to see another manipulative piece of “bits cause pain” propaganda

It depends on the monkey* on the end of the bit or pair of reins, or bitless bridle, or riding crop…
This is where we have to be watchful of our own mind, actions and reactions, and to be trained and skilful in equipment use and the thing you can’t teach, but can only really be a student of the thing itself… ‘feel’.

(*not meaning any dis-service to monkeys!)

People are sheep. They can ignore wrongdoing. They can also become talibanised, as a mob attacking all whom their leader objects to – whether that leader is a political demagogue or an opinionated loudmouth of the Fugly school. The anti-bit brigade is going this way.

If we want to root out cruelty, we need to start by aiming at the right targets.

The Bystander Effect originated when Kitty Genovese was raped and murdered very publicly, within hearing of many people, yet no-one did anything. The ensuing supposition is that the more people that are around when something happens, the less likely you are to be helped. The feeling of the power of responsibility is diluted by the number of individuals present.

Which raises the issue of what is experienced at horse shows – especially large and international ones. People are aware that ‘everyone else seems to think it is OK’. From my experience, when I look at some of the photos I took at an international show, the expressions on the faces of people in the background told a different story – I think there were others present thinking the same as me.

A salient point is that do the sponsors of these riders and horses want their brand and name to be associated with a sport that at times contravenes animal welfare? This is something that could be useful in helping competition horses. Perhaps a polite but concerned letter to a sponsor might raise a few questions.

I think most of us got into horses because we wanted to spend time with them, and have a relationship. Once you become entrenched in the goal seeking competition adult life style, You lose sight of the actual reason you got into horses in the first place; Horses!