So my pony is soooo fussy with a bit. She plays with it like a chew toy from the moment I put it in her mouth. She sucks it up into her teeth and chews. I’ve run the bit gauntlet with no success. She has a fat tongue and a low pallet so bitting her is tough. I have her in a mullen now which she can’t get up in her teeth and finally broke down and got a drop noseband (I’m not a fan of closing a mouth to avoid the real problem). However now, in frustration to not being able to get the bit in her teeth, she does this bizarre snatching as she tries to grab it and fails. A quick suppling aid gets her back to focus and she’s light and soft again but not a minute later…rinse and repeat. Just as we get going along beautifully she decides to try to chew it up, can’t and then gets pissed and snatches. She has never snatched the bit until I took away her ability to suck/chew on it. I’ve been at this for a year…in the mullen/drop combo for 6 months. She does it on a loose rein, on contact, on the trail. It’s soooooooo annoying. So, I’m contemplating going bitless for awhile to see if I can get her in new, better habits without the bit in her mouth. Hoping after a time of not having a bit to play with she will find that she can work without this nasty habit. I show so bitless isn’t a long term option but I’m curious to try it and see if it helps. She has lovely self carriage and can do beautiful collected gaits on the buckle from just my seat so I’m confident we can successfully work in one but thoughts? Am I nuts to think this might help and then transition her back into a bit? If I do try this, I have never used a bitless bridle and have no idea what the best type is to remain closest to riding in a bit. Suggestions?
I’ve done it and found it helpful. I’ve used a Dr. Cooks Bitless Bridle - some people love them, some people hate them. It was useful for me for a while (when I evented, I schooled in it primarily, used a bit for shows, and used the BB for the jumping phases) and then I went back to a bit.
You could try getting a side pull and having the bit in the horse’s mouth (taking apart your regular bridle to use only a bit-hanging part) so that you use the side pull for aids but the bit is still there and see how she likes that (I’m going to do that for starting my pony).
For a horse I have who rooted I used a Micklem and that worked very well, too. I think you can use that as a bitless as well but I haven’t tried it that way.
I’m planning on switching my older horse over to a Dr Cook bridle very soon. Just like your horse he’s never been happy with a bit, and now that he’s going to be semi-retired I figured he’d enjoy his life a little more. Even if we were going to compete I think I would still try it out, and then just ask permission from the judge at (unrated) shows.
It’s definitely worth a try for your horse, hopefully you can find a bridle that she enjoys working in! In addition to the Dr Cook, Micklem makes the multibridle that has a few different configurations for bitless riding (so between the two, you have different options/levels of control to work with).
Thanks! Glad to hear it worked for someone! My plan was/is to go bitless and then slowly reintroduce the bit on a bit hanger but use the bitless reins a before finally transitioning back. I’m researching like crazy and am not sure which type of bitless is best. The Dr. Cooks style used a crossed under rein configuration. Does that make it more confusing switching back to a bit or am I completely misunderstanding how the action works. Seems like, from my short research, it puts pressure on the opposite side of the face, like pushing it over? Is that right? I’m so confused. LOL So there is the style where the reins sttach to each side and come straight back and then the Dr Cooks cross under style. Is one better than the other for eventually transitioning back or am I seriously overthinking this?
I like a side pull. My horse goes as well with that as he does with a snaffle. A bit you might try is the Stubben EZ control. Double jointed but turns in to a mullen mouth if the pony resists. I have heard good reports from people with fussy horses.
I like a plain sidepull as well. You can get them in plain leather if you don’t like the usual western rope noseband. I’m schooling in one for a while this winter to see if it helps my horse pay more attention to my seat and helps him to stop leaning on the bit.
Another very nice bitless bridle is the Light Rider bitless bridle athttp://lightriderbridle.com/bridle-shop.html. This bridle is not a cross under or a side pull, it works through the chin strap.
Most horses I’ve tried it on like it.
I was forced into a side pull last year when my horse had a broken jaw. He had been schooling half steps before his jaw was broken, so he had the responsiveness and self-carriage to make the side pull no big deal. It was easy to switch back to a bit, but it took some time to get used to the side pull (granted, he was also in immense amounts of pain because I was wrongly advised by my vet to ride him sooner than he was ready for). We were in it for over 4 months, and by the end were easily working at 2nd/3rd in it, and that’s with the giant hiccup of time off and then it being painful for my horse before we could actually even touch the reins.
I liked it so much for my riding that I keep it hooked up to an extra bridle so I can work on myself periodically, as it highlights any crookedness or tension immediately.
I don’t think it matters for the purposes of switching back and forth. Horses are adaptable and learn very easily. I’ve used the Dr. Cook’s on four different horses now and haven’t had a problem with any one of them. Some people say their horses hate the mechanics of them so have used something else. It really is just preference for you and your horses.
If you get a Dr. Cook’s, I would caution against the leather one. For some reason, I found it didn’t “release” as well as the beta/biothane.
I’ve also used a western bosal on my mustang and like that very much, too, although it is probably not what you’re looking for (we did have fun doing some cow work in my dressage saddle and bosal!).
I just ordered the Lindell side pull for my pony, as I wanted something I could use a bit-hanger headstall with and I don’t think it would work/fit very well with a Dr. Cook’s, so you may want to keep that in mind if that’s your goal (to use the two together).
I’m not a rabid bitless person, but I’ve found horses like to go bitless and I think it is too bad that we can’t use them in competition.
I have used a side-pull bridle on several horses. I find it’s the closest to riding with a bit. My horses were ones that objected to the poll pressure of the Dr. Cook’s bridle. I hunted in an LG bridle for years and it made my horse very happy!
I’ve used the Micklem bridle and i’ve also used a wheel attachment (which attaches to your regular bridle and turns it into a sidepull). There are several variations of it: LG Bridle, orbitless bridle, [URL=“https://www.nickerssaddlery.com/shop/sensation-ride-flotation-hackamore/”]flotation hackamore.
Anything but a Dr Cook.
Bitless bridles are a total gimick at best and dangerous at worst. If you don’t want to use a bit, just use a hackamore.
I don’t agree with dressagelvr. I have never been in any “danger” from riding in a bitless but yes, a mild mechanical hackamore will work too. I use an LG bridle or Karen Rohlf’s bitless bridle when I ride bitless.
That said…I think your mare has a definite conformation issue that makes bits uncomfortable. My mare is a nightmare in the bitting department. She spent 6 months with her behavior getting worse and worse because I didn’t realize how much and where she was getting pinched. Then it took me over a year to find a bit that “worked” or at least allowed her to relax with our having to constantly gnash on the bit. I have never had much luck giving her a break from the bit. Bit goes back in, behavior returns. The bit that works the best for her is a PeeWee bit. She cannot wear a jointed bit. Unfortunately the PeeWee is most decidedly not dressage legal. I have another bit with a Glory mouthpiece that isn’t horrible and if I choose to show, will use that bit.
Good luck. As I have found with this mare, bit fit and comfort can manifest itself for the good or bad just as with saddle fit.
Susan
I bought a Lindel Side Pull a couple years ago, but haven’t used it much. It is a nice piece of equipment, but I ended up not really needing it.
Earlier this year my instructor had me ride without reins for three weeks, first with nothing and then with a neck strap I made from 6mm rope (I call it my “magic string”). Nothing has improved my riding so quickly as riding for three weeks without reins! I still use the magic string and incorporate work without reins into my rides about once a week.
I ride my TB mare in a short shank English hackamore the majority of the time. If I show her, I use a happy mouth mullen. I never school in it. Just use it the day of the show.
[QUOTE=Dressagelvr;8348405]
Bitless bridles are a total gimick at best and dangerous at worst. If you don’t want to use a bit, just use a hackamore.[/QUOTE]
How so? All 3 of my horses go just fine in a bitless. One prefers bits so that is what he gets at all times. Mostly we do bitless cross under styles for trail riding and bits for schooling.
Thanks for all the replies and encouragement! I went ahead and ordered a sidepull style.
http://www.twohorsetack.com/p-109-sidepull-bitless-bridle-made-from-leather.aspx?gclid=CjwKEAjwhdOwBRDFsYTfhvzX1hYSJAAfCUcLK46peFLE4kQ5cGtCo02lhh_RA_tianUp34Iu-tbaihoC6SXw_wcB
For $55 it’s worth a try! I’ll repost after I get it and let you guys know how she does. My gut says she’s going to love it but I will keep you guys posted!
I tried bitless last year for similar reasons using a Micklem. The Micklem is nice in that it gives you a middle option for when you decide to go back to using a bit. You can put the bit back on the bridle but kept the reins in the bitless configuration.
[QUOTE=Dressagelvr;8348405]
Bitless bridles are a total gimick at best and dangerous at worst. If you don’t want to use a bit, just use a hackamore.[/QUOTE]
I can’t disagree more. I foxhunted in an LG bridle and in a Micklem (used bitless). First flight. At the front of the field. My horse was better behaved than many people who were riding with severe bits.
A mechanical hackamore can be quite severe.
Really, it depends on your horse. My Trakehner had a low palate and a thick tongue so for him, bitless was perfect.
And I always ride with a neck strap (like the magic string!). It is a very useful tool. All my horses will walk, trot, canter and steer using one. Not out hunting 
but when trail riding or working in a ring.
Not enough emphasis is placed on breath, weight, seat, legs, requiring the reins simply for conversation…not pulling. Always seeking lightness, not so much strong contact.
