By John Moore

I make no claims of being a master horseman, just a fair-to-middlin’ badlands cowboy. But I know some real horsemen. Yet, I do have a disagreement with those who are much more knowledgeable friends, and that is the matter of the “bit.”

For those of you who don’t know, bits come in many forms, shapes, sizes and functions. Most trainers begin with an O-Ring Snaffle and progress slowly through a series of mouthpieces – shanked snaffle, low-ported curb, grazing bit, and others – until they find a bit the horse seems to adapt to best. Or they adapt a horse to the ultimate bit, a Spanish spade – of which there are several varieties. My horses have always “told” me that they hate bits, and yet, I have been required to use them as a training tool. 

The Law is our early bit. It jerks our head around when we want to go our own way. In other words, the Law “plow-reins”: us. Gradually, we learn to respond to the Spirit and the Lord can “neck rein” us. Instead of being forcibly pulled, we respond to a slight push. There are important spiritual lessons in this. The horse and horsemanship are an important message at this time. 

Paul Keith Davis has been teaching on the spiritual messages found in the life of the great race horse, Secretariat. (You can read Paul Keith’s article about this horse in a recent publication on the Elijah List, click here.) Secretariat had an unusually large heart, yet this mountain of horseflesh, this veritable package of purpose and destiny, was controlled by an O-Ring snaffle. 

Yet, I would say there is even a higher way. Recently – and I am almost afraid to admit this to my cowboy friends – I purchased a Bitless Bridle for my good young gelding, Simon.

A Bitless Bridle is a new concept; it is not similar to a bosal or mechanical hackamore, and Simon, who has a very sensitive mouth, responds to it very well. As I said earlier, I am convinced horses hate bits, but the good ones learn to tolerate them. Bits, in many cases, are simply symbols of pride to the horseman and some cost a couple thousand dollars each. 

Still, there is a higher way yet, and that is being “unbridled” (see Chuck Pierce’s quote above). If we learn to allow the Spirit to control our mind and tongue then we change from being plow-reined to neck-reined. The more we respond to the slightest pressure of the Spirit the less necessary pressure becomes.

When the “mouth” is sanctified, the bit is no longer required and we move into a “bitless” bridle because there is still need for control over our head (mind.) When our head (mind) is in synch with our Master then we are allowed to be “unbridled.” 

I was recently sent this video link below, and surprisingly, confirmation came. A magazine I occasionally write for has this horse woman on the cover this month and it sits on the desk here beside me. The Spirit is trying to say something! 

Here is a link to a popular video of horse rider, Stacy Westfall, who trained her horse Roxy to ride “unbridled.” Click here and as you view this video, see yourself as the “horse” and the Spirit as the “rider.” Watch and enjoy.

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John L. Moore is a third-generation cattle rancher in Montana and a multi-award-winning journalist and novelist and is an apostolic and prophetic minister as well. His journalism has appeared in scores of publications including The Elijah List, The New York Times Magazine, Readers Digest, The Western Horseman, Charisma, Ministries Today, America’s Horse, Sports Afield, Bugle: The Magazine of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Books and Culture.

Used by permission www.breakingchristiannews.com
http://www.johnlmoore.com/