BITLESS, TREELESS AND BAREFOOT. When Celtic cavalry served as mercenaries to the ancient Egyptians saddles were limited to stirrup-less cloths, and all horses were ridden barefoot. In contrast bridles and bits, familiar enough in design to be fitted by the modern rider, had been in use since 3500 B.C.E. Antler ‘Cheekpieces’ Who, how and when the idea of putting something in the horses mouth to restrict movement came about is unknown, and destined in all likelihood to stay that way, since the materials available to this early inventor have all turned to dust over the ages. The first ‘soft’ bits were very simple; two cheek pieces of bone or wood, joined by a rawhide or sinew mouth piece. Later the substitution of solid materials in the mouth part created the bit as we know it. Celtic, and other, cavalries continued to provoke compliments on their effectiveness in battle by the ancient authors of the 5 th , 4th and 3rd millenniums B.C.E., such as Xenophon – writer of the oldest surviving treatise on horsemanship. By his time the bit had been developed into a complex hard bronze mouthpiece, jointed in the center, and with stylish curved cheek-pieces, discs and spines. Xenophon says that two types of bit were used – the smooth and the rough. The design of the ‘mouth’ part was known as ‘sea urchin’, having hollow mouth-pieces covered with the spines suggested by the name. The differences between one and another were the length and relative sharpness of the spines and the diameter and thickness of the discs.
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BITLESS, TREELESS AND BAREFOOT.
When Celtic cavalry served as mercenaries to the ancient Egyptians saddles were limited to
stirrup-less cloths, and all horses were ridden barefoot. In contrast bridles and bits, familiar enough
in design to be fitted by the modern rider, had been in use since 3500 B.C.E.
Antler ‘Cheekpieces’
Who, how and when the idea of putting something in the horses mouth to restrict movement came
about is unknown, and destined in all likelihood to stay that way, since the materials available to
this early inventor have all turned to dust over the ages. The first ‘soft’ bits were very simple; two
cheek pieces of bone or wood, joined by a rawhide or sinew mouth piece. Later the substitution of
solid materials in the mouth part created the bit as we know it.
Celtic, and other, cavalries continued to provoke compliments on their effectiveness in battle by
the ancient authors of the 5th
, 4th and 3rd millenniums B.C.E., such as Xenophon – writer of the
oldest surviving treatise on horsemanship. By his time the bit had been developed into a complex
hard bronze mouthpiece, jointed in the center, and with stylish curved cheek-pieces, discs and
spines.
Xenophon says that two types of bit were used – the smooth and the rough. The design of the
‘mouth’ part was known as ‘sea urchin’, having hollow mouth-pieces covered with the spines
suggested by the name. The differences between one and another were the length and relative
sharpness of the spines and the diameter and thickness of the discs.
The discs would have stopped the horse from closing its mouth, perhaps in order to prevent it
‘getting the bit between its teeth’. The spines would have increased the stopping power by
increasing the discomfort caused to both the bars and corners of the mouth. Lastly the ‘nutcracker’
action produced by the joint in the mouthpiece would further increase the effect on the corners of
the mouth.
The first bit was to be used during breaking, and had longer or sharper spines and larger finer discs
and must have caused either extreme sensitisation in the hands of a careful trainer – or a bloodied
and calloused mouth in the hands of anyone less careful. Clearly these bits exerted control by
virtue of pain and/or fear, which helps to explain why, if you look at ridden horses in art works
from the time, they all seem to have open mouths, and a posture that is instantly recognisable as
the result of a constant battle to evade the bit.
Part of Frieze from the Parthenon.
The horse of these times was of supreme importance in war, and the following passage from
Xenophon, describing the strategy of Celtic cavalry fighting on the side of the Spartans, gives a
crystal clear idea of the way in which their use could determine the outcome of a battle:
"Few though they were, they were scattered here and there. They charged towards the Thebans,
threw their javelins, and then dashed away as the enemy moved towards them, often turning
around and throwing more javelins. Thus they manipulated the whole Theban army, compelling it
to advance or fall back at their will".
It requires little imagination to see how necessary complete control of one’s mount would be to the
success of this strategy, particularly without stirrups. So perhaps we can understand the harshness
of bits whose primary design function was to allow the rider to carry out the frequent changes in
speed, direction and pirouettes.
It is also military convenience that explains the later developments of saddle, stirrup and spur. A
soft pad would be quite good enough for general riding, but what the mounted cavalryman wanted
was a firm platform for the use of weapons; spear, sword and bow. In this scenario the interests
and comfort of the horse were entirely subjugated to the utility of the outcome.
By this time the design of bits was already as complex as it could reasonably become, but the
saddle was to remain a ‘work-in-progress’ up to, and including, the present day. One of the earliest
sources on the use of saddle pads is those that served as a part of chariot harness in 1500 BCE
Egypt.
A “T” shape yoke of wood was used to harness a pair of horses. The ends of the yoke rested on the
pad, over which was tied a girth. The chariots were not very reliable and mention is made of their
occupants jumping out before they came apart and then escaping on the back of one of the horses.
Without a girth a saddle is useless, but with a girth to secure it the saddle developed.
Reconstruction of a Roman Saddle.
From the soft pad was developed the leather pad, to which additions could be made with rolls of
stitched cloth and, later, by use of rigidly stuffed leather panels. The use of leather opened up the
potential yet further, the ability to set wet leather over a frame to dry and to tighten, for a smooth
cover, far stronger and more hard wearing than cloth, to be fitted over a padded wooden former –
the origin of the saddle ‘tree’. Even so, a rider mounted in a frame saddle has no way to brace
himself against the force of his own or any others blow, nor any way in which to balance – until he
has stirrups!
According to Historian Lynn White: Medieval Technology and Social Change – “The history of
the use of the horse in battle is divided into three periods: first, that of the charioteer; second, that
of the mounted warrior who clings to his steed by pressure of the knees; and third, that of the rider
equipped with stirrups.”
The stirrup was a Chinese invention somewhere around the time of the first century. The
advantage it offered the cavalryman was such that its use spread throughout the steppes of central
Asia. Finally it was Mongol tribesmen that brought the stirrup to Europe. The earliest written
record dates from 580 A.D., when a military manual of the Byzantine emperor mentions the need
for stirrups. So important was this new piece of equipment to prove that it is sometimes claimed
that it was the introduction of the stirrup that laid the foundation for European feudalism.
Medieval saddle with Stirrups – sketch 1.
This then is the history from which the modern bit and saddle has evolved. But it is not just
history, dead and gone. Although materials may have changed the basic design of bits remains that
they operate on the basis of discomfort or pain.
Take a look through any present day catalogue of bits and you’ll find, alongside the relatively mild
nut-cracker action of the jointed hollow mouth snaffle, plenty of reminders of that original ancient
world concept. Wire mouth bits, twisted mouth bits, bits with high ports, stallion bits, and long
branched lever action bits fitted with curb-chains with which to supply that extra mechanical
advantage to produce that extra bit of force; still causing pain and discomfort, just as all those
years ago.
And, just as there were problems all those years ago there are problems associated with bits today.
Remember the earlier reference to “open mouths, and a posture that is instantly recognisable as the
result of a constant battle to evade the bit.”? Let’s just follow that up and see where it leads us.
Really to do this we have to start with equine locomotion. Movement of the neck and head are very
much an integral part of any movement. Take the gallop as an example. During the diagonal phase
the head and neck swing down, helping the hindquarters free of the ground and generally aiding
forward movement. Any bit that restricts or changes the normal action of the head and neck will
obviously interfere with the gallop, but the ‘star-gazer’ posture of a horse evading the bit leads to
problems at slower gaits also.
Ligaments & Vertebra of the Neck - sketch 2. Key to Sketch 2
NL. Nuchal Ligament – concurrent with - SL. Supraspinous Ligament. CV. Cervical Vertebra. TV. Thoracic Vertebra.
Strong ligaments run from the poll to the tail. Lowering the head and neck pulls this ligament
tighter so that it supports the back, keeps the vertebrae beneath more rigidly in line, and allows
good transference of impulsion from the quarters through to the forehand. Conversely pulling the
head up causes the ligament to slacken and the spine, most particularly the part between the end of
the thoracic vertebrae and the sacroiliac joint, to become dipped and less well supported. Add rider
weight to the equation and we have all the makings of a horse with anything from mild to
potentially chronic back ache.
Bone pathology investigations carried out on the remains of early Iron Age, Scytho-Siberian
horses from burials in the Ukraine and the Altai, dated around the Ist millennium B.C.E. reveal
abnormalities of the caudal thoracic vertebrae, believed by some historians to result from the use
of pad saddles and, in all likelihood, with riding bareback also. But consideration of the exercise
posture that results from use of severe bits suggests that this may well have been the primary cause
of such wear on the vertebra, rather than saddle impact and rider weight alone.
Here and there references are found in historical anecdote and myth to the riding of horses without
either bit or saddle. Warrior groups such as the Celtic Irish chieftain Finn Mac Cumhail’s Fianna
were said to disdain the use of bit or saddle, riding by their skill and the forbearance of their horses
alone. The same idea has also surfaced many times in works of fiction, where for horses such as
Shadowfax from Tolkien’s epic Lord of the Ring there is neither bridle, bit or saddle; “If he will
consent to bear you, bear you he does; and if not, well, no bit, bridle, whip, or thong will tame
him.”
So, is the idea of riding by co-operation rather than force and discomfort, using both bridle and
saddle designed with the comfort of the horse foremost a matter for romance – or a realistic and
humane alternative for the average rider?
Nine year old Anglo-Arabian stallion Otaua Risqué in bitless side-pull and ‘Barefoot’ brand treeless saddle.
(photo 1)
The first thing that strikes one when riding with a bitless bridle is the feeling that you have no
brakes, and it takes some time to get over! The natural fear is that if the horse wants to do
something badly enough he will neither listen to, nor respect what the riders hands are
communicating. With this in mind we decided to devise a small test for this article. Could the
stallion pictured above be given a daily walk of inspection past paddocks containing both mares
and fillies – some of which would be in season – and remain controllable. The test seems a
reasonably difficult challenge when one considers for a moment the severe colt and stallion bits
traditionally used, and supposedly essential to the proper control of entires.
Risqué at the gate of a mares paddock during his daily tour of inspection.
The stallion came through the test with flying colours – co-operating with spoken requests on
every occasion. At no point was there any loss of control or refusal to continue past females, even
when they displayed the squealing, winking and spraying that both announces and broadcasts a
receptive mate.
As the fears diminish it soon becomes obvious that riding this way really is all about
communication, and that control can be a matter of partnership. The next thing that becomes
obvious is that the movements of head and neck show greater flexibility and relaxation in
achieving that all important novice outline at the beginning of an exercise period.
The back is held level, transfer of power from the quarters is smoother and there is a feeling of
effortless lightness and elevation to the paces. In the old classical riding schools riders were made
to ride without reins in their early training, the intention being to establish the foundations of the
good balanced seat that is so easily spoilt by reliance on the reins and bit to hold position. The
bitless bridle also prevents such reliance – to the benefit of both horse and rider.
Novice outline during freework with synthetic saddle.
Novice outline under saddle.
The increasing array of bitless bridles now available testifies to just how many people are
interested in bitless riding. But are they all the same? The answer, in a word, is no. So let’s look at
a few, starting with the hackamore.
Hackamore.
The operation of the Hackamore relies on leverage. Force applied by the reins to the bottom rings
draws them backwards bringing the attached hard noseband into harder contact with the nerve rich
area of the nose and driving the curb chain into the chin groove. The longer the branches, the
greater is the moment of leverage – so that far from being a gentle device the Hackamore can be
used to dramatic and forceful effect, in extreme cases such that a separation of vertebra at the top
of the neck can result as the horse’s head is levered back towards the neck. The material of the
noseband is, of course, an important factor. Anything from rubber covered motorcycle chain to the
saw-toothed serreta of the traditional Andalusian Vaquero can be used, with effects varying from
painful points of pressure to shallow, but bloody, lacerations. In truth whether bit or leverage are
used to produce physical control of the head both operate on the basis of pain.
The Bosal
The Bosal is a much gentler form of Hackamore. A simple rawhide loop is attached to shortened
cheek pieces. The ends of a soft rein are then attached to the back of the loop. The fit of the loop is
all important; if too large it will tend to slip up the face, too small and it is likely to create sores.
Essentially rein contact on the bosal is for stopping or downward transitions only, since the rein
attaches at the same central point directional aids are given by neck-reining. Of course neck-
reining can be taught whatever the type of bridle in use, and is arguably the gentlest and most
relaxing method.
An alternative to bridles of any sort, and which also operates on the neck-reining principle is the
liberty ring or neck lariat. This is simplicity itself, a ring of stiffened rope, rawhide – or even
wood, that is brought over the horse’s head and held a little way down the neck. The ring is then
turned in the hand so that it comes into contact with either side of the neck to indicate a turn. The
limitation is that it cannot be pulled backwards with anything other than very low force otherwise
it would bear directly onto the windpipe – so stopping or downward transitions are signalled by
alterations in the seat and legs.
Next come the side-pulls. First let’s look at the leather side-pull pictured below.
Side-Pull Bridle
The bridle is quite a simple affair, completely lacking in mechanical advantage. Pretty much any
saddler can make one up to you and your horse’s specifications at a reasonable price. If discomfort
can result it will be from points of pressure created by the nose-band – which can also be suitably
padded with a roll of sheepskin or similar material to further reduce ‘mechanical’ impact. In fact
there is no real need for brow-band or throat-lash either – as in photo above.
Risqué wearing rope-halter
Next on the list are the rope-halters and rope-halter side-pulls. There has been a lot of talk about
pressure points, including claims that the knots in rope halters operate on the “pressure points”, but
there seem to be few exact details offered on how this would actually work, or what the effect
would be. According to acupressure charts of the horse’s head the only points that could be
stimulated by the knots are those that have to do with stomach functions. Why would that be good
during ridden exercise? And, even if it was good could the rider reliably target the same point, with
the same knot, over and over again? Extremely dubious.