Do you have to use a bit in a dressage test??

[Sexy Sietske]

Question in the title really! Could you do the test in a hackamore/bitless bridle or if your feeling a little ambitious, no bridle at all??

[Bay Mare]

Not for BD or tests runs under BD rules (most unaffil seem to be run under BD rules).

I'm not sure about bitless for the CRC tests .... I should know that really :)

[mayoguinness]

Dunno............if not I'll have to start my own dressage tests :p Its like when people say, yeah bitless would be fine but..........I couldn't do jumping competitions and stuff, so I say start your own jumping comp. You can see I'm not very into it at the mo ;) lol.
Not very helpful,
Hope someon can anwser your question,
MG.xx

[crazystevie]

Hehe! solving a small dispute are we?

[Sexy Sietske]

Mother is convienced!! LOL Im not too sure though...looked at the rule and its says 'snaffle bit must be used' but it doesn't say anothing about no bits.

[mayoguinness]

Did you google it??

[Sexy Sietske]

Yep went on the british dressage website rule thingies :)

I would have thought a bit would be compulsary because of accepting contact and working through the bit and off the lag and all the posh stuff :p

[CurlyWurlyRach]

MOST dressage comps will ask for a bit to be used as most run under BD rules, for which you need a bit.

[mayoguinness]

Its time for us bitless folk to show what we can do without bits then and how we get the same result bridleless as they can with whatever they need to use.............. :p

[Bay Mare]

I would have thought a bit would be compulsary because of accepting contact and working through the bit and off the lag and all the posh stuff :p


Yes, as I said in my first post, under BD rules (affil & unaffil) you have to use a bit.

The BD rule book gives a list of acceptable bits and in FAQ it gives a list of the Mylers that you can use.

Working in correctly isn't exactly posh ... it's the best way of working for the horse to support the rider's weight.