Bitless bridle for older horse with teeth issues

[gailbyrd]

Asking for a friend. And didn’t see any newer threads on this topic.

Friend has an older horse who was trained dressage (up to 3rd level). Horse had an injury which put him out of commission for several years. During that time, his teeth (molars) have begun to disintegrate. As in, infections take hold, teeth have to be surgically removed. Ongoing medical problem, congenital.

Horse now seems to be steady enough and comfortable in his body that riding him lightly (mainly walk, perhaps a LITTLE trot) seems possible.

However because of his teeth, going bitless (or using a hackamore) seems to be the best option. The kicker, no pressure can be applied to the outside of his face where the molars sit.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a bitless or hackamore that MIGHT work.

And would there be another category here on COTH that might give a wider range of eyes to help come up with a potential bridle/hackamore solution?

TIA

[2tempe]

There is a woman where I board who has a similar type of situation (dressage horse, 4th/PSG level). Teeth problem that is congenital. She has begun riding him in hackamore, and it is working quite well. I dont know what type, but I can check in the next day or so. Looking at pics online, some have the regular throatlatch AND/or a strap further forward - I would think those would not be a good choice. But what about the normal cheek pieces?
Can your friend get on using just a halter with reins hooked on? See how that goes?
Look at Schneiders Tack - they have a few options.
Edited to add: you might want to cross post on the Western section.

[gailbyrd]

Thanks for your reply. Would love to know what your fellow boarder is using.

As my friend is older, she’s not comfortable with just a halter and lead ropes. He just pulls through her when on the ground with a plain halter. She and he do better when she uses the rope halter when they are doing ground work.

[Scribbler]

A simple sidepull perhaps with some texture on the nose band will be more stable than a rope halter. She will however need to master the one rein stop if he starts diving for grass.

[mikeyscott]

So sorry to hear about your friend’s horse. I’ve heard good things about the Cross-Under Bitless Bridle

[pluvinel]

@gailbyrd

He just pulls through her when on the ground with a plain halter.

Well, if they are not obedient on the ground, it doesn’t get better/easier when you are sitting on their back. Perhaps if she learned, with help, how to get a soft horse on the ground, that feeling can be transferred to under saddle. The voice is an aid…regardless of what the dressage competition rules say. Have someone lead her and have her work on her position and relationship with the horse.

I can get my horse to change speed and stop by my posture, without use of the hands. It is called riding from the seat.

It all depends on the rider and if they are willing to change their ways and learn to ride “a little differently.”

[Demerara_Stables]

There simply isn’t a bitless bridle that will put no pressure on the side of the face when you’re trying to turn with the reins. The horse’s molars start right behind where the bit sits at the corners of the mouth and extend all the way to mid-eye:

Now, if the horse has been correctly trained to 3rd level (no snark intended), he should go well off the seat. Certainly horses are horses and they spook and things happen, but riding in a simple leather covered noseband will give your friend brakes when she needs them.

This is probably a great stage in his life/training to also introduce a neck rope if he and your friend will be safe that way. She can ride with both a bridle and neck rope, but teaching him to respond to seat/leg and the neck rope is the best way to avoid having to touch his face.

[pluvinel]

@Demerara_Stables

but riding in a simple leather covered noseband will give your friend brakes when she needs them.

Some people call this an “English hackmore.” I have this noseband. The person will have to learn to be less “handsy” to use this cavesson. Unless you tighten it down on the face, it will tend to twist if you use your hands too strongly.

[gailbyrd]

Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll pass those on.

The person who got him to 3rd level (before my friend bought him) wasn’t the softest of riders and right after (or my suspicion, right before she brought him home) my friend bought him is when he had issues (fractured neck). So she didn’t really have much time to ride him to see just how he responded to her aids. She’s a very kind rider, almost doesn’t take enough contact with a regular bit setup so not sure how this will work out. But she’d like to try.

[Demerara_Stables]

Of course. It’s a tough problem for sure. Mine goes excellent off the seat but is a bolter when she spooks so a neck rope is a hard no. It’s really horse dependent, but can be really fun if they have the right temperament!

[cayuse]

This may or may not be helpful, but I used something similar to this on a large pony that had horrible teeth and could not wear a bit due to a fractured cheek when he was young. It worked great for him just pleasure riding. I used it on my other pony and it was a no go. It takes some getting used to and IIRC I padded the nose for comfort. The rein release through the loops can occasionally get stuck, but we sorted it out and loose contact is best. There are many options and different configurations on Etsy if you search sidepull or crossunder.

[suzyq]

I used this one for awhile and it worked quite well.

Nalanta Bitless Bridle - Nalanta Equipment

[2tempe]

The woman at my barn uses one like this - not sure of brand, I didn’t have my glasses.

The metal part seemed quite heavy to me. I’m not sure how extensive her horse’s teeth issue is, though there was a discussion about removals, which did not happen. She’s doing WTC a couple-3 times a week and the horse is happy to go. Previously she couldnt even get the regular bridle on him.

[gailbyrd]

Thank you,

That metal piece does look heavy but I guess if it was situated a little lower it wouldn’t be as close to the molar area of the face.

[FlamingoRider]

I start my youngsters bitless, using a “sidepull” bridle, which is the closest in function to a snaffle bit. This is also the bitless type that would have the least potential pressure on the molar teeth area, since it doesn’t have any compression function. My very favorite sidepull is leather with a stiff rope nose, and so old I’ve long forgotten the maker. I also have a biothane one from Moss Rock Endurance Tack, which has a wide noseband that’s almost too mild.

https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/catpage-SIDEPULL.html gives a whole range of options, with varying materials and styles.
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If she feels more confident having something with shanks, I recommend contacting Margaret at Mad Tack, who can custom make a hackamore to fit the horse. She has some new aluminum shanks that are very light weight, and easily set up with straps not chains for both the nose and curb. https://madtack.net/product/s-hackamore-w-aluminum-shanks-pots-and-lace-copy/ Link chosen because it shows the new cheeks, there’s many other options for less fancy strapping on the site. I have a Mad Tack sidepull that was custom sized for an Arab with a tiny head, made with a braided cord nose piece with a couple of knots that gave me a remarkable amount of control on a horse who was well schooled but could get quite keen at times.

The tricky thing will be to try to keep pressure off the molars, while also not ending up with the nosepiece down too low. It must sit on the bony part of the nose, not the cartilage. Quite common to see all kinds of hackamores adjusted too low. In fact quite a few on the Riding Warehouse page are incorrectly fitted to the plastic horse head in this way.

[Warmblood1]

I’ve know a few people to use a war bridle type set up for horses like this.

[outerbanks77]

@2tempe

The woman at my barn uses one like this - not sure of brand, I didn’t have my glasses.

The metal part seemed quite heavy to me. I’m not sure how extensive her horse’s teeth issue is, though there was a discussion about removals, which did not happen. She’s doing WTC a couple-3 times a week and the horse is happy to go. Previously she couldnt even get the regular bridle on him.

That looks like the Stubben hackamore, but the cheeks on mine are quite lightweight. It still provides a fair bit of leverage. I have one and tried using it for jumping my mare who is very sensitive in the face. I ended up changing out the side pieces for the “flower” cheek pieces, which create less leverage, and it worked better.

I’d almost be inclined to go with an old school western bosal. Horses can learn to go off “a feel” in a bosal with a little weight, but they do have some authority if it’s needed. If he’s WB sized, it might be necessary to get one custom made, as they’re usually stock horse sized.

I do have a Stubben hack with the flower cheek pieces available if your friend is interested (my mare ended up going better in a plaited rope bit).

[gailbyrd]

Thank you for this info. I will pass it on to my friend.

[gailbyrd]

Do you happen to know what brand of war bridle they used or are most war bridle set ups basically the same?

[gailbyrd]

I’ll pass on this info. Thank you