Bitless bridles??

[hwillm1977]

I love riding my horse bitless... unfortunately we compete in dressage, so at shows we ride in a snaffle to meet regulations... at home I ride bridleless probably 50% of the time, or with just a halter and lead rope.

I've been doing natural horsemanship stuff with her for a few years now and she went from being a crazy thoroughbred that you had to ride in a twisted wire bit to a quiet mare I can hop on without a saddle or bridle and complete a dressage test. I'm with BBH, everyone at the barn knew my 'crazy horse', and it feels great to ride her at absolute liberty and have her listen to me while those people are watching

I would definitely ask if you can try out the bitless bridles, offer to pay for it and ask for a week long trial period... you aren't always going to know if something works or doesn't on the very first try.

 

[big brown horse]

I love riding my horse bitless... unfortunately we compete in dressage, so at shows we ride in a snaffle to meet regulations... at home I ride bridleless probably 50% of the time, or with just a halter and lead rope.

I've been doing natural horsemanship stuff with her for a few years now and she went from being a crazy thoroughbred that you had to ride in a twisted wire bit to a quiet mare I can hop on without a saddle or bridle and complete a dressage test. I'm with BBH, everyone at the barn knew my 'crazy horse', and it feels great to ride her at absolute liberty and have her listen to me while those people are watching

I would definitely ask if you can try out the bitless bridles, offer to pay for it and ask for a week long trial period... you aren't always going to know if something works or doesn't on the very first try.

HI!! Welcome to the herd!! Here is to the crazy horses now riding bitless!! Here Here to natural horsemanship!!!

 

[dianneS]

Big Brown Horse, I know why she's selling it. She's selling everything, going out of the horse business altogether due to divorce.

Here's a pic of the hackamore I'm using now. I only paid about $25 bucks for it and I'm really pleased with the quality. Its hand made. They called it a "bitless bridle/bosal/hackamore" it most closely resembles an indian hackamore.

I'm just debating whether or not I should get a bitless bridle since it uses poll pressure, where this hackamore does not. Its working for us though, so maybe I don't need to bother with a whole new bridle?

This is the english version of this hackamore. I have a cavesson on my bridle so I just moved it up a little higher and the hackamore attaches right where the bit would go. It works great and looks really nice too!

 

[big brown horse]

Here is some info that may help. They brought up the pros and cons of bitless, indian and even yet another bitless-type of bridle.
http://equineink.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/on-the-bitless-bridle-a-comparison/ See what you think.

I hope this helps! Your horse is so pretty!

 

[dianneS]

Here is some info that may help. They brought up the pros and cons of bitless, indian and even yet another bitless-type of bridle.
http://equineink.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/on-the-bitless-bridle-a-comparison/ See what you think.

I hope this helps! Your horse is so pretty!

Thanks, she loves to be told how pretty she is. She's such a girly girl too!

Thanks for the info, its been very informative. I had forgotten about that LG bridle, I had seen that one before.

I think I'm going to continue riding bitless until I have a reason not to. I bought this hackamore months ago and used it a few times, but couldn't get over the insecurity of knowing that I didn't have that bit in case of an "emergency"!

My mare has always had some issues that pointed to her bit being too harsh for her, but her previous owner is much more of a horse expert than I am, so I trusted her judgement in regards to her bit.

The number one thing that I noticed, a few months ago, and just recently, is that my mare is much more supple and flexible when she is bitless. Before we went bitless, I just assumed she was a stiff, ridgid horse. She has a tendency to be high-headed and toss her head too. When we rode bitless, we didn't have those issues at all.

The biggest shocker was how she would flex for me, laterally and vertically with very little prompting! She flexes almost voluntarily with just a lifting of the reins! She doesn't do that AT ALL with a bit in her mouth. Actually, her head goes UP with the bit in her mouth!

I just came across these pics and seeing is believing! She was just as flexible yesterday and the day before, with the bit, she was tossing her head and seemed really uncomfortable. I think we may be converting to bitless!

 

[big brown horse]

You guys look good together.

For emergencies do you know about the one reined whoa/stop? I can accomplish it with just a halter and reins. Where is CountryMom?


OH COUNTRYMOM!!!

 

[big brown horse]

Well until CountryMom gets here...

This is what I've done with each of my horses: http://www.naturalhorsesupply.com/onereinstop.shtml They were all rescues of one sort or another. All badly trained or not trained. All are supple and responsive now.

 

[Countrymom]

Sorry had to run for feed and stamps. LOLOL Never ending supplies of things are my house to feed. Whole batch of newly hatched silkie chicks and some adorable baby Merino guinea pigs.....Ok back to horses.....

I will tell you that all horses should be taught to disengage their hind quarters when you first break them. I do not ever work on a direct rein stop period for the first few rides. So basically that is what everyone is calling the one rein stop these days. If you bend your horse with one rein....not all the way to your knee mind you unless you want to drop with the horse..... and put a good amount of leg pressure behind the girth on the inside leg, you will bring the hind quarter around. Continue doing so until you bring the horses speed down and lay off leg pressure to a stop.

Now, the problem with the one rein stop that most newbies do not understand is that if you are full tilt on a run away horse you sure as shoot wouldn't want to grab their face and bring them around. That is how accidents happen. However, if you are on a run away, you need to bend the horse and bring it into a big circle. Slowly bring the circle down smaller and into a disengaged stop. And with that the horse will be more balanced and easier for you to sit with the nose tipped to the center as it will raise up that inside shoulder as well.

So not exactly what you would call a danger here Dianne with your horse. And also remember, different bits work on different parts of the horses mouth. All horses mouths are different too. I have found the old wise tale of a smaller mouth being more sensitive than a larger mouth for the most part to be true. That is why using a halter or bitless bridle can be of some advantage. Also have a horse I regularly work that cannot stand a single jointed bit piece or solid mouth piece in his mouth. He rides best in either a french link or Dr. Bristol for English and then a nice double jointed short shanked dogbone for western. Otherwise his head is up and thrashing and he turns hateful. The right bit makes a big difference. But also, you do not need a bigger bit to fix problems. All bits have their place and need.

Dianne, I have a Peruvian Paso bridle very similar to yours. It is fine if that particular horse is trained enough. As for my shanked hackamore...it is better hanging in my opinion. LOL

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Just wanted to add that after reading the article linked that I have to state that using a leg in this process is kind of a must. Otherwise if your horse is really trying to get away with you they will do what I call rubber neck and push out through that shoulder. Flexing a horse side to side is widely taught these days. However, if your horse is over flexed and not use to bringing those hind quarters out when you attempt this type of stop, then they are liable to run out through the outside shoulder instead of stopping. So practice this with inside leg pressure toward the back of the rib cage. And of course if you ever have a horse leak out the shoulder like what I call a rubber necker...then add that outside leg as well. Gosh, I could go on, but just wanted to make that point.

 

[FarmerChick]

not what I exactly use....but this pic is almost what I used for over 20 years of riding western trail.
I have looked for my exact one "everywhere" and I can not find my exact hackamore out there....ugh



Mine has flat leather band. I sure love my tack......I hate the thought of needing a new saddle soon.

Means I gotta fit my butt into a million before buying. Saddles are so personal....lol

 

[ducks4you]

I'm not ready to add this to my tack room, yet. I already have 5 snaffles, 6 curbs and 8 bridles that I keep oiled up (for SOME reason), since I don't teach lessons anymore. This bit STILL won't make you a better rider. Guess I'll wait until the fad's over and they're selling cheap.