How often do we hear debates amongst equestrians such as: - Bit VS Bitless - Shod VS Barefoot - Treed VS Treeless Pretty common, huh? . Don’t get me wrong - I’m all for less is more. The sanctuary horses are all barefoot, they are ridden predominantly bitless, in a variety of non-traditional equipment. With that being said… we have to remember that we are working with 1200lb animals that have a mind of their own. What works for one horse will not work for all. . I feel like people get so caught up in the expectations of the equine industry and their own personal take on certain matters that we spend more time criticizing each other rather than focusing on what really matters - the horse. . When we run into certain discussion topics such as the ones mentioned above, there’s two things to ask yourself: 1: What does the science say? 2: What works for MY horse? . Yes - barefoot is definitely more natural. However, a horse with an injury might require shoes for their recovery. Yes - most horses can be taught to ride bitless. However some horses have improved focus with a bit. Every situation is different, and what works for one horse will not work for all. . Pay attention to the science, too. Just because your trainer or coach or some professional on Instagram says something doesn’t make it true. Do your own research and make sure your horsemanship practices are backed up with scientific evidence. . So instead of focusing on industry expectations and personal experiences, let’s prioritize what each individual horse needs and focus on the science. .
#horsetrainer #equinescience #equineprofessional #bitless #bareback #barefoot #naturalhorsemanship #sciencebasedhorsemanship #mustangmom #horsemanship