06/19/2025
I get what he's saying, but I don't know that I agree with every point made. To say bitless is not an *inherently* a more compassionate approach dismisses what the bit actually is and its function.
The bit is used as an aversive stimulus (a pressure cue) in traditional/R- training. The only way it's going to be effective as a training tool is if pressure is applied and then is released. Is it quicker perhaps and effective for training specific behaviors? Yes. That's why we've been using them for centuries.
But, "is effectiveness enough?"
The mouth is quite more sensitive than people understand it to be (or perhaps moreso are just unwilling to admit). So, while I don't necessarily think everyone should or will go and throw away their bits, I DO think we have a responsibility to the horse to take a step back and acknowledge what a true humane hierarchy scale of ethics looks like in training. Snaffle bit vs. a twisted bit, any bit vs. no bit, bridle vs. no bridle...there is always an ethical scale to consider.
Any tool can still be misused and unethical. I've seen coercion at its finest with riders having NOTHING on the horse and labeled as "liberty" or "for the horse." So again, another scale on the hierarchy to be taken seriously. But back to bits...as they are intended to be used, will be inherently more aversive than no bits at all just by their nature and function, even when used subtly and kindly. You cannot create fancy enough words to change what learning theory proves it is: an aversive stimulus. And we know this BECAUSE of how it works and has been working for a long time.
I will also add...the amount of adults and kids alike who do NOT have a healthy reverance for such a training tool like the bit is something I deeply struggle with the most. It is not something to take lightly. It is a tool and your horse deserves your utmost skill and education when you choose to put it in their mouth for YOUR needs, not theirs 🙃
I also do have to disagree that you lose precision in communication...there are other ways to shape behaviors without bits, whether it be in R- or R+ contexts. Just takes a willingness to be educated in how we can shape those behaviors differently.
It's not really a notion of absolutes to me because I'm a realist in that aspect. I don't think bits are going away anytime soon. So I'm not going to judge you for using a bit, but I will judge you on what type and HOW you use it (for the sake of the horse) and I will always APPLAUD the ones communicating just fine without one. It IS important to have advocacy for the horse to go without something they DO NOT NEED, especially because they CAN. Because many DO. They don't absolutely need them. So if we can accomplish so many complex behaviors, like collection, then why aren't we promoting bitless more? If there are many who can, we need to be learning from them more on how.
In the context of how I train and ride though (R+), it's very easy to naturally have an absolute for a no- bit approach because every cue is simply irrelevant to how a bit works. Everything is shaped mostly with targeting and then transferred to a tactile cue (since pressure and release is irrelevant in a true R+ context). I haven't found anything yet that my personal horses can't do with bitless that horses with bits can. That's a good enough reason for me. I just simply haven't needed them anymore for any of my horses since we've been training this way.
Would love to hear more thoughts. With maturity and respectful choices of words, of course 👌🏼
There’s a growing fad in the horse world right now that I think we need to take a serious and honest look at. I’m talking about the trend of going completely bitless—not just as an occasional option or for a specific situation, but as a blanket philosophy that a bit should never be used on a horse. It’s being promoted as a more humane, kinder, gentler approach to horsemanship.
Now, I want to start by saying this: I’m not against riding bitless in the right context. I’ve done it myself. A good horseman should be able to ride a horse in a halter, a bridle, a piece of baling twine—or nothing at all—if the foundation is there. The bit itself isn’t what makes a horse soft, responsive, or correct in their movement. That comes from training, timing, and feel.
But here’s the problem:
Going bitless exclusively—as a philosophy rather than a tool—can lead to a number of problems, and I’ve seen them firsthand. The bit is not an instrument of cruelty unless it's used cruelly. Just like spurs, ropes, or even our own hands, it’s not the tool—it’s the hand behind it that matters.
When we take the bit completely off the table, we’re giving up one of the most effective and fair ways to communicate with the horse. We lose precision in lateral flexion, collection, and vertical softness. And more importantly, we often lose the ability to help the horse use their body correctly.
And that’s where real issues start to surface.
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🧠 What Many Don’t Realize...
Many riders who go bitless because it “feels nicer” don’t actually realize what they’re giving up in terms of biomechanics. They don’t know what they don’t know.
They’re not seeing the subtle changes in posture. The dropped back. The strung-out hindquarters. The braced jaw. The hollow frame. The lack of engagement. The imbalance. The unsoundness that creeps in over time.
These aren’t just little cosmetic issues—this is the kind of stuff that leads to sore backs, hock and stifle problems, uneven hoof wear, and even long-term lameness. But because the horse is quiet or obedient—or just not outright saying “no”—they think everything is fine.
I’ve had horses come in for training or rehab that have been ridden exclusively bitless, and the moment I pick them up with even a soft feel on a snaffle, they’re lost. Not because they’re being mistreated, but because they simply don’t have the body education to understand what’s being asked. They’ve never been helped to move correctly. And you know what? That’s not the horse’s fault.
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🐴 The Horse Deserves More Than Our Good Intentions
The truth is, there’s a big difference between doing what feels good to us as riders… and doing what is actually good for the horse.
We all want to feel like we’re doing right by our horses. That’s noble. That’s the kind of heart I respect. But good intentions alone don’t build a sound, confident, correct horse. Knowledge, experience, and proper education do.
There is nothing inherently cruel about using a bit. In fact, when used with skill and timing, a bit can allow us to communicate with greater subtlety and support the horse in achieving true balance and lightness. I would even argue that, when used properly, a bit is often the kindest option—because it allows for clearer, lighter, more effective communication.
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⚠️ Be Cautious of Absolutes
The horse world has always been full of trends and movements. And any time we start hearing “always” and “never” attached to tools like bits or spurs, we need to pause and think critically. Absolutes usually point to ideology, not horsemanship.
I’ve ridden horses bitless. I’ve also ridden with snaffles, hackamores, correction bits, and more. Each one is a tool, and each one has a time and place depending on the horse’s level, physical condition, goals, and mental state.
If your horse is truly soft, collected, and balanced in a bitless headstall—great. But if the only reason you’re avoiding a bit is because someone told you it’s “mean,” you may be doing your horse a long-term disservice without even knowing it.
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🔍 What Should We Be Asking?
Instead of asking, “What kind of gear makes me feel better about myself?” … maybe we should be asking:
“Is my horse moving in a way that promotes soundness and longevity?”
“Does my horse understand how to carry themselves in balance?”
“Can I ride my horse in a bit and have them respond calmly and willingly?”
“Am I avoiding the bit because I lack the knowledge to use it properly?”
If we answer those questions honestly, we’ll be doing far more for our horse’s well-being than we ever could by following trends or trying to “out-kind” one another online.
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💬 Let’s Keep the Conversation Respectful
I know posts like this can ruffle some feathers. That’s not my goal. I’m not here to shame anyone or say there’s only one “right” way to ride. What I am here to do is to encourage people to think a little deeper, look a little harder at their horse’s movement and well-being, and not get swept up in feel-good fads without understanding the long-term consequences.
The horse deserves better than that.
If you’ve been curious about this topic or even struggling with it, I’m happy to have a respectful conversation. Drop a comment or send a message. The door’s always open.
Let’s keep learning, keep improving, and—most importantly—keep putting the horse first.
— Tim Anderson Horse Training
