There are two basic ways to ride a horse: riding the horse to the bit or hackamore, or allowing the horse to come to the bit or hackamore. Unfortunately, most riders do the former and this is how a hard spot in the mouth or on the nose of the horse is created. This is commonly known as "taking them to the bit" or "hanging on by the reins," which is a serious mistake.
The rider must look for the soft spot in the horse's mouth or nose by feeling for it. Making contact and then releasing the reins is most important at this time. When a rider begins pulling against the hard spot in the horse's mouth or nose it just makes the horse sore and nervous and he loses all position and feeling in his front end (the nose, neck, and shoulder areas). . . .