SO i think if a horse is ridden in a severe bit/noseband for years, they have to be almost like > "rehabbed" to a milder bit. In a small enclosed area.
Absolutely! For heavens sake don't just put any new bit in a horse's mouth and ride him away. A lot of us who do endurance or limited distance use something called an Arabian S-hack. Sort of a very short shank, biothane-over-the-nose arrangement. Hunter got his because of his scarred tongue but often they are a choice because most horses eat and drink more freely with no bit. I have a gaited endurance neighbor who had a run away when she tried one on trail - bad idea. I would never ever go bitless without riding in an enclosed space first not would I switch bits without some re-schooling before I tried the wide open spaces. Nancy
