Today we are going to explore the concepts of what it means to have your horse “on the bit”. On the bit is a term used to describe a horse that is in a position where he is mentally focused and physically balanced so that he is able to carry out the requests of the rider with ease. This term gets it’s name from the position of the horse’s head which is literally on top of the bit (see photo). However being on the bit is so much more than just the position of the head. It must take into account the entire horse.
Proper balance of a horse always starts from the hind end. All of a horse’s power comes from the hind end and that is where the movement begins so that is the first thing we must look at when determining if a horse is on the bit. The horse should be actively moving his hind legs and reaching forward, stepping well underneath his body with his hind legs. It should not look as if his legs are trailing out behind him, but rather that he is being propelled forward from his hind legs.
This engagement of the hind legs allows the horse to shift his weight onto his hind end. Horses naturally carry about 60% of their weight on the front end. This is not a problem for an animal that spends all it’s time grazing. But ask a horse to carry a rider and it’s a completely different story. A horse that is ridden with too much of it’s weight carried on the forehand is going to put an extraordinary amount of strain on the joints of it’s legs, neck, and back which will often lead to long term physical problems. Therefore horses that are ridden must be taught to carry their weight from the hind end. The difference is similar to a person walking around in a slouched position versus a person walking with correct posture. When the horse shifts his weight backwards, it lowers his hindquarters and causes him to lift his forehand. This gives him an “uphill” appearance with his haunches lower than his forehand.
Continuing forward from the haunches, we should notice that the horse is lifting through his abdominal muscles and lifting through his back. You’ll notice that his rib cage is lifted. His back should be relaxed and swinging. This can be seen by a gentle swinging of the horse’s tail. A stiff tail means a stiff back.
Next you’ll notice that the horse’s neck is rounded and lifted. The neck follows a natural curve with the poll at the highest point of the spine. This engagement of the neck is what brings the head down into the vertical position.
The weight of the rider should ideally be supported by the muscles of the back through correct positioning of the supraspinous ligament of the back and the nuchal ligament of the neck. This can only happen when the horse lifts his back by bringing his neck down and stretching these ligaments. When the ligaments are tight it distributes the weight of the rider across the muscles on either side of the horse’s back which then takes pressure off the spine. When the ligaments are loose, caused by a horse whose head is too high, the weight of the rider falls directly on the spine. Over time this causes the horse’s back to hollow and eventually drop because it is unable to carry the weight. This leads to discomfort, muscle soreness, and joint damage. However, over stretched ligaments will also cause the weight of the rider to fall directly and the spine, leading to the same problems. Over stretching is caused when a horse is forced to bring his head down without properly engaging the hind end. This is done through the use of draw reins, tie downs, etc and can also be caused by heavy handed riding.
The horse should be soft in his jaw, not bracing against or leaning on the bit. Tension in the jaw will transfer throughout the horse’s entire body. A soft, relaxed jaw allows the horse to respond to subtle, light cues from the reins. Tension in the horse starts in the jaw and travels through the horses neck and back. Jaw tension has a variety of different causes including improperly fitted bits, incorrect use of the bit, or use of mechanical devices. A horse that is nervous, frustrated, or in pain will also carry tension in his jaw.
This position can not be forced through pulling the horse’s head in. The horse must always be ridden from back to front. Pulling the horse’s head down without the proper engagement of the hind end and back will cause tension in the jaw, resistance, and a hollow, tight back. This is a common problem that accures when riders attempt to get a quick fix by using gadgets such as draw reins and martingales to fix a horse’s head into position. These gadgets create a forced, fixed position rather than the supple, relaxed position of a horse that is correctly on the bit.
“On the bit” is not just a physical position. It is also a mental state. A horse that is on the bit is focused and relaxed. The horse should be ready, willing and able to respond to any cues that the rider gives. A horse that is nervous, distracted, or lacking in motivation will not be able to respond properly to the rider. A horse that is correctly on the bit will feel attentive and connected to the rider.
A horse that is ridden on the bit will be physically healthier, will have less injuries, and will be able to continue working longer. This means less vet bills and a longer time to enjoy riding your horse. He will also be mentally healthier and more relaxed and focused. This means you will be able to connect with him on a much deeper level and develop a lifelong partnership.
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