I cannot be trusted with a bit. I was all set to get a Hilason Bitless Bridle. Mostly because you can get an English lookin one. But then it said good if you have soft hands… Anyone have any experience with these?
I am unfamiliar with this bitless bridle, but I have to say that I have yet to see one that I would actually put on a horse of mine.
If you don’t want to ride with a regular bridle, use a hackamore.
Okay, forget experience, how about opinion?
What about a side pull?
If your horse would go well in a halter, a side pull would work.
If the horse will listen to your seat, weight and leg, you will not need much bridle.
There is nothing like a well made mouth and sympathetic riding.
I do not like (in fact, dislike) the ones that tighten under the chin, like a Dr Cooks. They can rub and I don’t see the advantage of having to put sheepskin under a horses jawbone. Dog’s choke chain will loosen, but these do not.
If you do not like metal bits, try a Sprenger Duo. It is a mullen mouth, somewhat flexible plastic bits. A lot of horses go really well in them, even jumping.
Just my 2 cents worth. Lots of opinions out there.
I am not a fan of the cross-under bitless design. It tends not to release quickly enough when you soften your hands and it puts pressure on the horse’s poll.
If you want to go that route I’d buy a Dr. Cook’s before I’d spend money on anything from Hilason.
Personally, I’ve had good luck with sidepull style bitless bridles. I like the LG Bridle (or the orbitless bridle, same design) and I also rode my horse in a Micklem using the bitless configuration.
Horze has a bitless bridle and their tack has MUCH HIGHER reviews than Hilason which seems to be mostly junk.
http://www.horze.com/bridles/horze-ravenna-bitless-bridle/10047.html?color=BL
Agree w/ Bogie about the cross under the chin models.
Many years ago, when teaching beginners, we had two methods of protecting the horse’s mouth from their hands.
- A nose band similar to a grooming halter. The bit was secured to the nose band (you can use a plastic cable tie). Light contact was felt by the horse, unintended yanks or heavy hands were transferred in large part to the nose.
- A neck strap made of an old strirup leather. The rider would hold it, and a rein in each hand.
www.victorycanter.com/Nunn-Finer-Leather-Neck-Grab-Strap-NF90.html?gclid=CIqn_JnL7swCFRIbgQodEmEAjQ
[QUOTE=ivym;8673759]
I cannot be trusted with a bit. I was all set to get a Hilason Bitless Bridle. Mostly because you can get an English lookin one. But then it said good if you have soft hands… Anyone have any experience with these?[/QUOTE]
Why can’t you be trusted with a bit?
That looks similar to the Dr cook’s, which I have and have used. If you have bad hands, you’ll just as likely piss off your horse with one of these as you would with a bit. If you have bad hands, first get some good lessons. If you want bitless then a side pull might be good.
I’m disabled znd not-so coordinated with reins.
If the above don’t work there are these-
www.dressageextensions.com/elastic-rein-attachments/p/2287/
www.halfcircleranch.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=230&idcategory=20 is a nice sidepull. Ask her if it still comes in the black english version.
Good luck! No one is good with reins in the beginning. 
Two Horse Tack makes nice biothane bridles. In Black or Brown they look a lot like leather.
http://www.twohorsetack.com/p-108-sidepull-bitless-bridle-made-from-beta-biothane-solid-colored.aspx
I absolutely abhor the Dr. Cook’s style of bitless bridles, for the same reasons everyone else is giving. Crossunder bitless bridles just don’t release. Honestly, I’d go with a sidepull. Maybe a bosal, but I’ve never tried to really ride a horse in a bosal. I have had success at the lower levels of eventing in a sidepull though. And avoid mechanical hackamores. They can be just as harsh as a bit.
This is the sidepull I use and I like it a lot (horse doesn’t seem to mind it either):
http://www.mossrockendurance.com/view_product.asp?category_ID=1&prod_ID=12
Most people don’t even notice it’s not a regular bridle, and the Beta Biothane is really nice. I use regular web and leather reins, since the synthetic won’t break in an emergency.
I used one of these, and it worked well.
Another idea. http://www.equusuniversalis.com/world/index.php/webshop/product/view/2/1
I’ve used variations on this design. I own several of them.
http://orbitlessbridle.co.uk/Gallery.html
http://www.horseandman.com/order-your-lg-bridle-here/
https://www.thehorseshoof.com/bitless_zilco.html
http://nickerssaddlery.com/products/sensation-ride-flotation-hackamore
[QUOTE=ivym;8674002]
I’m disabled znd not-so coordinated with reins.[/QUOTE]
there are several things on the market for disabled. Do you need to have hand holds attached to the reins? Rubber inserts? Do you have use of the shoulder, elbow or hand? It really does depend on your exact situation. Bitless is not any less hard on a horse that is trained for bitless, just changes where the pressure is but the pressure is still there. Maybe a talk with some of the other disabled riders might be a better source of accurate analysis for you. Good luck. I hope you find the information you need.
These are really great. The difference is that there is a jowl strap that keeps the thing steady so that you don’t have to snug the noseband down much.
[QUOTE=LookmaNohands;8674609]
These are really great. The difference is that there is a jowl strap that keeps the thing steady so that you don’t have to snug the noseband down much.
http://www.ttouch.com/shop/index.php?productID=235[/QUOTE]
I have that one also and like it. It fits well and it is pretty.
There were a couple of suggestions for the sidepull at Moss Rock Endurance. But, what’s the difference with the Freedom Bridle?
http://www.mossrockendurance.com/view_product.asp?category_ID=1&prod_ID=5
