THE HORSE ’ S BIT : A Bronze Age anachronism and cause of many an idiopathic problem

submitted to the AAEP Program Committee for the 2002 Orlando Convention 3/15/07 2 The absence of a basic science analysis of the bit’s influence constitutes a gap in the literature on exercise physiology. In 1997, I rode a 5 year-old Thoroughbred (ex-racehorse) and experienced for the first time the instant improvement in behavior and performance that occurred when its snaffle bridle was replaced with a newly developed bitless bridle. This experience led me to ask myself what it is that the bit method of control really does to a horse, in terms of pathophysiology. The question initiated a broad new line of investigation. Six articles have already been published, yet much of the work has still to be reported. Some articles have been submitted for publication but are not yet in press. As the publications are scattered in location, the first purpose of this paper is to provide an update of the work for the convenience of practitioners and to document that the bit has a wide-ranging influence on behavior and exercise physiology, harming five of the major bodily systems. The second purpose is to introduce a non-invasive, painless, physiologically effective, and safer alternative to the bit method of control. MATERIALS AND METHODS A physiological critique of the bit method of control was initiated by observing what changes occurred at exercise when the bit was removed and replaced by the new bitless bridle. Over a period of six years, personal observations have been supplemented by witnessing others carry out the same test. In addition, 440 unsolicited written reports have been reviewed from riders who, in the period 1997-2002, have switched their horses from bitted to bitless control, using the new bridle, and have documented the changes in behavior and performance that have resulted. These reports refer to 535 horses used in almost every discipline from the training of racehorses to dressage. Numerically, the collection is considered to be reasonably representative of the domestic horse population in the USA. Horses placed in a category of ‘general equitation’ accounted for 249 (47%), ‘trail riding and endurance’ accounted for 147 (27%) and, collectively, the remaining disciplines accounted for 139 (26%). The actual bits removed have covered the spectrum of designs from snaffle to leverage bits, and from single bridles to double bridles. The reports are available online, where they are classified according to discipline and also under categories such as unsoundness of wind, and head shaking. a The Bitless Bridle TM . The Bitless Bridle Inc. 2020, South Queen Street, York, PA 17403-4829 b Cook WR “The effect of the bit on the behavior of the horse. ” Unpublished data. March 2002. Cook WR. “On ‘mouth irons’, ‘hoof cramps’ and the dawn of the metal free horse. ” Unpublished data. March 2002, Both articles are available online at www.bitlessbridle. com c At www.bitlessbridle. com Abstract submitted to the AAEP Program Committee for the 2002 Orlando Conventionsubmitted to the AAEP Program Committee for the 2002 Orlando Convention 3/15/07 3 The critique was based on previous studies of the applied anatomy of the equine upper airway. The effect on nasopharyngeal patency of tongue and jaw movement triggered by the bit was observed endoscopically in the resting horse and during treadmill exercise. A survey of the mandibular diastema in 65 Equus caballus skulls in Natural History Museums was completed, studying the prevalence of bone damage caused by the bit. This was followed by a palpation survey of the bars of the mouth in a sample of 45 riding school and event horses. Finally, various bits and bit combinations were weighed.