This could possibly be a dumb question, but I am wondering what the opinions/rules are on showing a horse in rated hunter classes with a bridle that has no bit (a “side-pull” hackamore, not the one with the blinding silver pieces on the side or the fluffy noseband nor is it the “bitless bridle” that is actually is constructed to still put pressure on the pole; it is very subtle and matches the rest of the bridle/tack). I’ve tried to read up on USEF rules as far as tack and equipment goes- hu 129, I believe, but the rules are rather vague and I know that it is acceptable to show in a hackamore in the jumpers. Has anyone ever seen it done in the hunters? What is your experience? Is it cause for DQ or just a loss of points for nontraditional tack? Any input is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
You must have a bit with attached reins in hunters
Part of the skill set being judged is acceptance of the bit. You would not meet the basic criteria, likely not be allowed in and if you do go in? Collossal waste of money with all the added fees at rated shows just to be allowed on the property.
As the rule states, any bridle is “legal.” It also states that unconventional tack will be penalized at the judges discretion.
That said, no judge on this planet is going to place a horse in a hackamore.
You do what you want with that information.
At a schooling show you might find a very lenient judge who will put up with it for the day, but definitely not at a rated show. The horse must be able to accept the bit, and if they can’t then you’ve got a slow jumper on your hands. 
[QUOTE=Night Flight;8128536]
At a schooling show you might find a very lenient judge who will put up with it for the day, but definitely not at a rated show. The horse must be able to accept the bit, and if they can’t then you’ve got a slow jumper on your hands. ;)[/QUOTE]
Or a horse that might be able to go in a leather bit. All these responses are good, but I have rarely met a horse that is slow enough and refined enough to be a hunter that goes in a hackamore and can’t go in a very light soft bit.
How do you figure?
Here is the actual rule, straight from the rule book, which says there are plenty of bridles that will be cause for elimination.
HU125 Tack
1. Snaffles, pelhams and full bridles, all with cavesson nose bands, are required.
a. Judges may penalize, but may not eliminate, a horse or pony that competes in an unconventional snaffle, pelham, or full bridle. Unconventional snaffles, pelhams, or full bridles include, but are not limited to, hunter gags, kimberwickes, etc.
b. Judges must eliminate a horse or pony that competes in bits other than snaffles, pelhams or full bridles, and nosebands other than cavesson nosebands. Illegal bits include, but are not limited to, three rings, gags (other than the hunter gag), et cetera… Illegal nosebands include, but are not limited to, drop, flash and figure eight nosebands.
Direct link to the USEF rule book, which is available online, for free, to anyone.
I wish the USEF would make their hunter bitting/bridling rules more similar to Equine Canada. Personally, I much prefer a clear list or what is allowed or not allowed instead of a “the judge may choose to penalize things similar to ___.”
Just for fun, here’s EC’s take on it:
ARTICLE G202 TACK AND EQUIPMENT
- When required to return to the ring for conformation or soundness, entries must be presented in a bridle.
- Bitless bridles are not permitted in the hunter ring.
- Bridle: The bridle may be double, pelham, single (snaffle) or kimberwick. It must be leather (not rubber covered), rolled or plain and may be buckled, sewn or studded (not snapped).
- Bits: All bits must be humane in nature. Snaffle bits may be with or without cheeks. Wire snaffle bits, either single or double are permissible. It is permissible to use a snaffle with fixed slots for cheek pieces and/or reins. Bit guards are not permissible.
- Gimmicks: Any gimmicks (e.g. nerve lines, tongue ties, gag bits, any bit that acts as a gag, tack nose bands etc.) are illegal. Nose nets are permissible.
- Reins: entirely leather of any description, buckled, studded or sewn; single rein pelham with pelham converters are allowed only in junior and amateur classes in 3’ (0.90m) or below. In the case of bad weather, at the discretion of the judge, steward and/or competition committee, rubber reins may be allowed. Loop reins are not permitted (see Article A215 for exceptions).
- Browbands: All leather of any description but not coloured or jeweled.
- Cavessons: drop nosebands below bit are not permissible. Cavessons must be leather and may be soft padded over bridge of nose; nothing else is permissible.
Yes, I know it’s an old thread but I was looking up information this morning and Google sent me here among other places.
I was reading this great article that more precisely explains things beyond “bitless is better for your horse”.
I’m wondering what others think and if the rules have changed at all since 2015 when this thread was started. Why haven’t they changed? If there is proof through recent study that having a bit in the mouth causes harm - and all of the top governing bodies have the 'main interest in ‘the welfare of the horse’ then why wouldn’t they allow something that makes life better for the horse?
All of the hullabaloo about trimming whiskers and ear hair in the ‘best interest of the horse’ and they won’t deal with a very real issue that truly affects the welfare of the horse - yeah, breathing is pretty important.
There’s a clever guy here in the UK who attached the bit to the bridle, hanging under the horse’s chin for BD (affiliated dressage) competitions. It looked silly but he was within the rules as far as presence and attachment of the reins (reins on the noseband provided the actual steering).
They’ve closed that loophole this year. The reasoning is that “you cannot score acceptance of the bit… without a bit” - seems a bit closed minded? Like what does the bit do- score acceptance of that function (or even just the hand) instead?
I’m all for “welfare of the horse” tack rules but some of there are just ridiculous.
Another one is British SJ ruling that you need a totally padded “race style” whip - rather than taking their stewards to task for not managing/tossing people welting their horses with regular style bats.
They haven’t changed since much longer then 2015 because the conclusions reached in this editorial in an Australian magazine are not universally accepted by all organizations worldwide as the truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth.
The majority feel it preferable to master the skills required rather then overhaul the rules to allow a few to skip that part of the judging criteria…
So long the bitless bridle does NOT interfere with the nostrils expanding I am favorable for using one in racing.
HOWEVER, contrary to the bitless propaganda not all horses prefer bitless at all times.
I started occasionally riding bitless some over 45 years ago (jumping cavesson bridle), and I have used the LG bitless, Dr. Cook, Nurtural and Spirit crossunder bitless bridle, the three types of bitless one can use with the Micklem Multibridle, and the Light Rider bitless (modified Scawbrig).
I have MS which leads to my hand tremors and my inability to know for sure where my hands are all the time. I looked like an ideal test case, the horses had all these reasons to resent me using a bit, after all. For many years when the summer heat made my hands worse the horses would start protesting me using a bit and I would go bitless.
When I got myself a Wellep bit (no longer made) that all changed, the horses cheerfully allowed me to use a bit in the worst part of the summer heat. When I started buying titanium bits (coated or pure) the horses started allowing me to use regular type bits in the summertime without much complaint (I’m not a perfect rider, I get some complaints.)
THEN, after I got the Wellep bit, the mare with the most sensitive mouth that I’ve ever run into (ancient Arab) “told” me by her reactions to my rein aids that she PREFERRED me using a bit even in the worst heat of the summer, so long as it was a Wellep bit (I had not run into the titanium bits yet.) Another mare I ride, who LIKES being ridden on contact but who was very expressive when she thought my hands were too bad to use a bit (violent head slinging), stopped protesting my rein aids with a bit even in the heat of the summer from the first time I used the Wellep bit on her, and now with the titanium bits.
In spite of all my riding and hand faults the horses I ride (lesson horses, often in their twenties) have shown me clearly that they prefer me riding with a bit so long as the bit is comfortable and tastes OK.
A lot of horses DO NOT LIKE pressure on their nasal bones, especially the constant pressure of contact.
So long as I keep my fingers supple and responsive I just do not have many problems from the horses about the bit. While I teach each horse my language of the aids I might have some difficulties, but once the horses learn my language of aids the difficulties disappear in spite of my hand tremors, wandering hands, and imperfect coordination and balance. I have light contact, from grams to ounces, and at least for me, handicapped and all, I consider contact with the force of pounds to be totally abusive unless the horse is in a full out gallop cross country.
