I am riding young River bitless, a six-year-old pinto who has never had a bit in his mouth and has been trained with positive reinforcement. In this ride, I only used praise, hugs, and love as reinforcement to guide him into the East Walker River. We just trailered out to our 80-acre river property near Yerington from Minden, and he and the rest of the herd are having a great time. Next time, I’ll wear river shoes and shorts—maybe he’ll take us swimming!
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Do We Really Need Bits?
A metal bit in a horse's mouth is rarely questioned. But does this practice truly resonate with the ethical compass in your heart?
At Starr Horse Retreats, we do not use bits, believing that true communication with horses does not require painful metal in their delicate mouths.
The horse's mouth is one of the most sensitive areas of its body, packed with a dense network of nerves. The trigeminal nerve, one of the largest cranial nerves in horses, exists in the mouth and plays a crucial role in transmitting sensory information, including pain, to the brain.
When we look closer, the use of bits feels more like a relic of using pain to control rather than a respectful partnership with these incredible healing beings. Thoughtless use of bits can tear into the tender flesh of a horse's mouth, causing a range of injuries—including lacerated tongues, bone spurs on the bars of the mouth, and chronic pain—and can also interfere with a horse’s ability to produce saliva and swallow properly, leading to dry mouth and misery, especially during physical activity.
Just because it is the norm and was always done that way does not mean it is right. Can we bring new protocols onto the planet and take a hard look in the mirror to question horse-handling traditions? I challenge us to shift the paradigm and look at what’s "normal." Our bravery in asking “Why?” can help illuminate the antiquity of hurtful practices. Let’s change how we interact with our equine healing partners as they assist us in our path to higher thinking.
Our next positive reinforcement Whole Horse Whole Human certification program starts September 15 and lasts four weeks - with free lodging! You can learn more on the website: https://www.starrhorseretreats.com/r-horse-training...
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