Is it a Training or a Bitting issue?

This is a really tricky question, when is it a Training problem, when is it Bitting problem, or is it both? To be honest, there is no hard and fast answer and as Bit Fitter I have seen both sides to the equation.

My role is to ensure the horse is comfortable in the mouth, crucial for effective rider communication. Without a comfortable mouth, a progressive rider and horse relationship cannot be achieved.

Previously in other blogs I touched on the importance of the horse responding to cues rather than resisting them. We get them to this responsive stage from figuring out the correct pressure points that the horse accepts. Different Bits have different pressure points, this is what we experiment with in a Bit Fitting. When a horse has a Bit put in with the wrong pressure points that they don't feel comfortable in, the resistance can be very obvious but also very subtle- bracing, head tilting, leaning, tucking behind, overreacting, tossing, the list could go on.

When it comes to training, it is crucial that the horse understands what the Bit means. One action from the rider should only have one answer from the horse, for example the rider wants the horse to come rounder, so they do little squeezes on the Bit and the horse gives what they percieve the correct answer by coming rounder. Then rider then wants to slow down, so again they do little squeezes on the rein however the horse just comes rounder in its frame. The rider MUST only have ONE answer per aid, it is when the horse is confused with these questions that they can show resistance. Dr Andrew McLean talks a lot about this Equitation Science, making sure the horse understands what it being asked of it with science in mind.

Another example is if the horse becomes dull to the Bit due to constant pressure. If the horse is constantly pulling/being strong for a reason (whether it be lack of breaks, half halt, turning aid, being downhill etc) then putting a stronger Bit in is not going to miraculously fix the problem as the horse does not understand what is being asked in the first place.

This is particularly tricky with young horses who are still being educated about what the Bit means, this is something I am to write about in my next blog.

So after some back and forward; a horse needs to have a Bit that they are comfortable in to progress, however the Bit is not going to fix your training issue if the horse does not know what is wanted from the rider when the Bit is used.