Clear Q Loose Ring Snaffle

Clear Q - Loose Ring Snaffle

Equestrian sports and horse training stand at a pivotal juncture, prompted by ongoing discussions about the social licence to operate (SLO). These conversations are crucial as the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission provides independent advice to the FEI, focusing on safeguarding equine welfare through ethical, evidence-based policies in training, management, performance, and competition practices. This initiative underscores the need for change within horse sports to maintain and improve the sport's social licence.

At the heart of our efforts is the Clear Q Collection, symbolising our dedication to transparency, scientific integrity, and enhancing communication between horse and rider. Our collection, featuring loose ring and D-ring snaffle designs, includes specially designed lozenge facilitating independent lateral movement. This design supports in delivering clearer cues and minimising confusion, significantly improving horse welfare and understanding.

Who is this bit for?

The Clear Q Collection caters to riders and equestrians who acknowledge the reality that bits, by their nature, utilise negative reinforcement within a horse's sensitive mouth. We address this fact with unwavering integrity, striving for improvements within the constraints we currently face in equestrian sports. Though bits are not ideal, their necessity in many equestrian disciplines is recognised.

The Clear Q Collection addresses traditional bits' shortcomings by preventing complete closure and reducing the risk of injury to the horse's mouth and palate. Its hinged lozenge design and independent sections allow for more precise communication, enabling clearer understanding of cues for turning and stopping. By incorporating learning theory principles, we aim to alleviate confusion, frustration, and conflict behaviours, thereby enhancing welfare and the ethical training of our horses.

Choosing the Clear Q Collection signifies a commitment to informed, ethical equestrian practice, blending tradition with empathy and valuing clear, considerate communication with horses. We present this collection not as a claim to unfounded kindness but as a step towards more compassionate care when bits are necessary in our shared equestrian journey.

Ethical Training

It's critical to recognise that bits constitute only part of the conversation. A thorough understanding of how horses learn through negative reinforcement is paramount. This knowledge is essential for reducing confusion and supporting the ethical training of our horses, ensuring that our practices align with the latest advancements in equitation science and contribute to the sport's ongoing evolution towards greater ethical standards.

The principles of operant conditioning play a pivotal role in horse training, where the consequences of behaviour directly influence the likelihood of its repetition. It's crucial that tactile pressures—whether from the bit or bitless nose band — are relseased as soon as the horse gives the correct response.

This immediate release not only reinforces the desired behaviour but also fosters a clear learning environment and understanding between horse and rider.

Misapplication of these principles, however, can have detrimental effects. Incorrect or inconsistent use of operant conditioning can lead to serious behavioural issues, including aggression, escape behaviours, apathy, and significantly compromised welfare. Recognising the importance of these training techniques underscores our commitment to ethical practices, ensuring that our interactions with horses are guided by respect for their learning processes and overall well-being.