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[RC] Forced to use a bit? - kathy swigart

Terry Bannister said about Dr. Cook's piece on the bitless bridle:


The demonstration just proved that a bit is not "needed" to perform
?those disciplines, and should not be "forced" on those who want to
?compete without a bit.


Well....one of the purposes of a dressage test is to determine whether the 
rider has successfully trained the horse to accept the bit.? A bit difficult to 
determine this if there is no bit to accept.

One of the things that is being tested is the ability of the rider to get the 
horse to work happily and comfortably in a bit and to use a bit as a means of 
communication with a horse.

To me this is comparable to giving somebody a French test to see if they can 
communicate in French, but then allowing them to use English to communicate to 
see if they can communicate effectively in any language.? You give French tests 
in French to see if people can communicate in French, not to see if they can 
communicate at all.

As long as "acceptance of the bit" is part of the directives for a dressage 
test, not using a bit is nonsensical.

kat
Orange County, Calif.
:)

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