Bitless,Treeless and Barefoot
Bridles and bits, familiar enough in design to be fitted by the modern rider, had been in use since 3500 B.C.
When Celtic cavalry served as mercenaries to the ancient Egyptians saddles were limited to stirrup-less cloths, and all horses were ridden barefoot. In contrast bridles and bits, familiar enough in design to be fitted by the modern rider, had been in use since 3500 B.C.
Who, how and when the idea of putting something in the horses mouth to restrict movement came about is unknown, and destined in all likelihood to stay that way, since the materials available to this early inventor have all turned to dust over the ages.
The first 'soft' bits were very simple; two cheek pieces of bone or wood, joined by a rawhide or sinew mouth piece. Later the substitution of solid materials in the mouth part created the bit as we know it.
Celtic, and other, cavalries continued to provoke compliments on their effectiveness in battle by the ancient authors of the 5th, 4th and 3rd millenniums B.C.E. , such as Xenophon - writer of the oldest surviving treatise on horsemanship.
By his time the bit had been developed into a complex hard bronze mouthpiece, jointed in the center, and with stylish curved cheek-pieces, discs and spines.
