does the bit of the bridle hurt the horse?

Question

I assume they don't, just wondering coz i rode a horse today...

it was fun and i rode for an hour. I only pulled on it when i needed to, but it was a trail ride, so most of the time it followed the horse in front. I just got worried coz the horse didnt like it when i pulled. but it might have just not wanted to stop....

so many good answers.....i dont know which is the best haha

Answer 1

Bits are very safe in the right hands

However, in the wrong hands, they can rip lips, bruise gums, deaden a horses mouth to sensitive cues. People with heavy hands tend to have horses that are hard mouthed and stiff faced.

Hackamores are ok as long as your not training. Its hard to fine tune a horse with them.

As long as your hands are soft and not banging the mouth the horse is fine.

Answer 2

The bit of the headstall does not hurt the horse. You would have to pull back and use a sawing motion very aggressively in order to hurt your horse. The trail horse shook his head because he is use to getting his own way with people not use to riding. You can actually pull back very firmly and let the horse know you mean it and not hurt him. I hope you loved your ride!

Answer 3

They can aggravate the mouth if the bridle is not sized right or you tend to pull on it a lot. A friend of mine used a bit a lot and pulled on it too much and actually cause the horses mouth to bleed. They're not meant to be on if you're going on long rides. When the hoarse stops to eat they can actually choke cause the bit's in the way. They do have bits that have a U shape in the middle to help.

Answer 4

The mouthpiece of the bit does not rest on the teeth of the horse, but rather rests on the gums or "bars" of the horse's mouth in an interdental space behind the front incisors and in front of the back molars. When a horse is said to "grab the bit in its teeth" they actually mean that the horse tenses its lips and mouth against the bit to ignore the rider's commands (although some horses may actually learn to get the bit between their molars).

Bits are designed to work by pressure, not pain. Depending on the style of bit, pressure can be brought to bear on the bars, tongue, and roof of the mouth, as well as the lips, chin groove and poll. Bits offer varying degrees of control and communication between rider and horse depending upon their design and on the skill of the rider. It is important that the style of bit is appropriate to the horse's needs and is fitted properly for it to function properly and be as comfortable as possible for the horse.

Answer 5

If it is misused, or an improper bit it used, yes it can hurt.

Hackamores are great things but most horses can not go on them

I hope you had fun riding the horse.

Answer 6

nope! trail horses are so used to having inexperienced riders so they get used to doing their own thing. they just like to plod behind the horse in front of them without being asked to do anything different. i'm guessing he threw his head around or pulled back whenever you pulled on the reins. that was just his way of saying "no i dont wanna." i hope you had fun!

Answer 7

I think the only way it hurts the horse is if you pull back hard or constantly, My sister has horses and she only has used them when first training a horse, so I think that if mis-used, yes they can hurt!

Answer 8

Congratulations on riding a horse!! And yes it hurts. Anything else than a beautiful free horse caressing a flowing filed, unrestrained, unbroken, simply free is painful on some level or another. Isn't it?

Answer 9

No - not unless the rider is cruel in their use of the reins!

Some horses are ridden in a hackamore - bitless bridle - but not many!