Linda competed as a professional trainer and instructor for over 25 years. She specialized in jumpers and eventing while training in multiple disciplines throughout the equine industry..

It is no secret that the less you do to a horse to interfere with training, the better that horse will go. Bitting is a very special subject. It requires riders and trainers to know how a horse’s mouth works, how a bit can affect head movement, and how two bodies-in-motion are affected by the first items.

It also takes into account the concept that to keep a horse’s mind at ease -- whereby he will train with the best of attitudes --- that the rider must handle their own physical body properly, so as to not use the reins (and therefore the horse’s mouth) for balance.

In terms of bits, they range from a simple, loose-ring snaffle which encourages a soft mouth, up to any

number of abusive gadgets --- in an uneducated attempt to overpower. It should go without saying that the more one educates themselves as to how to train properly, then the less bit they will actually need. And the less panicked, tough-mouthed horses they will incur.

The best “bit” I ever used was on a horse that was called an “untalented brute.” It occurred to me that all he could think about was what was going on in his jaw, instead of connecting to his rider. The day I took away his bit entirely -- and switched to a simple nose piece to work him off of -- he became magical. It was a well-learned lesson.