Bitless Driving from the Distant Past

Carriage drivers today are often rather shocked at the suggestion that the BitlessBridle can be used for driving, which it can – with advantage.  Yet historically, bitless driving probably preceded bitted driving.  The picture below shows the famous Standard of Ur, from Iraq, dating to 4000BC.  It shows four onegers (asses) harnessed to the chariot and the two flankers being driven in bitless bridles.  The central pair are yoked and probably controlled with nose rings.

A close-up depiction of a more recent bas-relief from Egypt in the first millennium BC (the tomb of the Pharaoh Seti I) shows a couple of chariot horses in a bitless bridle.  In order that he should have both hands free for his bow, the charioteer keeps the reins around his waist.