HMHRealityCheck said:
1 am totally with all of you. This is only a few bits that hurt a horse by being in their mouth. The rest of the bits being "hurtful" is all rider. I have a neighbor that rides in bits that I would never even imagine in my horses mouth but all of her horses are wonderful and soft and love to be ridden (She rides western pleasure and uses curbs and has no contact except for corrections which last about 5 seconds and it's her adding contact for a bit so horse will drop their heads) I ride my horse in a neck rope, loose ring, loose ring French link and a bit less bridle, he hates hackamores. I ride in bits for flatwork and dressage and neckrope on play days and in the winter. My horse is so relaxed in a neck rope it makes me so happy. Sorry, side tracked. A rider with heavy hands or a temper who is quick to yank can make even a rubber D hurt a horse. A rider who gives and takes along with riding soft handed could ride in almost anything and have it comfortable for the horse. My small pony cannot do anything but a bit, he goes in a teenie driving but or egg butt. Occasionally when he's being a real A hole he gets a twisted wire because his favorite pass time is dragging people across the yard. Side tracked again, lol. The whole bit thing makes me so angry because people who don't know anything about horses at all are putting in their 2 cents and they have no idea. I'm so pissed.

100% agree with you. Some bits are made to hurt but others aren't. Basically any bit you put in a horses mouth is soft until you make it abusive. People have no idea what they are talking about. Theres even some extreme people who use bitless because they hate bits so much but their horse isn't comfortable in it. Its sad to see the lengths people go to just to support their side of their pathetic argument.