My wife and I ride both our Arabs in Dr. Cooks Bitless Bridle. I also use one on my OTTB. I tried a side pull, but could not find one that I liked, or that my horses like. The Bitless is working great. My friends tell me I am crazy, and that I will never stop my horses with this thing. But they stop, turn, and respond greatly. These are wired horses, so it is not like we are riding dead dogs. Just my 2 cents.
Thank you all for a great discussion. I have been thinking of a sidepull for one of my horses & this is most timely. I do not like the cross-under style bitless bridles but like the looks of the ones referenced with links in this thread. 
I’m in agreement with old morgan. the discussion has been most interesting. i have looked at the web sites and I think i know what I want. I will be going to the equine affair in Jan and hope to see some up close to help me with my decision.
These are the nicest available; http://www.buckarooleather.com/hobbles/category/31/headstalls/sidepulls/sidepull-headstalls.html
I start babies in the Pro/leather nose.
Drat. 
I heard one other report like that a while back. I think the business is a one-woman show that sometimes gets bogged down by other parts of life. Too bad, because they really are nice bridles.
I rode my Arab alone the other day. For the first time ever he felt as if he wanted to run off. I had turned, on a trail he knows well, in a direction that I am sure he thought we were headed home. I urged him to a canter, and when I ducked under a low tree branch I inadvertently lost the reins. He bolted forward, and began to run. While it was exciting, I knew I had to pull him up if I could get the reins back. This was a true test to his response to the Bitless bridle. No worries, though as a slight tug on one rein slowed him to a canter, and then a jog and a stop. If I did not before, I now have complete trust in this bridle. Just goes to show that it is not the equipment, but the training that stops the horse. 
[QUOTE=Attack;6049207]
I rode my Arab alone the other day. For the first time ever he felt as if he wanted to run off. I had turned, on a trail he knows well, in a direction that I am sure he thought we were headed home. I urged him to a canter, and when I ducked under a low tree branch I inadvertently lost the reins. He bolted forward, and began to run. While it was exciting, I knew I had to pull him up if I could get the reins back. This was a true test to his response to the Bitless bridle. No worries, though as a slight tug on one rein slowed him to a canter, and then a jog and a stop. If I did not before, I now have complete trust in this bridle. Just goes to show that it is not the equipment, but the training that stops the horse. [/QUOTE]
A good verbal whoa command would have come in handy in that situation. I can’t take credit for his training, but my gelding will stop if I yell STOP. That came in handy when I lost my reins on a steep downhill, and he started cantering down the hill. I yelled STOP, and miraculously, he did.
[QUOTE=Equibrit;6034074]
These are the nicest available; http://www.buckarooleather.com/hobbles/category/31/headstalls/sidepulls/sidepull-headstalls.html
I start babies in the Ultimate/leather nose.[/QUOTE]
Oh wow, I love Buckaroo Leather and had no idea they had the type with the jowl strap, which keeps the entire nose/sidepull area stable!!! Love the design, but wonder why they still have a seperate regular throatlatch? Do you think it is just for “looks”? There is no way a side pull would “slip over the head/ears” if it has that jowl-strap
NICE! Thanks for the link. I like the all-leather, too…
[QUOTE=Equibrit;6034074]
These are the nicest available; http://www.buckarooleather.com/hobbles/category/31/headstalls/sidepulls/sidepull-headstalls.html
I start babies in the Ultimate/leather nose.[/QUOTE]
Equibrit,
Which one specifically do you use? Can you provide the link to that particular sidepull? I have a young gelding I need to start this spring. He has been recovering from a neurological injury where he broke a cervical vertebra and compressed his spine. During the initial recovery phase he banged his head hard enough to give himself Bells Palsy. He is almost completely recovered, but he still has some symptoms of the Bell’s Palsy, including a drooping lower lip and a slightly twisted upper lip. I would like to stay away from a bit if I can.
Thank you!
Just make sure that your baby has his verbal cues down, by lunging/double lunging/ground driving him, before you back him. This sidepull is also good for just hanging a bit in horse’s mouth, and then using one rein for the bit and one for the sidepull, before using the bit exclusively.
I realize this thread is 2 year old, but I loved the information.
I am thinking about getting this one for my morgan and wonder if it is too soft. My trainer suggested a single rope sidepull and I really love the look of this one (Though I LOVE the smart bridle, trainer thinks it is a bit soft)
http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/descpage.html?pcode=RJMSPTB
Is anyone riding in this now? How are your feelings on it… is it too soft? harsh?
He goes along well in a halter for ground driving but I can never get fully comfortable in riding in a halter. Does this have a good stop?
Thoughts?
Thanks.
The thing about a leather sidepull bridle is that it will take the shape of the horse’s head and have a bit of stick to it, like a nice glove. You just can’t get that in nylon or rope, it’s just not possible. It will want to shift and move= not good in a sidepull.
Rod’s has a leather nosed one:
http://www.rods.com/flat-leather-nose-sidepull.html
or Shutz Brothers
http://www.schutzbrothers.com/products/249/Rope-Nose-Side-Pulls
You really just won’t be happy in a rope or nylon sidepull. the dead fabric will bug you 
This is the one I really really really like… but trainer says it is too soft. Which to me means he would ignore it and I may as well ride in a halter. -pouts- I really love this one too.
http://www.runningbear.com/catpages/Smart-Bridle-Photos-SP.html
If you’d like to build your pecs, lats, and upper arms in general, that’s the one for you
Yeah, that was the general point from Trainer too LOL.
I like this style bridle:
I have an LG bridle which is similar but it’s harder to get in the US now.
You can adjust the curb action from none to a bit. I used this out hunting and found that with slight curb action and verbal cues it was great.
I use a Micklem Competition Bridle on my Morgan as a sidepull, just leave off the bit straps and attach the reins to the same rings as the chin groove strap. The rings aren’t as big as the ones on the Multibridle but it works great, just can’t use unusually wide reins.
[QUOTE=morgannut;7009100]
I use a Micklem Competition Bridle on my Morgan as a sidepull, just leave off the bit straps and attach the reins to the same rings as the chin groove strap. The rings aren’t as big as the ones on the Multibridle but it works great, just can’t use unusually wide reins.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I’ve done that too.
I do endurance and trail rides on my Arab in the Running Bear sidepull. My Arab loves it. He’s HOT when he’s fired up, but he respects input from whatever is on his face. I can get him ‘on the bit’ in the sidepull nearly as well as he’ll go on the bit in his snaffle.
I also love the fact that the Running Bear bridle can have a bit clipped to it so I can start a ride in a bit if he’s acting like a fool and take it off later (I can actually do it from the saddle) when he chills out. It’s been over a year since I’ve had to start with a bit or put it on mid ride, but I like the option. I also like that its a one size fits all kind of deal. It fits everything from my Arab’s little cob sized head to my friend’s TB/Clyde cross.
I’ve yet to find a horse that, with some training, couldn’t go in the RB sidepull. This includes my friend’s OTQH who tends to want to RUNALLTHETIME!!!
