Escalante in LG - The discussion is on the table...

What do you want to accomplish with your horse? If you want to ride in dressage you HAVE to use a bit. Can you train bitless and then show with bit? How does it effect training time and thouroughness?...Is a bit in sensible hands a better more refined connection to the horse..."I can feel him better when I have contact to the mouth?" Is the foreign object in the horses mouth a hindrance for concentration and a physical handicap? Who should ride bitless and who should not? Heavy-handed vs light...What is the difference in a runaway situation???
How about what do you want to accomplish by riding treeless saddles? Are they more comfortable for the horse? Can you train treeless and then show with tree? Someone wanting to buy my beautiful classy Niedersuess dressage saddle, made in Austria (Medium tree?)

In sensible hands all horses have a better time both under saddle in hand and in mouth? That does not require a condition to ride with double bridle if you want to compete. In the best case scenario proper training includes proper training of the rider and time.

What about this image: "If I know how to lift properly with my upper legs through knees instead of my back, I can lift 40 pound bales all day long...therefore no alternative ways of lifting shall be developed..."

Or "If we allow for bitless riding in dressage competitions and something happens, it will be used by the opposition to prove their point, that bits are required for safety of rider. Therefore we will not allow bitless riding in dressage competitions!"

OR: Is the mere fact, that severe bits and ports have been used for 100's of years, reason to oppose bitless riding?"