Bridles, bitless bridles, bits, sidepulls, crops, rope halters and single-joined snaffle bits. The amount of equipment that humans need to control horses is astounding. Control is the key word here. Horses have been controlled for humans for centuries as a mode of transport, as entertainment and, increasingly, for their meat.
Horses are no longer needed for transport, although people continue to ride them. Horses are no longer needed for meat, with plant based diets becoming more accessible and affordable, and horses are certainly no longer needed for entertainment, in fact, they never were. However, the horrible truth is that money lurks at the core of most animal exploitation and, unfortunately, it is no different for horses.