Quite near my home is a horse breeder who also runs a riding school.
Recently I was talking to her and she explained how she long ago dispensed with bits to control the horses, thinking them cruel and unnecessary.
She explained how many cultures have never used a bit and yet generations schooled, trained and bred horses very successfully.
She also explained that the habit of mounting a horse from the left only came about because, in the past, the sword got in the way!
Now it's done without ever thinking it through and this can actually damage a horse's musculature when they are ridden regularly.
All this was new to me, I have ridden only 3 times in my life, although have always observed how horses don't like that bar of metal across their tongues and how it can tear the corners of the mouth.
So, could you tell me why these practices continue, especially with people who clearly love horses?
Is it true that they just blindly accept what's been done in the past - and don't bother looking for humane alternatives?
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