Bring up the topic of bits around horse people and you’re sure to enter into a conversation that’ll turn into a heated debate ranging from one end of the spectrum (you need a different bit for every horse in your barn and every situation you ride them in) to the other (only a cruel, barbarian would dare put a bit in his horse’s mouth).
“While there are plenty of horsemen who are fanatical about bits, I’m not one of them. Here’s why: If a horse is well trained, he doesn’t need a particular bit in order for him to ride well. A bit can’t make up for a lack of training, and too many people use bits as crutches,” Clinton says.
In the 2014 fall journal article, “A Bit of a Dilemma,” Clinton covers five common scenarios he’s asked about bits on a regular basis and explains why he recommends the bit for each situation that he does. You’ll meet five hypothetical horses:
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