Episode 354: Dominique is Back! Part 3: Should Bits Be Used?

Dominique is back! Dominique took some time off over the summer. Now she is back and full of enthusiasm for the recent equiosity conversations she’s been listening to.

In Part 1 we talked about the recent podcast with Rick Hester, Amy Shilz, from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and Lucy Butler from the River Haven Animal Sanctuary in Rhode Island. We talked about the enrichment programs at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the four operant freedoms.

In Part 2 we shared the story of Oliver, a pony who is now living at Lucy’s River Haven Animal Sanctuary. Prior to his rescue, he spent seven years locked in a stall with zero turnout. We shared a recent experience Lucy had with her vet. The visit highlighted how resilient animals can be.

We also talked about bits and bridling.

In Part 3 we continue with discussion of bits as Dominique returns us to the question of whether or not to use bits at all. My answer comes straight from the “horse’s mouth”, no pun intended. We look at what horses tell us. In particular we consider the instructions so many first time riders are given - “kick your pony to make him go, pull back on the reins to make him stop”. That advice has led to the large collection of bits that every tack store has on display. Many of those bits look more like medieval torture devices than anything that belongs in a horse’s mouth. The question is not should bits be used, but what should we really be teaching those first time riders and novice horses?