Hello -- I'm sorry for such a delay in getting a response to your question. I am a veterinarian and horses were my first love, so like you, I am very concerned about and interested in their welfare. I can answer one part of your question right away: NO, it is never right to cause any preventable pain or any torture to horses or any other animal.

You are right, some bits can hurt horses' mouths, but ones that are properly fitted and used do not. I have a bit collection and some of the homemade old-time bits are just awful to imagine in a horse's mouth-- I'm glad they are hanging on my wall instead!

Improper riding technique can also cause bits to hurt a horse's mouth and this is the rider's fault. This may not happen much or for long because such a horse will not perform well for that rider and that rider may quit or switch to another horse.

Here's the other side: properly fitted tack used by a knowledgeable rider creates a partnership and experience that is a joy to behold. You can search youtube.com for "horse riding dressage dancing music" to see a variety of beautiful videos where horse and rider are in perfect harmony because they have learned to communicate together. Both rider and horse are completely calm and collected, working in unison on a task they have practiced for hundreds of hours. Such horses are extremely fit, healthy and well-cared for.

The vast majority of horses I have ridden have either held their heads still or even lowered them while being bridled and the bit inserted; also, many horses come when their owners call them, knowing they are going for a ride—these observations imply to me that they do not perceive being bridled or ridden as negative experiences. The occasional horse will throw its head up when being bridled; this is most likely due to a bad experience with an impatient rider, improper bit, tooth issue (extra “wolf teeth” can be removed if they interfere with the bit) or behavior issue. There is a natural place for the bit in a horse’s mouth that has no teeth on either the top or bottom jaw.

Riders have things called "aids" with which to communicate what they want the horse to do. Aids include the rider's weight, voice, legs, feet and hands (via the bit). Look at this video and notice that you can't see the rider giving his horse any cues, yet the horse is doing a very complex dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZiMYqiblMc. Especially note that the reins are slack, meaning the rider is applying no pressure on the bit. (I assume this is a Paso Fino horse-- they are noted for their intelligence, compact size, athleticism and nimble footwork).

You ask "Is riding a good thing for horses" and I have to reply YES. Without work, domestic horses do nothing except eat, walk around, sleep, swat flies with their tail and make manure. None of these activities stimulate a horse's mind, strengthen their bones and muscles or give them a purpose. They only consume resources and contribute nothing in return, sort of like an adult child who doesn’t have a job and won’t leave home. Idle and neglected horses often overgraze pastures, which is very harmful to the environment.

Just like humans, inactive horses can easily become obese and suffer from some serious health consequences. Joint action increases the production of joint-protecting lubricants and hoof impact promotes foot health and hoof growth through increased circulation—both forces occur more in horses that are exercised vs. neglected. Bored horses can resort to harmful vices to fill their time, such as eating stall boards, pawing, weaving from side to side, fighting with other horses, eating other horses' manes and tails and so on. Just like humans, HORSES NEED SOMETHING TO DO FOR THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL BEING.

Riding requires owners to groom their horses to prepare for the bridle and saddle to be put on. This means every part of the horse’s body will be examined by the owner while it is being groomed. Problems such as swellings, cuts, tumors, bites or other problems will be noticed right away. Horses that are not ridden will not be examined regularly and their problems can go unnoticed for a long time, even becoming life-threatening. Here’s an example: I have a friend who has many horses; only a few are ever ridden and most are untrained, even though they are a valuable rare breed. One day I visited him and noticed one of the untrained horses standing still in the same place for hours. I walked up to this horse and noticed he seemed very depressed and let me touch him. He was weak and walked very slowly to the barn. He urinated red wine-colored urine along the way. I examined him on one side, then moved to the other. He had a very thick mane, which I flipped up to look underneath. He had a HUGE abscess due to a bite from another horse; I think he was just a few hours away from dying from blood poisoning. We drained the abscess and started him on medication and he is doing well now. My point is that if his owner rode him regularly, this problem would have been seen much earlier and this horse would not have come so close to death (he certainly would have died if I didn’t happen to visit my friend that day).

As a veterinarian and horse lover, my dream is for every horse to have a good and caring home where all its needs are met and potential fulfilled. This includes work. Some people say “it is cruel or unnatural to own a horse and prevent it from running free.” Here is the reality: about 7 years ago, the price of hay went up tremendously in the U.S. and many horse owners became unable to afford to feed their horses. In the western U.S. where we have much open land, many of these owners turned their horses loose on open land, assuming they could fend for themselves. Many of these horses were found dead later because they had been domesticated and come to rely on humans for their food, health care and protection. Being turned “free” with no more bits or riding was not a kindness for these horses.

Wild horses are a lovely concept, but they are a huge environmental concern in the western U.S. They are not managed closely like domestic horses are, so they damage habitats by overgrazing, hoof damage and water contamination; they also do not receive individual attention or care. It would be wonderful to get most of these animals adopted out to good homes where they can receive proper nutrition and care and get the wild horse numbers down to something sustainable in the long run.

As someone concerned about the long-term health of our planet and the life it sustains, I am a strong proponent of having everything and everyone who can make a positive contribution do so. Those of us who can work need to contribute to systems that can support us all, including those who can’t work. The same is true for our domestic animals—what is the point of owning a dog if it is only kept in a cage or tied to a tree and not cared for or interacted with? What is the point of letting pigs run free where they can be extremely destructive, spread diseases and not provide any positive benefits? What is the point of owning a horse if all it does is eat hay or grass and make manure? Unless retired from a life of active service, such an animal is a drain on the environment and not making a positive contribution. Horses serve their ascribed role in society by doing work, be it riding, pulling or racing (although I am not a fan of racing, but that is another story). I propose to you that horses are healthiest, most productive, and most mentally well-balanced when they are cared for, treated well, and doing work—just like us. :)