Bitless bridles 'won't solve dressage welfare issues'

Last month the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) called for the United States to allow the use of crossunder bitless bridles in dressage, a move which was adopted by the Dutch federation in 2008. The ISES is led by Australian horseman Dr Andrew McLean.

In its proposal to the US Equestrian Federation for a rule change, the ISES noted that "the horse's mouth is highly sensitive and vulnerable to the development of behavioral conflicts arising from incorrect bit use.

"In some horses, such conflicts can escalate to active coping mechanisms, such as hyper-reactive behaviours. In others, we see habituation to bit pressure to the extent that they become unresponsive and capable of bolting. Allowing bitless bridles will widen and sustain the spectrum of horses fit to work, and will have a positive effect on public perceptions of good welfare allowing the sport to move in a more enlightened direction. These are important considerations at a time when there are public concerns about various training regimes in dressage."

While supporting the proposal, Jan Ladewig, an honorary fellow of ISES and a researcher at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Copenhagen, says the move to riding without a bit will not solve all the welfare problems in dressage horses.

"Do we know what happens when riders attempt hyperflexion (which some undoubtedly will do) with a bitless bridle? After all, the nose of a horse may not be as sensitive and vulnerable as the mouth, but it is not completely insensitive. In other words, putting too much emphasis on the bit, and too little on a corresponding problem, i.e. the "rein pulling", may not relieve the discomfort for the horse that much. Knowing how people (including riders) look for easy solutions, riding bitless may just become an excuse without improving the welfare of the horses that much," he said.

Ladewig also said that safety of the rider was a concern. "Because of incorrect training (ie lack of pressure release), many riders control their horses by using bits that cause pain rather than just pressure.

"Using a bitless bridle on a horse that has not learned to respond correctly to the signal (pressure on the nose) may make the horse even less controllable. In other words, without much more emphasis on correct training, advocating the use of bitless bridles could reduce rider safety," he said.