When horses misbehave, disgruntled owners sometimes think it’s simply a fractious filly with an attitude. But there is evidence that the root of the problem may be in the horse’s mouth.

When researchers examined the skulls of both domestic and wild horses, they found that nearly 90 percent of the domestic horses had either bone spurs or worn teeth, suggesting bit-related injuries. None were seen on the wild horses.

So before you call the Horse Whisperer, it might be worth seeing if a bitless bridle solves the problem. Some research has shown better performance with the bitless option, which substitutes pressure for pinching and supplies a nudge to one side for steering and a hug to the whole head for stopping.

So the next time Black Beauty acts up, you may find that the solution comes straight from the horse’s mouth.