Other Tack

There are many other types of equipment and tack that are used to control horses including the bosal and the hackamore which apply pressure on the sensitive nose areas and curb. There are many good books that deal specifically with tack that are worth reading.

The bridle bit, hackamore or bosal combined with leg pressure and other aids are used to communicate with the horse. It is important to understand that no matter what type of bit is used, it is the hands of the rider that regulates whether the contact is light or heavy, kind or cruel.

A skilled rider may choose a high port bit and a shank with more leverage and a tigher curb strap to have a finer, lighter, quicker level of communication with the horse. Used by a skilled horseman this can be not only humane but easiest on the horse's mouth.

A novice rider using a safer low-port grazing bit with fixed shanks can permanently damage a horse's mouth by pulling and jerking or using the reins to balance.

It cannot be emphasized enough that the hands of the rider can make any bit kind or severe.

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