Allow Bitless Bridles in USEF Rated Competitions

Target:

USEF

Sponsored by:

While bits have been a main piece of equipment for controlling horses for centuries, modern times have brought many new ways to communicate with horses that don't require bits, and national and international equine governing bodies should keep up with the new times.

Many people do not need bits to work with their horses, and they should not be required to use one in competition when they have found a better way for themselves. Collection is supposed to be free and not forced by the bit, so to make a bit necessary in matters of either communication or collection is contradictory to horse education ideals.

We the undersigned believe that bits should not be required for USEF competitions, nor should competitors be penalized for using them in the case of their acceptance, as many do not train with them or need them to communicate with their horse.

Collection is not meant to be forced by the bit - the idea is that the bit is only there for fine communication, and should not be necessary for the horse to be move in correct collection. Requiring bits goes against these fundamentals of horse education, and we believe bitless bridles should be accepted for those who choose to school their horse this way.

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We signed the "Allow Bitless Bridles in USEF Rated Competitions" petition!

# 2,264:

7:09 am PDT, Sep 2, Margaret Regan, New Hampshire

# 2,263:

4:51 am PDT, Sep 2, Heidi Bjerke, Norway
There is NO need for metal in the mouth to communicate with a horse. One should be able to participate in dressage competitions without a bit.

# 2,262:

6:15 pm PDT, Sep 1, Ellen Zwiefel, Minnesota
Pain and force should never be a communication tool for any partnership. Respect, kindness and mutual trust should be the basis of all training.

# 2,261:

10:36 am PDT, Sep 1, Alžběta Rydlová, Tanzania, United Republic Of
For more impact, add a personal comment here Pro větší efekt, přidat osobní komentář zde

# 2,260:

10:08 am PDT, Sep 1, Hanna Sattar, United Kingdom

# 2,259:

5:19 pm PDT, Aug 31, Bill Carpenter, Michigan
I have used bitless bridles in working ranch circumstances and endurances riding in Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado and currently use my horse in 4-H and dressage here in Michigan. I advocate the bitless bridle for use in the show ring and under extreme riding conditions. There is no loss of control on a trained horse and much less problems on a less trained horse. Bill C

# 2,258:

4:24 pm PDT, Aug 31, Christie Goodlet, Australia
What happened to the days where a competition was a chance to show your partnership with your horse rather than your dominance using mechanical methods? Imagine the activities possible and the levels the could be achieved by already trained horses if they were free of the pain of a bit??? In today's age I see no reason to continue with the use of such a barbaric and ancient form of control when more humane methods are available. THE HORSE SHOULD COME FIRST!!!

# 2,257:

11:53 am PDT, Aug 31, Ke'ane Paris, United Kingdom

# 2,256:

10:34 am PDT, Aug 31, Shayne Gray, New Hampshire
The Bitless Bridle could potentially increase safety of the sport by not having a bit. A horse is not able to "evade the bit" with the bitless bridle so you ALWAYS have communication with your horse. This increases safety of horse, rider and other competetors.

# 2,255:

8:39 am PDT, Aug 31, Rochelle Norman-Capo, New York

# 2,254:

8:00 am PDT, Aug 31, Monique Fimbres, California

# 2,253:

7:10 pm PDT, Aug 30, Kelsey Cabral, New Hampshire
I think that it would only be fair to the horses that can't use a bit, and to the riders who own these horses.

# 2,252:

7:06 pm PDT, Aug 30, Michelle Cabral, New Hampshire
The Bitless Bridle supports what Dressage is all about ... develop a horse's natural athletic ability and willingness to perform by responding to minimal aids and perform the requested movement while remaining relaxed and appearing effortless.

# 2,251:

12:49 pm PDT, Aug 30, Heather Evans, New Hampshire
I personally have ridden my jumpers and dressage horses in nothing but halters and leads. It does nothing but improve your ability to communicate with your horse. If you meant to have a meaningful conversation with your children or spouse, would you have to scream at them to make them understand or is your softest voice adequate? That is the same question that those of us who communicate with our horses with less force ask ourselves. There is an old analogy that has often been heard about honey and vinegar. It is true.

# 2,250:

12:23 pm PDT, Aug 29, Tara Crete, New Hampshire

# 2,249:

11:27 am PDT, Aug 29, Sophie Berg, Massachusetts

# 2,248:

5:47 pm PDT, Aug 28, Nina Durney, New Zealand
Just about to go bitless, it makes so much sense. It also clearly indicates from peoples testimonies that most problems with horses are caused by bits. I cant wait to get my bridles.

# 2,247:

3:01 pm PDT, Aug 28, Name not displayed, Sweden
There is absolutely no reason what so ever against the bitless bridle being used in competitions. It is a more humane method better adapted to the health, both physical and mental, of the horse and should therefore be promoted, not prohibited. Thanks.

# 2,246:

11:17 am PDT, Aug 28, Brenda Thamm, New Hampshire

# 2,245:

11:03 am PDT, Aug 28, Name not displayed, Wisconsin

# 2,244:

6:46 am PDT, Aug 28, Lisa Davis, Ireland
I don't understand why this rule even exists.....madness!

# 2,243:

2:45 pm PDT, Aug 27, Wendy Jackson, New Hampshire
I have been using the bitless bridle on my horses for 7 years now. I have nothing but positive things to say. One of my horses was a bucking bronco and one had a serious rearing problem. After a lot of patience and gentle eqipment, my horses are trusting and are happy to be under saddle. I know of a beautiful old horse, Smudge, who was used at a lesson horse at a "respectable" riding facility. Her entire mouth and lips are swollen beyond belief and are hard. Let me tell you, it's a beautiful thing to see this horse out on the trails without a bit in her mouth and watch her enjoying herself. I wouldn't use anything else on my horses. Wendy L Jackson

# 2,241:

1:24 am PDT, Aug 27, Jessie-Lee Waite, Australia
Please please please let us use them in competions! My horse performs heaps better when he's not in pain!

# 2,240:

6:05 pm PDT, Aug 26, Sharon Morris, New Hampshire
Show you really care about horses and allow the bitless bridles advances in riding.

# 2,239:

5:11 pm PDT, Aug 26, Name not displayed, California
I believe bitless bridles should be allowed in competition. If people have found better ways of communicating with their horses, they should be able to take those tools into the ring

# 2,238:

8:12 am PDT, Aug 26, Janet Malone, South Africa

# 2,237:

2:49 am PDT, Aug 26, Lynda Bayley, United Kingdom
Please allow bitless bridles to be used in competition. It is barbaric to continue to allow bits to be mandatory.

# 2,236:

3:09 pm PDT, Aug 25, KATHRYN BRIES, Wisconsin
Let true human to horse communication shine!!! Love the idea!

# 2,235:

2:41 pm PDT, Aug 25, Name not displayed, Russian Federation

# 2,233:

8:32 am PDT, Aug 25, Ruth McMullen, United Kingdom
I have been riding my horse in a bitless bridle for 3 years now and she is clearly much happier without having to suffer pain in her mouth. We am fully confident doing any activity (jumping, cross country, gallops, hacking, schooling) in the bitless bridle and it is quite clear that this is a very important welfare consideration. There is no reason why bitless bridles should not be allowed in competition.

# 2,232:

4:48 am PDT, Aug 25, Sally Apy, Massachusetts
I have experienced great success with bitless bridles!!! Having them in show rings would be a beautiful thing!!! Horses generally improve in relaxation and connection. Greater ease of movement; fabulous tool for riders too!!!

# 2,231:

12:54 am PDT, Aug 25, Sue Woodbury, United Kingdom
if we can make life more comfortable for our horses surely this is a good thing.

# 2,230:

4:53 pm PDT, Aug 24, Robyn Sanders, New Hampshire
I can't believe there actually has to be a petition for this!!?? I think you should get extra credit for the least amount of artificial aid used on your horse! It shows the trusting relationship and the long hours of training that have gone into that relationship.

# 2,229:

8:34 am PDT, Aug 24, Gabriela Rodriguez, Maine
I have been a user & advocate of Dr. Cooks BB for 5 years. I promote it's use in my educational presentations, and I believe it is one of the inventions to prevent the pain that bits give. It requires more time to accustom both horse & rider especially with intricate maneuvers, however time is an esential element to training.

# 2,228:

8:51 pm PDT, Aug 23, Name not displayed, Minnesota

# 2,227:

1:58 pm PDT, Aug 23, Paula Eckler, Vermont
Not all horses need a bit as I stopped using a bit when my horse had teeth problems. He could never except nor need to go back to a bit.

# 2,226:

10:07 am PDT, Aug 23, Name not displayed, Belgium
Julie

# 2,225:

7:11 pm PDT, Aug 22, Marissa Rorabaugh, Wisconsin

# 2,224:

2:22 pm PDT, Aug 22, Niki Berrington, Virginia

# 2,223:

12:50 pm PDT, Aug 22, Gale Greiner, New Hampshire
I have never used a bit on my Arabian. I broke my Arabian four years ago, and use Dr. Cook's Bitless Bridle. I ride my horse 3-5 hours a day on trails and Class V and VI roads. Now I am training my horse Dressage using the Bitless Bridle. He is very responsive, and has never head tossed, or tried to take advantage of me with the Bitless Bridle. I would like to compete and show my horse with the Bitless Bridle.

# 2,222:

11:52 am PDT, Aug 22, Suzan Rutter, New Jersey
If your horse does well without a bit, there is no reason why it should be required to have a bit in order to compete. A horse that competes wonderfully without a bit should be viewed as a well trained horse for competition, not a disqualification. The less contraptions on the horse, the better the partnership.

# 2,221:

2:34 pm PDT, Aug 21, Anna Zbitnoff, California
We will not use metal in any horse's mouth because of the physiological impact on the mouth. Every horse I've worked with that has gone from bitted to bitless is much happier and performs better than with metal in the mouth.

# 2,220:

1:41 pm PDT, Aug 21, E Terray, United Kingdom

# 2,219:

10:48 am PDT, Aug 21, Jessica Schuman, California
I own two bitless bridles that I have used on 5 different horses. I will not use any other type of bridle. I am a trail rider, I do not show, but if I did, I would only want to use this bridle. I would put this bridle on any type of horse, regardless of it's personality. I feel that I have just as must control or more than I would with a bit. I have not used a bit in years. All the skeptics out there, don't knock it 'till you try it.

# 2,218:

10:38 am PDT, Aug 21, Name not displayed, New Jersey
I don't compete but ride for pleasure. I have switched my four horses to the bitless bridle over five years ago. They are gentle giants, never a problem. I don't see why if your horse is under control why you can't use the bitless bridles in competition. It is the most humane why to ride.

# 2,217:

3:18 am PDT, Aug 21, Tammy Oneil, New Hampshire

# 2,216:

12:30 pm PDT, Aug 20, Isabelle MacKenzie, South Carolina
Why use them if they are not needed? Why make it mandatory when not necessary? Be nice.

# 2,215:

9:53 am PDT, Aug 20, Lesley Shellard, United Kingdom

# 2,214:

6:02 am PDT, Aug 20, Patricia Evans, Australia
Please allow bitless bridles into competition. They should just be seen as an alternative piece of tack - then it becomes a personal choice. Those that want to ride in a bitless bridle can, and those that want to compete in a bit can continue to do so too. I really don't understand what the reluctance is to approve their use in dressage competitions

# 2,213:

5:44 am PDT, Aug 20, Katrina Bunyan, Australia

# 2,212:

6:34 pm PDT, Aug 19, Gabi Chittum, Virginia

# 2,211:

8:30 am PDT, Aug 19, Sandra BeLow, Illinois
I have been working on the ground with my 5 year old QH. It is my goal to ride with a bitless bridle especially after reading the study printed in last months Equus that cited the ulcers in 100% of the horses being ridden with a bit. I hope to enter a show in the future as well as my daughter with a bitless bridle and show the others that it is not only possible but better.

# 2,210:

5:41 am PDT, Aug 19, Vadim Pogarskiy, Russian Federation

# 2,209:

9:56 pm PDT, Aug 18, Holley Hood, Texas
I had a riding instructor who one day rode a horse bareback and without using the reins. She was able to make the horse walk, trot, canter and go over a jump in the arena using only her weight and her legs. Her point was to demonstrate to us that these are the important aids, not the bridle and bit. I believe competitors should have the right to choose to use a bitless bridle since it is more humane and a bit is not necessary to make one's horse perform.

# 2,208:

6:20 pm PDT, Aug 18, Name not displayed, Oregon
Bits are much like Horse Shoes, some people like them, others don't. If we don't have to have our horses shod, why should we have to have them in bits?

# 2,207:

5:03 pm PDT, Aug 18, Name not displayed, New Zealand

# 2,206:

11:10 am PDT, Aug 18, Lyn Chambers, Arizona
I ride my horse in a bitless bridle and his performance and control are much better than they ever were in a bit. I do not understand why they are not allowed in competition.

# 2,205:

9:38 am PDT, Aug 18, Joanne Bianco, Massachusetts
Bitless bridles are the humane way to go!

# 2,204:

7:03 am PDT, Aug 18, Name not displayed, Latvia

# 2,203:

5:59 am PDT, Aug 18, Susan Wester, Wisconsin
Horsemanship is an art. Please respect riders' skills in riding without a bit. Scientific studies are now showing that bitted horses have more than double the incidence of oral ulcers than horses that are not ridden or not used with bits.

# 2,202:

5:50 am PDT, Aug 18, Name not displayed, Latvia
I ride my horse bitless. If I ever decided to ride in a competition, why should I be eliminated, if my horse is under control?

# 2,201:

11:35 pm PDT, Aug 17, Liga Tisina, Latvia

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