A lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can even get its boots on.
- Mark Twain

Last month, two related articles by Dr. Cook were published in the ‘Veterinary Times,’ a weekly journal that is distributed to every veterinary surgeon in Britain.  The first article explored the reasons for resistance to new ideas and the second examined options for overcoming that resistance.  Dr. Cook drew his examples from the resistance to the barefoot management program for the horse.  But the principles apply to the resistance to any new idea in veterinary medicine, including the idea of bitless communication.  Both articles were illustrated with six cartoons by Michelle Guillot, a barefoot and bitless horsewoman and artist from Pennsylvania (see the August 2008 Newsletter, “Felicity Wraithbottoms Blog”)..  A working title for the first article was “Shoeing your horse is like footbinding your daughter” and Michelle’s cartoon on this theme is reproduced below.

To read both articles and see all the cartoons, click here.

Six year old gelding SAI with his trainer, Carlos Tabernaberri
Photos by Marty Schiel

The horse is a prey animal and one of the gaits it is least fond of is the halt.  Many an accident occurs because a horse has not been trained to stand still.  The photo shows Carlos Tabernaberri, an Argentinian-born trainer working in Australia, schooling his young horse on a cold and windy morning.  Carlos is the only trainer that I am aware of who will not use a bit on any horse that he himself rides.  If an owner brings him a bitted horse for training he will only ride it after he has removed the bit.  But some of the instruction is taken lying down.

Wonderful news from South Africa of a breakthrough in rule changes for dressage.  Congratulations and thanks to the Bitless Dressage Committee in South Africa.  Their press release is printed below:

Bitless dressage approved by South African National Equine Federation (SANEF)!

At the annual National Dressage Meeting in February, 2008, SANEF approved the introduction of bitless dressage classes (Novice and Pre-Novice initially) at graded dressage shows on a year trial basis starting later this year.

This followed extensive representations to SANEF by a Bitless Dressage Committee over a long period of time. All aspects of bitless riding and dressage competitions were discussed and a proposal was then put up to the National Dressage Committee where it was debated at the February meeting. Final details of the rules governing bitless dressage and classes will be announced in due course as well as the starting date.

South Africa should be proud that our Equestrian Federation has been so forward-looking as to be one of the first countries to give bitless dressage an official forum.

Over the years the art of horsemanship has developed and changed as new approaches to equipment and training have evolved. Recently these changes have become more profound as riders and owners of all sorts have embraced modern concepts of horsemanship less anchored in military roots. One of these new directions has resulted in many riders now riding bitless in all manner of 'bridles' ranging from neckstrings through rope head-collars to 'professional' bitless bridles. Riders riding bitless have ranged from novices and happy hackers through to 'serious' classical riders doing Haute Ecole dressage. This has opened up a whole new curiosity as to how well dressage tests can be done bitless.

Any riders who are inspired to do 'formal' bitless dressage, whether they currently ride bitted dressage or don't ride dressage but ride bitless and may be keen to enter dressage, are requested to express their interest by emailing their name, locality and experience to bitlessdressage@webafrica.org.za so that a register of bitless dressage riders can be compiled. Please also state what bitless bridle you are currently using.

Please pass this information onto anyone who may be interested. Let's make this a success for SANEF!  (The presentation to SANEF on bitless dressage can be seen by clicking here.) 

A child's among ye takin' notes,
And, faith, he'll print it
- Robert Burns

Two years ago ten BitlessBridles were given to senior administrators and instructors in the US Pony Club so that they could try the bridle for themselves and observe it being used by others.  Feedback is still awaited from this effort to introduce to bridle to young riders and thereby generate support for a rule change to permit the BB for PC competitions.  In the meantime, a nine-year-old rider who came to try the bridle because of this initiative is so enamored with what it does for her and her pony that she is preparing a poster for display at the National Convention of the Pony Club in January, 2009.

Bitless Show Jumper in Brazil

An owner/rider is setting an example in Brasilia, Brazil.  Thiago Rhavy (21) competed recently in a National Jumping Show that qualifies riders and horses for the South American Championships.  A DVD we have received captures his clear-round performance against the clock on an eight-year-old Brazilian sport horse, Adelia, jumping 14 demanding obstacles.

Questions are beginning to be asked in high places

At a recent meeting of the Companion Animal Welfare Council in the UK, the council considered the possibility of setting up a group to look into equine bits.  Similarly, the welfare aspect of the bit was discussed at the National Equine Forum, an annual meeting of equine industry representatives held at the Royal Society in London.  The Forum is run in conjunction with the British Equine Federation.  The same topic is currently under discussion by the FEV Animal Welfare Committee in the UK.  It seems possible that these groups may recommend and promote further education about what a bit does to a horse.  The question as to whether bitless bridles should be permitted for racing in the UK was an agenda item for the January meeting of the Veterinary Committee of the British Horseracing Authority.  The topic will be discussed again at a further meeting of this committee in May 2008 (see April News).  "Bitless bridles" was an agenda item at the annual meeting of the FEI Veterinary Committee in February. This same committee also discussed the question of hyperflexion - see the item below.

FEI Condemns HyperFlexion (a.k.a. Rollkur)

Two years after the FEI Workshop on Rollkur (also know as hyperflexion or over bending) the FEI Veterinary Committee issued the following statement at the FEI bureau meeting on April 10th 2008:
 
"There are no known clinical side effects specifically arising from the use of hyperflexion, however there are serious concerns for a horse's well-being if the technique is not practiced correctly. The FEI condemns hyperflexion in any equestrian sport as an example of mental abuse. The FEI states that it does not support the practice."

The above statement was published by Nadja King, editor of the online magazine "Horses For Life," in the April issue. To review the many contributions to her "Add Your Voice" invitation, go to www.horsesforlife.com.  Dr. Cook's comments are added below: 
 
"When it has been shown that use of a bit is the cause of over one hundred clinical side effects it is disingenuous of the FEI Veterinary Committee to hide behind the excuse that a specific survey of the bit's effect in hyperflexion has not been published. It is not uncommon for a randomly selected, bitted horse to exhibit 30 or 40 clinical side-effects. The practice of hyperflexion is a particularly abusive use of the bit. If a specific survey of horses subjected to hyperflexion were ever carried out, I would expect an even greater number of side effects to be documented in individual victims. Collectively, the hundred or more clinical side effects are signs of 40 different diseases. An abusive practice cannot be practiced correctly. After waiting two years, it is deeply disappointing that the committee have failed to provide the leadership required. Their statement is self-contradictory, devious and confusing."

"THE HORSE," American Museum of Natural History, New York.
May 17, 2008 - January 4, 2009  

  The poster for what sounds like a fascinating exhibition (see details at www.amnh.org) features a horse wearing a D-ring snaffle and flash noseband.

Pressure on the mouth is intense, as the reins are taut, the lips are stretched, the mouth is ajar (in spite of the flash noseband) and the horse is over bent (behind the vertical).  Salivation slobber is prominent, the ears are pinned and the expression is that of pain and worry.  The poster illustrates man's unconscious inhumanity to the horse.  The curator of the exhibition assures Dr. Cook that this was not the museum's intention.

Derby Day Disaster

Another "death in the afternoon" (the fatal injury to Eight Belles in the 2008 Kentucky Derby) prompted Dr. Cook to dig out and develop a couple of paragraphs from something he published nine years ago.  Some estimates indicate that two Thoroughbreds die on racetracks every day in the US.  The title of the abstract below is borrowed from Jonathan Swift's 1729 satire in which he proposed, with tongue in cheek, "a plan for preventing the children of the poor people in Ireland from being a burden to their parents or country."

A MODEST PROPOSAL

The Thoroughbred has had a closed stud book for over 200 years.  With less than a hundred foundation animals, 30 or more generations of inbreeding since 1791 have taken their toll.  In any closed population, inbreeding results in an increased frequency of recessive diseases, infertility and loss of stamina.  Thoroughbreds are becoming increasingly inbred (i.e. genetically 'delicate') with each succeeding generation.  Owners may in future conclude that Thoroughbreds are too fragile for everyday purposes.  Like precious porcelain, they break when thrown in the racetrack washing machine.  Those who can afford the replacement costs will continue to use porcelain but others may decide that a sturdier equine crockery is more practical for daily use.

In the 21st century, the racing world may come to recognize the virtue of the hybrid and switch to mule racing.  Hybrid vigor is, after all, the basis for success in most commercial animal and plant breeding ventures.  Mules, as a vehicle for gambling, would be just as suitable as Thoroughbreds and more reliable.  Being sounder in wind and limb, they would not suffer from the inherited weaknesses and diseases that make gambling on Thoroughbreds such a high-risk pastime.  Mules, the pioneer work-horses of the country, would have a wider appeal to the general public.  Because they are less expensive to maintain than a Thoroughbred, they could be allowed time to mature before they were put into training.  Mule athletes would survive many seasons and, as punters would get to know them better than the ephemeral Thoroughbred, they would foster a stronger following.  There would be no incentive to retire a mule prematurely to the breeding shed.  The monitoring of mule racing would be simple as each animal would be earmarked and, being infertile, there could be no cheating.  The sturdier mule would require less cosseting and there would be savings for the owner on veterinary fees and replacement costs.   A successful jack donkey might earn a premium in a long lifetime but the service fees of untested Thoroughbred stallions would be avoided.  The genetic purity of the Thoroughbred breed would be secured for those that feel this is important and Thoroughbreds would still be available for use in various disciplines and for cross-breeding.

A Bitless Thoroughbred Ambassador

After the sad story of Eight Belles it is good to hear of a Thoroughbred that enjoyed his last nine years being ridden bitless and barefoot on the beach.  Blue was a horse that had been successively retired as a racehorse, jumper, hunter and school horse before being adopted at 17 years of age by Gabriella Rodriguez.  She regularly paraded Blue and her other horse, Lexxie, at shopping malls, hotels, nursing homes and other places so that people could reach out and touch these large and loveable animals.  Blue died this month, aged 26.

Gabriella writes, "I began riding, as an adult, when I got Blue 9 years ago.  I managed to overcome my fears of riding bitless, despite traditional views, in an attempt to have a kinder relationship with my horse.  I think the bridle was one of the best things I did for him and it supported my thinking that controlling a horse by inflicting pain and discomfort was strange and unnecessary. I think almost everyone that has seen him in public has commented on the fact that there was no bit. It was hugely educational. With horse people, I think it made them question their own skills as equestrians."

April 2008

Veterinary Committee Considers Evidence for Bitless Racing

In January 2008, the Veterinary Committee of the British Horseracing Authority (UK)reviewed the reports they had received directly from the nine trainers who had used the bitless bridle for training purposes.  They also reviewed the report that Dr. Cook prepared from these same trainers. 

Annie Dodd, of the Equine Science and Welfare Executive of the BHA, told Dr. Cook that the Committee has not, at this stage, recommended any changes to the Rules of Racing.  Committee members wish to further consider the evidence already presented and perhaps obtain additional evidence.  No decisions will be made until the opinions of stakeholders have been obtained, by which it is assumed they mean the opinions of owners, trainers and jockeys. The Committee agreed that there might potentially be a welfare benefit from using the bitless bridle, but that additional research would be helpful.  The proposal is to be considered again when the committee reviews its research priorities in May 2008, at which time they make recommendations regarding the allocation of research funding from the Horserace Betting Board.  No mention has been made with regard to the early suggestion that, depending on the trainers' reports, a racing trial might be planned.

Equine Soundness Association

On April 22nd, Dr.Cook read a paper at the inaugural phone conference of the Equine Soundness Association (USA), an association formed by a group of Strasser Hoofcare Professionals to promote natural horsemanship.  The talk, related to the subtle science of persuasion and how to get new ideas accepted.  It subsequently grew into a two-part article and has been accepted for publication in the Veterinary Times (UK) under the title, "Shoeing your horse is like footbinding your daughter."

            TITLE PAGE                                   cavesson & curb                           cavesson & snaffle

Thank you Daniel - we agree.  Currently, the main plank of the FEI's argument for retaining the status quo is that the present-day double bridle is part of the classical tradition and an indispensable part of dressage.  Reis d'Eisenberg shows that this incorrect.  Dr. Cook sent documentation in support of a rule change to permit the BB to the FEI Veterinary Committee for their meeting in February 2008 but has not yet received their response.  We urge all members of national federations to submit rule change proposals to their national federations in order to get the BB accepted for dressage.