Bitted work is about how the horse learns to understand contact, and how you learn to use your hands softly and clearly.
A bit is a means of communication, not a means of control. If the horse does not understand what the contact is asking, no amount of pressure will make the answer clearer.
What can we work on?
Depending on the horse and rider, bitted work may include:
- introducing the bit calmly to a young or unsure horse
- developing a soft, honest contact
- lighter and clearer rein aids
- the rider's hand position and timing
- relaxation in the jaw and poll
- work in hand as preparation for ridden contact
Part of the whole picture
Bitted work is not separate from classical dressage or groundwork. The balance and straightness developed elsewhere are what make a soft contact possible in the first place.
If the contact becomes tense, the answer is usually found somewhere other than the rein.
The horse comes first
We are not looking for a horse that tolerates the bit. We are looking for a horse that understands what the contact is saying and can answer without tension.
If an exercise creates confusion, we take a step back and look for a clearer way to communicate.