May 6, 2025 
This episode of Horse Person is made possible by Nikovian. Use code horseperson15 at checkout for 15% off.
When we talk about bits, the conversation often centers around control, feel, and performance. But according to bitting expert Mette Larsen, there’s a much deeper—and more critical—angle to consider: welfare.
She estimates that 80–90% of riders are using a bit that doesn’t truly fit their horse, and the consequences can range from mild discomfort to chronic pain that affects the horse’s entire body.
The most common mistake? A bit that’s simply too big.
Add in a mouthpiece that doesn’t suit the horse’s anatomy, and you have a setup that’s not only ineffective, but potentially harmful.
“Choosing a bit isn’t just about discipline or rider preference,” Mette explained to me when preparing for our latest Horse Person Podcast recording. “It’s a huge responsibility. Horses’ mouths weren’t made for bits—they were made for eating and drinking. If we’re going to put a piece of metal there, we have to know what we’re doing.”
And it doesn’t stop with the bit.
Bridle fit plays a critical role, too. A crownpiece that’s too tight can put painful pressure behind the ears. A bit placed too high in the mouth can apply leverage at the poll or pinch the sensitive corners of the lips. Even more significantly, the tongue—where the bit often rests—is connected via fascia to the hyoid apparatus, which links to the sternum, shoulders, and pelvis. In other words, what’s happening in the mouth has the potential to influence the entire body.
Horses are constantly giving us information: tension in the poll, resistance to contact, fussiness with the bit, even behavioral issues under saddle. These aren’t “naughty” moments—they’re messages. And when we ignore them, we not only risk poor performance, we risk their well-being.
This episode of Horse Person takes a closer look at how to interpret those signals and what to check in your own tack setup the next time you’re at the barn. With insight from Mette Larsen, who is also a dressage rider and president of Neue Schule USA, you’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of the horse’s mouth, the science of bitting, and how to make more compassionate, informed choices that support both performance and welfare.
Because doing right by your horse starts with listening—and that includes what’s going on in their mouth.
This episode is supported by #WeRideTogether. To learn more about the CARD diagrams mentioned in today’s episode, go to WeRideTogether.today or click here.
