http://www.ultimatebitlessbridles.com
Being tack curious, I started pondering adding a bitless bridle to the mix. I wouldn’t mind using something like this for the trail or occassional ring work to keep things fresh. For those experienced with bitless, have you tried this? It sounds really interesting and the price won’t give me any heartburn if it is not great for the Stinky Pony.
Thoughts appreciated.
Happy riding!
Jessie and the Stinky Pony aka Bosco
Why? What benefits do you gain? What benfits do you lose?
G.
I personally wouldn’t use the cross under type, especially in the cord. The cord will likely rub if used often. I use an s-hack I got from distance depot because my horse hates bits. He’s much more forward in it, but I still have brakes.
Thanks for showing this Chebeau! I am currently riding a 27 yr old cranky arthritic Arab mare. She has ended up disliking each and every bitless system I’ve tried on her, sometimes immediately, often after several months, all six systems I’ve tried. Off contact it was OK, on contact not so good. Fortunately she usually does not mind being in a bit so I shrugged my shoulders. But this one looks promising.
I like that the nosebands are further up the horse’s face. I like that there is no chin strap. I like that the pressure is divided further. I would probably get the web one since I would want to try keeping contact.
Please get one Chebeau! Please tell us about it! Maybe sometime next year I can afford one of my own, but until then I would LOVE to hear your opinion about this bitless bridle!
I might find it way too complicated, with all those double straps. The cord-version looks incredibly painful. I can picture myself unintentionally tying this bridle, and myself, up in knots in an effort to get the bridle sorted at some trailhead somewhere.
Also, my horse (also an Arab mare of a certain age) hated the bitless bridles I tried on her (Nurtura and Dr. Cook’s). She hated the poll pressure and, I assume, the feeling of her head being squeezed when I wanted brakes. She is quite happy in her snaffle, though for years I have been planning to get a clip-on bit system for longer trail rides, so I can easily take the bit out for the last few miles, when she’s mellowed.
I guess I have to wonder why, if a horse is perfectly content with a bit in its mouth, one would want to go bitless. I’ve known a very few who really, really didn’t like bits, and went fine in bosals. And I had one horse for a long time who, in his youth, had great trouble with caps and so appreciated a bosal during that phase. After that, for the rest of his life, he was fine with either bit or bosal.
I’m not a fan of the cross under designs. I rode my last horse bitless (he was much better that way) and used an LG Bridle. There are now a few variations on it that are less expensive such as the orbitless bridle. Nickers saddlery has one too but by the time you add in shipping it’s pricey.
http://www.orbitlessbridle.co.uk/
My horse objected to the poll pressure of the cross under design. It made him very light in front.
The sidepull is very intuitive for them. This wheel design allows you to put a slight curb action on the bridle. When I hunted I used it in that configuration; otherwise I used it as a straight sidepull.
That bridle looks very complicated!
For me going bitless made a huge difference for my horse. He had a thick tongue and a low palate. He fussed all the time with a bit, and I tried many, many bits. As soon as I tried a sidepull bridle he took a deep breath and relaxed.
My Arab was the same as Bogies horse. Fussed, chomped, chewed, always seemed held back, didn’t like to take a connection (he was started in dressage for 3 yes before starting into training for LD, then life happened). For him a hack made a huge difference. But honestly I prefer to trail ride in one anyway because I don’t think I would particularly enjoy carrying a big metal thing in my mouth.
Just try a nice “English” Hackamore. All my horses have liked them and yes they do eat and drink easier when bitless. However, I have know people who had horses trained to ride in rope halters or bitless bridles to be bolted with out of the blue because there just isn’t much stop in an emergency. Heck, I rode my well trained and sane gelding one time in a CTR in a sidepull. He’s a hackamore horse and we did the sidepull for weeks before the CTR. I found myself with no brakes and in a bad spot for a one rein stop. When being passed by faster riders. Not a good feeling. You can go bitless but still have brakes with a hackamore.
chicamuxen
I had a Dr Cook one that worked fabulous on a spastic, ex-Amish, major abuse rehab mare that I had. She was much more settled in the bitless than in any bit I tried on her or a regular hackamore. Every other horse I tried it was either meh about it or hated it.
I really don’t like the look of the one linked to- the thin cordage just seems like it begging for trouble.
I’ve use a cord and webbing cross-jaw (costs about 12 bucks) on several 50 mile rides - never a rub…and for this bridle I used the thinnest recommended cord - 4mm. The upper noseband is well padded with rubber mesh and I also sometimes use a fleece or sheepskin tube on it.
If you’ve never before made a bitless and you were very slow at your first try, the hardest one would take you less than an hour. Pick the color, cord thickness, and pressure style you want, then happy trails.
I have a sidepull that I got long ago from Australian Connection. They don’t have the exact kind anymore, but this one is somewhat like it.
http://catalog.theaustralianconnection.us/viewProduct.cfm?item_id=586079
It’s uncomplicated and works well - if the horse doesn’t pull.
I do, however, only use it on 2 horses because they don’t need a bit. The other horses I ride, I definitely prefer a bit in their mouth, in case I need it in emergencies!
I personally do not like the cross over types - squeezes the whole dang head when you pull on the reins.
I like side pulls, or if you need a bit more stopping power, an english hackamore or a S check hack.
I have ridden dressage (of course not showing - but rehabbing a horse with a damaged mouth) in an english hack. Its possible to ride them “on the bit” with a bit of contact - not sure that would be feasible with those cross over types.
I wanted to supply a link to a great “English” style hackamore. I have been using this exact hackamore for years. The shanks are cast aluminum from England.
The family owned business has a great selection of tack and horse camping items plus their saddles. I suggest everyone look thru their on line catalog!
I’ve tried various hackamores, side pulls and other bit less solutions and this style of hackamore has seemed to work best for several horses. The English curb chain sits lower than other hackamores.The groove just above the horse’s chin seems to be the “Spot” for response from the horse and the chain is wide and flat (comfortable).
Chicamuxen
My Arab hates the cross under styles.
I ride him in one of these: http://www.runningbear.com/catpages/Smart-Bridle-Photos-SP.html I use it with a bit as my everyday bridle for arena work because its SO much easier to clean than leather. For trails and endurance rides, I use it bitless as just the sidepull.
He loves going bitless and I don’t have any issues with “brakes” in it.
I use the Freedom Bridle from Moss Rock Endurance, but I always just use it in the plain sidepull configuration-- so it’s just a glorified halter, basically. It CAN do the crossover thing, but I’ve never found that to be particularly useful. My 10-y.o. OTTB goes just fine in it; we’ve done miles of trail riding and hunter paces with the bitless and he goes well. His brakes are as good with the bitless as with a regular (bitted) bridle.
The only times we go with a regular bridle are if we’re doing any dressage-y stuff (we do a couple of schooling shows over the summer), or if it happens to be a time when I think I might want to have extra brakes/control, JUST IN CASE-- i.e., first ride in over a week, in the winter, with a good stiff wind-- then we’ll go out on the trail with regular bridle and a running martingale. (Horse’s #1 evasive technique is to throw his head sky-high and snort/scoot, so really it’s more about the RM than the bit, but I’m not sure the RM/bitless would work as well.)
my arab hated the cross-under type as well, would throw his head all over the place with any mild rein pressure on it.
He went quite well in a bosal, and that was fun to play around with that in the arena, but no way would I have taken him out on a trail in that, zero brakes. On trail I used a happy mouth bubble bit with two reins, one on the snaffle, one on the lower ring for brakes if necessary.
I’m not a fan. I prefer your straightforward side pull type bridles, or hackamores (specifically the s-hack). The crossing action sends mixed signals to a lot of horses, and if you horse has a hair jaw, it can pinch and cause discomfort. PLUS, I’ve seen instances in which the mechanism didn’t release properly and immediately. I think the ‘ultimate’ bitless bridle over complicates a very simply concept.
[QUOTE=Beverley;7325476]
I guess I have to wonder why, if a horse is perfectly content with a bit in its mouth, one would want to go bitless. I’ve known a very few who really, really didn’t like bits, and went fine in bosals. And I had one horse for a long time who, in his youth, had great trouble with caps and so appreciated a bosal during that phase. After that, for the rest of his life, he was fine with either bit or bosal.[/QUOTE]
I use a bitless bridle when I compete my horse so he can eat and drink easily on trail. He’s perfectly happy in a bit, but doesn’t need one and is just as happy without one.
I hadn’t seen this one, and I love to experiment (or to fantasize about experimenting!). Thanks! It looks curious. It also looks like it would avoid some of that whole-head-squeeze that some horses seem to hate.
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