short of no bridle at all...
The solution is to stop riding.
A good bridle for the horses head, but my horse hates it. So no Micklem for us :)
If your horse "hates" something you didn't prep him for success or taught him to accept it and not be worried about it.
@@doriennaraine3004 some horses just don't like certain things .... i wouldn't force it....
Amazing
A truly different mindset would be bitless. With proper training a bit is unnecessary. If these people were really concerned about the horse's pain, they would not remain stuck in the old ways of bits and bridles.
Virginia Moss Or they could just use a bit that isn’t painful or uncomfortable
@@katja3120 - Yes, rubber bits would be an improvement. Barry Hook in England trains carriage horses in rubber bits. Those working horses have to be strictly obedient immediately responsive to operate on roads and in traffic and chaos. If that can be done in a painless bit, then metal bits should be outlawed. He is now training in no bits and having good success.
Virginia Moss rubber bits don’t work on every horse, since they can’t salivate. Metal bits don’t necessarily cause any pain, just like bitless alternatives the point is to add pressure not pain. However some bits do cause pain and some are genuinely uncomfortable for all horses (one jointed snaffles, Indian thorn bit etc) but this is not the case for every bit. Just like the any bitless alternative the horse shouldn’t have any problems with the bridle and if it does, there’s a need to check why. Some horses enjoy hackamores, some rope halters, some snaffle bits and others curb bits and it’s important to make sure the horse doesn’t dislike the headpiece. The bit should never bother the horse in any way, it should just *be there* and not cause discomfort just like a halter is just on top of the face and doesn’t cause discomfort. Idk if that made any sense lol but I hope it did
@@katja3120 - It did not. Horses can't salivate? Really? Come on; no horse "enjoys" any tack. That's your convenient fantasy to absolve you of any blame. I do wish it were true; it is not.
Virginia Moss then a horse wouldn’t ‘enjoy’ any bitless either so you would be saying against your own original comment?
What you are saying is that English style is more abusive to the horse, than western style based on how they use their brittle
How did you take that from it?
*Or Use A French Link Bit! Use a Bit Than IS GENTLE ON YOUR BELOVED HORSE!*
I know ppl using double broken bit with 3 rings. Ideal bit usage would be with it and proper bridle. Just by changing bit you wont change discomfort unless you give up nose band
I appreciate the idea of trying to make a bridle that is more comfortable to the horse, but I still think the bit should be removed all together if the goal is to eliminate pain. Having a bit in the horses mouth causes discomfort no matter how it is attached to the bridle.
A bit shouldn't cause discomfort if properly fitted and properly used. A bitless bridle, instead using pressure in the mouth, uses pressure on the nose, which actually inflicts more pressure, but I don't disagree with that, pressure doesn't equal pain. I'll explain it. In the mouth, the bit sits in an area with no teeth, it sits on the tongue. The tongue is a soft tissue, it can absorb more levels of pressure without that turning into pain. The nose, where a bitless bridle sits, is a hard tissue, made mostly of skin and bone, it can't handle as many levels of pressure as the tongue can without it being painful, and the bitless bridle also sits on a thin nasal bone, this means a too tight noseband can cause damage to the nose, and can and has before left cuts inside the horse's mouth due to it. But, horses are like people, like children, they're all different, some prefer bitless and some don't, like children, they'll tell you and make sure you know when they're in discomfort. In my opinion, instead of telling people to get rid of the bit and use bitless, go with whatever your horse prefers, try different bits, different hackamores, etc. I recommend watching Shelby Dennis, as she is a trained equine scientist, and has proved training experience and knowledge, and has made a bit video. I don't recommend RaleighLink14, or Think Like A Horse. Raleigh doesn't cite sources, uses invalid facts, attacks people, and has been accused with evidence of neglecting her own horse (lameness in the hind, constant losing/gaining weight, only riding for 5 minutes in one day), and Rick Gore (Think Like A Horse) isn't the best to go for bit advice and to be told what's right and what's wrong, he's sexist, doesn't use valid sources, discourages helmets, and gets hobbles mixed up with the blocks in the Big Lick, but I guess he's fine to go for horse behavior/herd behavior). Sorry for the long reply, I'm typing on a PC, so it doesn't look as big to me as it looks on mobile.
how do you know???
I don't want to have the bit argument, but go look at top western riders, horses and traditions, the Vaqeuro's specifically, one of the goals in western to get your horse to be a finished bridle horse, which is the highest level of riding in western, and using a spade bit, you can go read up everywhere that these bits are ONLY for extremely experienced horsemen and women otherwise its a kerb bit, its the highest level of honor and respect, they start out with a snaffle or bosal, then double rein and then "straight up in the bit" where its the spade bit or half breed, you only ride with seat and legs and miniscule amounts of neck reining, not even direct pulling in the mouth ever, finished bridle horses can be ridden bridless and without a neck rope, only seat and voice, even with a bit, your reins are loose and low with split reins , and when you get to a half breed or spade, you ride with rein chains and hand braided rawhide romal reins and you balance the bit with the rein chains and weights until perfection, just go look up "Vaqeuro" or "bridle horse" or simply go look at dreamy Huss reining where his bridle broke and he kept on going like it was nothing and we usually ride with minimal tack,its the bridle without a browband or chinstrap around the back of the head or some people call it a throat latch or lash except for a leather chinstrap or chain or Kerb chain or leather strap(same thing) a chinstrap is needed on any leverage bit otherwise the bit is useless almost and its the same thing as the strap on the underside of the jaw on a bitless bridle, works on the one nerve but NEVER should be tight, two fingers , no wither straps or martingales or funny stuff, bridle or bosal , saddle, breastplate or a pulling collar(different things for different purposes, go look it up) , and back cinch for roping so the saddle doesn't pull into the withers, heres a good accurate article too for Vaqeuro tradition
All of these things have been used for thousands of years and in western you will never ever be hard on the horse, but the main goal is not the shove a bit in the mouth, you can go bitless, bitted or hackamore like a bosal, your goal is to be soft never hurting the horse, and have fun, still even a halter in very bad hands can way more damage then an extremely experienced rider with a spade and romal reins, keep those hands soft.
www.tomtra.com/archives/3060?__cf_chl_managed_tk__=36ed331ae26b316de42a4ad99ca01022ed47a30c-1622996983-0-AReD8mQqgl0RnTpcZK9nJ1qbMgQO_ix7GHEiHid9V63kZ5aCaIoD3LaSLwu6CDQv2ntk_iqi0s6c_CqDYPGlatVeR1T3rYWxKwQXULcJg0GlEOlZ9hxjY4wlL1oeb1z7FdQ4N8yHg9eB1p43z3i7eQYxqP-q1pSFOWuEC0nuzxE7iO86wjToy84yeBr1jFNCrjVhBzh4gT4cHv-sRfUUfRpoAGvzIboENyEopTTvlspq3siEAwBYcCBQJZcAG0khxpWvLCTbav8Im_4ALKhJOCd_fbBmgA6-OovVNsb47i-uSXldC6K3czEoqif-2sU7Rnjc2T-nqpsivXDVgWzlGBqN45Pq6sbATATjjC85Qko6Z3RRF9oZlq1jAkXrUUnefpas3Js1xpgAhXQs9VGo8Sgr7Ub0xKIzoEb0mNDRqtsqxrtFx3Z0EUMT-dj1PKQ4Hq0ACRWP8h4oVZBTBAObBAlTOhaXxOEKwSDaROjKbGlHdJU6WvwDLCUU4K7J0tdOjqyLrMYNlfL0V6pGm_mXI-iif1viHYqTYO0hmbWMgxgp1c-pSYVMfEF0VRASlNiEYUYTVx60Hgxe42KJAbndIdIg8H1_yEtmQInCseEn7qnci7FrdTpdJDrR_srQ49qrkA
I've always thot those dropped nosebands looked painful & unnecessary. If you have to tie your horse's mouth shut like that, you're doing something v-e-r-y wrong...
I mean.. the bridle seems good but if you really care for your horse and don't want it to be in pain of discomfort then don't even f-ing use a bit. It's painful for them and saying "Horses like them" or "they're good if you use them right" is a big lie. Horses HATE bits and they're nothing but pain and torture.
They're good if you use them right
How do YOU KNOW? have you ever seen a horse go mental from a bit?? i have riden a horse when it went bucking mad from a wasp sting or a kick from another horse..I HAVE NEVER ridden horse that bucked from a bit?? How are they ACTING that tells you bits are painful?? I have also seen a horse go mental in a bitless bridle ..a friend had a stallion called bell and she thought she would try one ..bell went insane!
Ditch the bit
Made me sad to see people riding the horses when the horse was very clearly in discomfort
U don't need to use a bit to control yr horse. They still pull on the mouth & cause pain. Try pulling on yr mouth for half hour & see how much pain it causes!! Bitless is the best & only way to go for my horse & always will be
you might want to notice that many bitless bridles, including rope halters with knots, are designed to put pressure on the facial nerves described in this video.
Natalie Mills try pulling on yr facial nerves for half and hour & see how much pain it causes!! I would say about the exact same as a bit
@@katja3120 , I don't know if you misunderstood me, but you just said excally what I was meaning. I don't like bits, never did & that's why I wrote in. We all have our own ways & if others what to use bits then use them, no one's stopping them, I just had my opinion on them just like anyone is aloud too 🙂
Natalie Mills you didn’t state that that was your opinion at all. You said that bitless is the best and that people yank on the horses mouth, which sounds more like statements. However, you do you and I respect your opinion :)
Katja, Actually your wrong! I wrote that bitless is the best for MY horse & I also said 'they' (meaning the bits) & (NOT PEOPLE) pull on the horses mouth. if you had read it properly, you would have understand & NOT got off on your high horse about MY opinion!!
Why would you try to create a better bridle when you can ride bitless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Molnár Panka
Not every horse can go bitless. Some horses absolutely hate bitless, including mine. Maybe do some research instead of trying to cram your bullshit ideas down people’s throats.
because bitless is more abrasive and severe.
"To a man with a hammer every problem looks like a nail"...interesting that bridle makers often say that most problems are caused by bridle fit, saddlemakers say saddle fit, trainers training issues etc.
Also, if a bridle is adjusted properly all this talk about impacting nerves is a complete non-issue. To exert enough pressure on any nerve to cause problems any bridle is going to have to be delusionally tight, and worrying about them is falling for marketing sales pitches.
You just made the argument against bits and you are still forcing the horse's mouth closed with your dropped chin strap. If the horse "accepted" the bit, you wouldn't have to strap it closed. I do like your point of broad head/poll band behind the ears and narrowing down the sides. Noseband fit is good point. But other than that, there is no good argument for using bits. NONE.
Still a bit.
If you wanted a more comfortable bridle, I would REMOVE THE BIT
Tarushi Vikram I don’t think you’ve watched the whole video.
It doesn’t matter what you use, as long as YOU know that the horse is not in any pain, and that he’s not.
If you ride bitless, okay fine. Make sure that the horse is not in pain
@@equidaes look first of all, I've watched the ENTIRE video. Bits are just pain devices and horses dont need them. This man wants to make a bridle comfortable for the horse but had he removed the bit, It would be much more comfortable and better for the horse. He even said that the bars of the jaw squash the tissue and tounge with the bit. Without the bit no squashing would happen.
@@tarushivikram How do YOU know that bits cause pain? Horses buck when in pain?? I have never had a horse buck in response to a bit ...i have ridden a horse who bucked after being stung by a wasp though or after being kicked by another horse?? Has a horse every TOLD you bits were painful??
@@silverkitty2503 I never needed a horse to TELL me that he or she is in pain because I know the signs a horse gives when in pain
@@silverkitty2503 also I know a bit is a pain device because of its purpose and location. It is placed in such a sensitive place and not everyone has soft hands or understands that whatever you do with the reigns can cause pain to the horse because it is in direct contact with the horse's mouth.
The bit maybe used to 'direct' or 'control' the horse but the same can be done without it
Horses are not sports equipment, but sentient beings, get off them!
Sports and running are good for them, they need it, but not to carry a person on their back!
People say they love horses and yet they use them and cause them pain and discomfort, otherwise they wouldn't be able to control them!
Stop riding! Stop exploiting horses! Thank You in the name of horses!
I dont know how on earth you would run a horse without riding it.... all horses who don't get ridden end up under muscled or fat. I mean it probably doesn't terrible affect them but you notice it.
@@silverkitty2503 So did every horses who lived in the nature end up under muscled or fat? No, they didn't. Horses are intelligent beings. They know what is good for them. But if people break them physical and mental way too, horses surrender and do what people want. But they live here WITH us and NOT FOR us!! It's that simple! Everything else is just a try to justification for using them! And this is not ethically acceptable!
@@amstlot yes horses who are wild in my country end up under muscled and fat but that is the least of their worries ..this is what happens to wild horses ua-cam.com/video/Jp2ldhrdhLU/v-deo.html same here ua-cam.com/video/-w0pgSc5ptw/v-deo.html you seem to have a VERY poor understanding of horses and what happens to them in the wild.
@@amstlot also there is this .... wild horses often over graze areas until forage etc doesn't grow back then they starve so either wrangers (on horse back) have to move them to stop them from starving and over grazing or now they are starting to use birthcontrol like her which is cool .. so less over grazing ua-cam.com/video/E0T-5i0EbKw/v-deo.html ....we have been managing horses for a very long time dude
@@amstlot By the way the only way to stop horses starving is for those 'ABUSERS' as you lovingly call them to move them on ON HORSE BACK because the terrain can't be accessed by wheeled... same with cattle ..you have to stop cattle over grazing too...even if you are not going to farm them you have to move them on its why they call them COWBOYS
*I agree, with a caveat, please please just get Rid Of The Stupid Painful-And-Extremely-Cruel BIT!*
*Absolutely Redesign A BETTER Head-Stall! With OUT The Pain Inducing Bit!*
Great comment!
Or just use a bit that don't cause discomfort or pain.
A bit is for the rider, not the horse. Why not use a rope halter? ANY metal in a horse's mouth is bad in my book. Bits are only for pain compliance...smh
Well, rope halters aren't exactly 100% pain-free. Look how thin they are. That can be a lot of pressure on the horse's nasal bones/face, especially where the knots are.
@@1010nightflyer Then dont ride. Rope halters (although apparently not perfect) are 1000% better than metal all over the place. If tied correctly, a rope halter is virtually pain free....NOT pressure free...I'm just against metal. It is purely for pain compliance...
Good for you!
@@emilyrichardson9954 Why do you assume that bits cause pain just cause they're made out of metal? Bits should not cause any pain whatsoever, only like you said, pressure. Of course some horses dislike bits and some bits cause discomfort and/or pain but definitely not all. I'm not saying all bits are good, some are really not. And some gentle bits can still do damage or be uncomfortable for a specific horse. However, I can't see why bits would cause pain unless not fitted for the horse and their preferences. My mare seems to enjoy being ridden more in a bit, I don't know why but she seems to be less tense , I ride her on both snaffles and sidepulls/halters/neckropes. But from why I understand, she prefers the bit. My other horse dislikes bits so I don't use them on her at all. I think it's important to consider the horses preferences, so they can be happy, even if it might not be my preference and that goes for both bits and bites.
rope halters press on the facial nerves, often.
Hmmmmm. If your trying to help and protect horses. Then why do you still have a bit? No one, I mean NO one needs a bit to control a horse. Everyone just needs training on how to work with these 1400 pound animals.
Whits The Horse Girl No one, I mean NO one needs a hackamore/sidepull/halter/neckrode/other alternives, to control a horse. Everyone just needs training on how to work with these 1400 pound animals
Just... go bitless?
@Sakura Shimatsoko Use a rope-halter, then there's no pressure at all except the strength of your own arm pulling against the strength of the horse.
Yolo that’s...also how snaffle bits work
@@katja3120 Uh, hello? The point of the bit is to pinch the mouth and cause pain in the mouth. I don't understand why people are still so dead-set on to keep tools meant to torture animals around and relevant.
@@yolo9050 On what grounds do you base your statement, do you have any research or scientific studies to prove it? One jointed snaffles pinch the mouth which is why they're usually not used that much and I've never seen anyone recommend them to other people (I don't like them either, they're what we would call cruel). Other then that I really can't justify your statement ;) Also why do you think bitless alternatives can't cause pain? Just like bits the point is to communicate and to add pressure, not pain. However, both CAN cause pain but only blaming one is just not true
@@yolo9050 Rope halters are dreadful. If you wouldn't condone riding a horse in a 1/4" bit then why are you riding bitless with something as thin as 1/4"?
Pulling something that thin into the face of the horse is just cruel.
The Micklem bridle has a bitless option. It's what I use for my horse and quite frankly besides bridleless it's really the ONLY way to go bitless. Traditional bitless bridles have all the same problems as normal ones, they just lack the bit.
Better yet, go bit less!!
So simple .. humans created a bridle ... then listen to this crap.... my horse has never had a bridle. .