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On this page we gather research and articles on bitless bridles from around the world.
On this page we gather research and articles on bitless bridles from around the world.
Links will be provided where possible. Submit the link to your published research Here.
Bitless Studies & Research:
Bitless Studies & Research:
Luke, K. McAdie, T. Warren-Smith, A.K. Smith, B.P. (2023). Bit use and its relevance for rider safety, rider satisfaction and horse welfare in equestrian sport, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 259
Matusiewicz, J.A. (2021). Lifting the Veil on Bridles: an investigation into the bridle choices of Australian equestrians and the scientific basis for these choices, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, Charles Sturt University.
Bitless Inc (2021). The Big Bitless Boniform 2021 Results Summary, published online at https://www.bitlessinc.org.au/resources
Mellor, D.J. (2020). Mouth Pain in Horses: Physiological Foundations, Behavioural Indices, Welfare Implications and a Suggested Solution. Animals 10(4), 572;
Mellor, D. (2020). Bit Blindness. VetScript 33(9), 32-34; VetScript is the Monthly Magazine of the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
Cook, R. Kibler, M. (2018), Behavioural assessment of pain in 66 horses, with and without a bit, Equine Veterinary EducationVolume 31, Issue 10 p. 551-560
Carey, D. Hayes Moriarty, S. Brennan, R (2016). A study of the effect of bitted and bitless bridles on the therapeutic riding horse, Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research,15, C90.
HOCKENHULL, J. CREIGHTON, E. (2012).The use of equipment and training practices and the prevalence of owner-reported ridden behaviour problems in UK leisure horses, Equine Veterinary JournalVolume 45, Issue 1 p. 15-19
Cook, R. Mills, D.S. (2009). Preliminary study of jointed snaffle vs. crossunder bitless bridles: Quantified comparison of behaviour in four horses, Equine Veterinary Journal 41(8):827-30
Quick, J.S. and Warren-Smith, A.K. (2009) Preliminary investigations of horses (Equus caballus) responses to different bridles during foundational training. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Volume 4, Issue 4, July–August 2009, Pages 169-176
Barbato, E (2007). Behavioural modifications in the sport horse following use of a crossunder bitless bridle. Abstract of a publication in Italy. Available on request at info@bitlessbridle.com
Hentcy, K. (2001). Removal of the bit may improve control, safety and performance. Online at International Equine Science, July 2001
Bonner, J. (1998) Changing Tack; horses may prefer bridles with a bit missing. New Scientist. 4 July 1998, p16.
Bitless Articles & Presentations:
Bitless Articles & Presentations:
1. Cook, R. (2002) THE HORSE’S BIT: A Bronze Age anachronism and cause of many an idiopathic problem, Program Committee of the American Association of Equine Practitioners for the 2002 Convention
2. Dishington, Heather.: Spirit bridle: revolution or gimmick? The Australian Arabian Horse News. September 1998, p 55
3. Sykes, Melissa F.: Bitless Control The Backstretch. January/February 1999, p 21
4. McFarland, Cynthia: Spirit without the bits bite Thoroughbred Times 6 March 1999 p33-34
5. Barakat, Christine. Bitless Bridle for the 21st Century. Equus 270, April 1999
6. Sykes, Melissa F : Equipment Change Florida Horse August, 1999
7. Price, Lorraine: February Product Review: The Bitless Bridle. North Carolina Horse News, February, 2000
8. Sykes, Melissa F. The Bleeders List Louisianna Horse Spring 2000, p43-46
9. Keller, Bettina,: Part I; Die suche nach dem perfekten rennpferd, PferdeSpiegel,July 2000 p52-54
10. Keller, Bettina.: Part II; Was atmung alles ausmacht, PferdeSpiegel, August 2000, p52-53
11. Jahiel, J: "Riding without a Bit." Horse-sense archives, 2000
12. Kessler, Joseph.: Klassische Reitweise neu uberdenken Wirkungen des Gebisses Pferd & Freizeit, besamtausgabe/27.Jg., Nr.2/2001
13. Over, von Uta.: Bitless Bridle; Eine alternative fur gebiss-sauere Pferd? Pferde heute 4/2001,p 61
14. Christ, Claudia.: Kein Gebiss trockenes Pferd Pferd & Freizeit,besamtausgabe/27.Jg., Nr.2/2001
15. Jahiel, J: "What is this new bitless bridle?" Published online at www.horsecity.com
16. Jahiel, J: "Bit trouble." Published online at www.horse-sense.org/archives
17. Jahiel, J: "At the Horse Gathering this year" Published online at www. horse-sense.org/archives
18. Ebsen-Jackson, Bonnie.: A bit of wisdom. Trail Blazer, January/February 2001, p40-43
19. Whitfield, P: The Bitless Bridle. Published online at www.bitlessbridle.com
20. Dobberthein, Ulrike.: Maul Halten Cavallo, March 2001, p12-23
22. Peters Randi.: Who Needs Bits? Natural Horse. Vol 3, Issue 6, 2001, p44-47
23. Jahiel, J: Going Bitless. Equestrian Retailer. November 2001, p32-50
24. Marcella, Kenneth L.DVM: Enough to make you shake your head. Thoroughbred Times, June 29, 2002, p 45
25. Sykes, Melissa.: Equipment check: something new, something different. The Horsemans Journal, Summer 2002, p35
26. The Scribe, The Horses Mouth.: Horsemens Yankee Pedlar, Vol 42, Number 8, August 2002
27. Field, Ruth. Going Bitless Witless or Wise? Hoofbeats, Australia. October, 2002.
28. Thoresen, Annica Nygren. DVM (Norway) Om anda hastar kunde skrika som grisar. Swedish Veterinary Journal, Number 14, 2002
29. Sumerel, Dan.: Understanding Equine Behavior. Arabian Horse TimesMagazine, November, 2002, pp 192-193
30. Mendez, Manolo.: Schooling the Horse: The importance of lengthening the neck. Hoofbeats, Australia. 1/20/03 draft
31. Mills, D. S: Shaken up; Part One
the latest research on headshaking causes and symptoms Your Horse. p81-82, April May, 2003
32. Mills, D.S: Shake the Habit: Part Two. Your Horse, p14, June-July 2003.
33. Bull, Maria.: Train Your Horse at Home!: A first Timers Experience Horsemens Yankee Pedlar, Parts 3 & 4 ,May and June, 2003
34. Nevzorov, A: "Horse Encyclopedia." 2003 published online at www.NevzorovHauteEcole.com
35. Anon: "Why use a Bitless Bridle?" Review of 'Metal in the Mouth.' 2003 Published online at
www.bitlessbridle.com
36. Rai, F: "Is riding without a bit dangerous?" Proceedings of the First International Strasser
Conference for Hoofcare pp93-96 2003 Available online at www.bitlessbridle.com
37. Conley, Pamela.: Better than a Bit? You Bet! Brayer 2003
38. Scoggins, R.D: "Bits, Bitting and Dentistry." Published online at www.myhorsematters.com 2003
39. Winzeler, M & Albrecht, U.: Uber Mauleisen, Hufkrampen und des Beginn des metallfreien Pferdes Huf-Rolle, Issue #4, 2003
40. Johnson, T: "Surgical removal of Mandibular Periostitis Bone Spurs Caused by Bit Damage." Proceedings of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, 2003
41. Urban, Christian.: Erfahrungen mit dem Bitless Bridle. Huf-Rolle, Issue #4, 2003
42. Case, Suzanne.: Bitless or Bust: A Dressage Riders Journey. Natural Horse Magazine Volume 6, Issue 2, February 2004
43. Jahiel, Jessica.: Ask the Expert: What do I do with a hard-mouthed horse? Trail Blazer Magazine Issue 8, November 15, 2003 p18
44. Yelland, Lisa.: Riding the Bounds
Barefoot and Bitless! The Horses Hoof,Issue 16. Summer 2004 page 1-2
45. Shaughnessy, A.F and Slawson, D.C: "Easy ways to resist change in medicine." British Medical Journal, 329, 18-25 2004
46. Jahiel, J: "Dressage in Bitless Bridle?" Published online at www.horsesense.org/archives 2004
47. Thompson, W: Mother and daughter ride barefoot and bitless." Pakenham-Berwick Gazette Wednesday 6th October 2004
48. Jahiel. J:Trail Saddles and Tack The Trail Rider,- September/October 2004, p62
49. King, M: Artificial Aids: helpful or hurtful?" Horse Illustrated, November 2004,p32-35.
50. Robards, B: Bitless Bridle in Harmony with a Horse's Nature." Valley Equestrian: Supplement to the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Spring/Summer 2004. Published online at http://www.gazettenet.com/equestrian/story.cfm?id_no=4140007
51. Farnfield, K: Bits Explained: Part 5 Bitless Bridles. Online at
http://equicom.bizhosting.com/preview/kfbits5.htm 2004
52. Anon: Is Bitless Best?" Horse & Rider, November 2004, p30-36
53. Garner, Claudia.: Training with the Bitless Bridle & other training thoughts. The Horses Hoof Issue 18 Winter 2005, p14
54. Price, Lorraine.: February Product Review: The Bitless Bridle. The American Farmer. Vol 2, Issue 2 February 2005, p2
55. Waterfall, Catherine.: Should you go bitless? Horse June 2005, p28-31
56. Dow, Leslie Smith: Sore Mouth Mysteries. Horse Canada March/April 2005 p16-20
57. Hulle, K: Bitless Bridle Offers Pain-Free Communication Holistic Horse Vol. 11 Issue #43,
September 2005, p11
58. Hulle, K: "Evolving Toward Harmony." Published online at www.bitlessbridle.com 2005
59. Case. S.E: "Taking the OW out of WOW: Changing the Rules of Competition." Natural Horse Magazine, 7. Issue 3. May/June 2005
60. Shiers, Jessie. 101 Hunter/Jumper Tips The Lyons Press, November 2005
61. Have you tried this?: Feedback to Have you Tried the Bitless Bridle? Holistic Horse. Winter 2005, Vol 11, Issue 44, p19
62. Paglia, Judy: Less is More: "Some horses prefer a bridle with a bit missing." Dr. Cooks Bitless Bridle Presentation at Equine Affaire 2005. Massachusetts Horse Magazine (Edit: LA Pomeroy) 2005/6
63. Trutmann, C: "The Bitless Bridle." presentation at Cornell. Published online at www.bitlessbridle.com
64. Rider-Tack-Tested: You dont always need a bit. Horse and Pony Magazine (UK), February 2006
65. Tulp, M and van Daalen, T: " Een beter bit versus beter geen bit." Bit #.131, April 2005 pp 16-19
66. Cotterell, Jennifer: The quest for Cody: A Florida woman fulfills her dreams with a retired Standardbred. Hoof Beats, January 2006,Volume 73, Number 11, p139- 140
67. Dow, Leslie Smith.: Bitless Bridle Update: The bitless leading the witless? Horse Canada, july/august 2005 p51
68. Mills, D Taylor, K.D. & Cooper, J.J.: Weaving, Headshaking, Cribbing, and other Stereotypes. Proceedings of the 51st Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners 2005
69. Wendy Wergeles (2006): "Drop into Water, Turn to a Cordwood Pile" Practical Horseman Vol 34, No. 3, March 2006, pp 70-77
70. Jahiel, Jessica: Trail Bridles & Bits. The Trail Rider May/June 2006, p68-79
71. Calkoen, Madeleine: Bitloos: ja, nee o. Mensport. June.July 2006, pp22-26
72. Kamer, F?: Bitlous. Mensport, 2006 pp12-14
73. Veterinary section. Kopschudden bron van (The Headshaking Syndrome) Mensport. 2006 pp20-22.
74. Roman, Nancy: Product Review The Bitless Bridle Part One. Saddle Up (Canada) June 2006, p31
75. Goodnight, Julie: Give Your Horses a Break: Dr.Cooks Bitless Bridle. The Instructor. (Official Publication of the Certified Horsemanship Association) Summer Issue 2006
76. Bowie, Andrew: Bits, rings, gadgets and what true collection is supposed to be! Available online at www.equethy.com 6/28/06
77. Bendrey, R: "New Methods for the identification of evidence for bitting on horse remains from archaeological sites." Journal of Archaeological Science, 34, 1036-1050, 2007
78. King, N: "FEI Decides on Bitless Bridle." Horses for Life, April issue, 2007
79. McQuillan, Elizabeth: A Bit Different: Ten good reasons to Try Riding Bit-Free. Published in Ireland, England and Scotlands Equestrian magazines during 2007
80. Carey, J: "Festina Lente Foundation: Crossover Bitless Bridle Research Project" A conference presention made available on www.bitlessbridle.com 2007
81. Carey, J: "Festina Lente Foundation: Crossover Bitless Bridle Research Project" The PowerPoint
Presentation for the above conference. Published online at www.bitlessbridle.com 2007
82. Nevzorov, A: "Dressage: Let's Dot the i's and Cross the t's: Do you want to kill a horse?" Published online at www.NevzorovHauteEcole.com 2007
83. Nevzorov, A: "Neurocranialis Shock." Published online at www.NevzorovHauteEcole.com 2007
84. Guillame, J: "Bitless Dressage" Published online at www.bitlessbridle.com 2007
85. Williams, Jennifer: Less Is More? Stable Management February 2007, pp 20-23
86. Hatrick-Anderson, Cathie: Can Everyone Ride Bitless: Yes! Even Beginners!! Apples n Oats Summer 2007 pp40-41
87. King, Marcia: A New Breed of Bridle (Bitless). The Horse. August 2007, p77-82.
88. Hayden, L: Bitless Bridles. British Dressage. April 2007, p6
90. Hickling, S: Dr.Cooks Bitless Bridle Tried and Tested. www.horsemart.co.uk 2007
91. Boatwright, Sara: Part 3. Removing the Razors; All 4 The Horses.' www.naturalhorsenetwork.com. September 6, 2007
92. Baker, Louise. Hanna Hermoso meets Ramon Guerrero. Esencia P.R.E. September Issue, 2007, p 47
93. Anon: "Equine Wellness and FEI Rules." Published online at www.bitlessbridle.com 2007
94. Waller, Linda.: Are we causing unnecessary pain? British Dressage. October/November, 2007, p56-57
95. Hatrick-Anderson, C: Bitless Riding The Horses Choice. Natural Horse Magazine 2007 Vol. 9 Issue 5, pp 43-45
96. Roberts, R: "Eventing the Barefoot, Booted and Bitless Way!" The Horse's Hoof Issue 27, Spring/Summer 2007
97. Geyer, H: "The Influence of the Rein and Bit on the Movement of the Horse: Anatomical and Functional Considerations." Horses For Life March Issue, 2007
98. Hannah, C: My Journey: The Ultimate Success Story. Natural Horse Magazine. 2007 Vol.9 Issue 5 pp 32-33
99. Howling, Kelly: The Bitless Revolution. Equine Wellness Magazine. Nov/Dec issue, 2007
100. Jahiel, J: "Are bits necessary for dressage?" Dressage Today. September, 2007, pp89-91
101. Bitloos experimenteren op Horse Event. Mensport NR.07 2007 p 20-21
103. McLachlan, L: "Don't Crank it!!" Published online at www.prehorse.co.nz 2007
104. King, Marcia: A new Breed of Bridle. The Horse. August 2007, p 77-82
105. Bevilacqua.M : Nevzorov Haute Ecole Questions and Answers: When is a bit acceptable? Natural Horse Magazine Vol. 10, Issue 1 pp.20-21
106. Wainwright. W : Part 1. A History of the Bitless Bridle. Natural Horsemanship Magazine, Oct/Nov 2007 issue
107. Wainwright. W.: Part 2 Recent Developments in bitless bridle design. Natural Horsemanship Magazine Dec/Jan 2007 issue
108. Calkoen, Madeleine: Zonder Bit. Amazone Carriere en Paard, p35, Number 18, March/April 2008
109. Rogers, Krystyna: Should I Go Bitless? Horse and Rider (UK) September 2007
110. Chapman, Geraldine: Horse Control and the Bit. Horsepoint.com.au March 2008
111. Berrenrath, H: Bitless Racing and Showjumping. Proceedings of the Strasser World Conference on Natural Hoofcare 2003
112. Lee-Thompson, S: "Going Iron Free." Welsh Rider January 2008
113. Murphy, C: "Where are the brakes?" Independent newspaper, Ireland. June 10, 2008
114. Hopmans, Jan: Bitless training-aid. In Harness (UK) Issue 8 Winter 2008 p18-19
115. Killeen, K and Dean, Y: "Taggerty's Story" as told by the owner, a dressage judge. Published online at www.bitlessbridle.com August 2008
116. Camp, J: "One good reason to go bitless." Published online at www.soulofahorse.com 2008
117. Calkoen, M: Bitloos Mennen. PowerPoint presentation 2008
118. Calkoen, M: Wat Het Bit Teweeg Brengt PowerPoint presentation 2008
119. Calkoen, M: "Liverpool Driving Bit vs Crossunder Bitless Bridle: A bitted and bitless driving experiment." Mensport, September 2008
120. Calkoen, M: "Another successful bitless driving clinic in Holland." Published online at
www.bitlessbridle.com April 17, 2008
121. Calkoen, Madeleine: The Bitless Driving Bridle. Carriage Driving (UK). January 2009 pp28-29
122. Tell, A; Egenvall, A; Lundstrom, T; and Wattle, O: "The prevalence of oral ulcers in Swedish horses when ridden and when unridden." The VeterinaryJournal 178, 405-10, 2008
123. Bell, S: "Bitless Bridles - How they work." Published online at www.successful-natural-healthcare.com 2008
124. Bell, S: "Brakes without a bit" Impossible!' Published at www.successfulnatural-healthcare.com
125. Poulin, Beatrice: Using the Bitless Bridle in Dressage Competitions. Dressage Today. February 2009, p 11
126. Bennett, D.G: "An overview of Bits and Bitting." Proceedings of the American Association of Equine Practitioners 2009
127. Bennett, D.G: "Bitting Accessories and Bitless Bridles." Proceedings of the American Association of Equine Practitioners
128. Strassburger, J: "Bitless Disappoints Us: These bridles are supposed to make our horses more
comfortable." Horse Journal April, 2009
129. Strassburger, J: "The Bitless Bridle's Maker Responds: He believes our evaluation was flawed." Horse Journal, June 2009
130. Lalley. L: "Donkeys Triumph in Bitless Bridles." A report from the Western Australian Donkey Society on their Annual Conference. Published online at www.bitlessbridle.com 2009
131. Nevzorov, A: "The Horse Crucified and Risen." 2009 published online at www.NevzorovHauteEcole.com
132. Alexander, E: "The Bitless Bridle - a clicker trainer's dream." Published at www.examiner.com 2009
133. Guillot, M: "The Official 2060 Superprix! Fan Guide: The definitive guide to mid-21st century dressage." Lulu Publishing, 2009
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