Do you think I should I try a different bit? This question is familiar to me as a coach, launching me and the rider I’m working with into a bigger conversation. My answer will be shaped by the reasons why the rider is considering another bit option.

Fifteen years ago, a friend asked if I’d house- and horse-sit for her at her farm in the Cowichan Valley. The property featured open turnout, natural forage, and the companionship of other horses. I accepted, unsure how it would affect my mare, Diva—who had been struggling. But the results were immediate and profound. We never left. Years later, we still live in the Cowichan Valley, and Diva continues to thrive.

Imagine a few days of outdoor living with your horse—exploring new terrain, catching up with riding companions, and enjoying life away from the usual routine. That’s the heart of horse camping, a favourite experience for many trail riders. While competitive riders may travel to events and stay overnight in their trailers while boarding horses in stalls, the approach taken by trail riders on camping trips is a different type of journey.

It often feels like horses are magnets for mishaps. Their injury-prone tendencies can be chalked up to natural instincts—such as their strong flight response, social dynamics within the herd, or simply their innate curiosity that leads them into trouble.