Bit Vs. Rope Halter

Communication Aids

• In terms of communication aids, the bridle plays the most significant role in facilitating the communication between horse and rider. The best bridles not only facilitate the rider-to-horse communication but provide “gentle control” as described at the Horse-sense website. Bridles basically have two categories: a bridle that incorporates a bit and a so-called “bitless” bridle.

Bit

• Traditional bridles use a bit as part of the mechanism for controlling and communicating with the horse. A bit fits into a space between the horse’s teeth on each side of the jawline; a space known as "bars," as described at the Horses-and-horse-information website. Bits work together with reins, which the rider holds in her hands and uses to steer the horse by way of signals using the reins and the attached bit in the horse’s mouth.

  In neck reining, the rider pulls the rein on one side across the horse’s neck to signal the horse to turn in the opposite direction; that is, turn away from the rein. With direct reining, the rider uses the rein to pull the horse's head toward the direction of the requested turn. While not a hard-and-fast rule, often Western style riders use the neck reining method while English-style riders use the direct reining method.

Functioning

• The principle involved in the use of a bit is that the horse learns that responding to the rider’s requests made by way of the bit results in a release of the discomfort that the rider’s pressure on the bit engenders. This contrasts with bitless bridles such as the rope halter, which rely more on the rider’s skill in signaling the horse in other ways such as through voice commands and the shifting the rider’s weight in the saddle.

Bitless

• Riders also use bitless bridles to control the horse and the rider can choose from several different types such as the rope halter. Several aspects of the device influence the performance of a particular rope halter. These factors include the type of rope, the positioning of the knots incorporated into the rope halter and the thinness versus the “severity” of the rope used for the halter as described at the Horse-sense website. Bitless alternatives, including the rope halter, have particular popularity amongst endurance riders as also mentioned at the Horse-sense website. As with a bitted bridle, a rider can use a rope halter bridle both for neck reining and direct reining techniques.

Advantages/Disadvantages

• Advantages and disadvantages of the bit versus the rope halter vary with the particular needs of the horse and rider. Traditionally, horse people have regarded bits as providing greater leverage and control: and this remains true in instances such as an inexperienced rider, for example, who will not have the ridership skill necessary to communicate effectively with the horse when using a bitless bridle. Skilled riders, however, should find more satisfactory riding experience either by using a mild, wider bit that distributes pressure over a larger area or by using a bitless alternative such as a rope halter.