Western dressage: showing in a bosal or bitless bridle

[Draftmare]

I asked because bullying, including online bullying, is usually a symptom of unhappiness of the bully and the need to make others feel as miserable as they do.

And yes, obviously wanting to upgrade my 1970s all steel horse trailer to a newer aluminium trailer is directly related to asking about riding my horse bitless (sarcasm). :yes:

I am also laughing, and would love to know, how you came to the conclusion that every time I make a post on here I quit riding… :lol: I am out riding four to five days a week, including a weekly lesson, and haul to a USDF judge for a lesson once a month. No shortage of riding happening here, much to Sydney’s dismay.

[csaper58]

[QUOTE=jdobbs64;9037929]
COTH’s forums are social forums focused on horses. They are not a trainer, a riding lesson, a therapist, a coach, a vet, a farrier, a braider, a nutritionist… or a bazaar[/QUOTE]

For many posters COTH serves all the functions you listed, it even has classifieds, and a give away forum.

That is their option and their choice, which does not need to be governed, or approved of, by you.

[jdobbs64]

And the OP will do as she wishes, won’t she?

[csaper58]

[QUOTE=Draftmare;9038005]
I asked because bullying, including online bullying, is usually a symptom of unhappiness of the bully and the need to make others feel as miserable as they do.

And yes, obviously wanting to upgrade my 1970s all steel horse trailer to a newer aluminium trailer is directly related to asking about riding my horse bitless (sarcasm). :yes:

I am also laughing, and would love to know, how you came to the conclusion that every time I make a post on here I quit riding… :lol: I am out riding four to five days a week, including a weekly lesson, and haul to a USDF judge for a lesson once a month. No shortage of riding happening here, much to Sydney’s dismay.[/QUOTE]

I think you are defining bullying as any comment or turn in the discussion that you do not like.

I would think that a compassionate owner would not ride a horse with a broken bit/bit the horse does not like.

or a saddle they know does not fit as discussed in several of your other threads.

Your thread on your horse’s leg injury detail’s how long she was not ridden this summer.

With a PSSM horse if you push to make up for lost time, it can cause muscle soreness and lead to resistance.

All of which can present as resistance and/or a heavy in the bridle issue.

And that is the topic of this thread.

[Draftmare]

In case anybody is interested, WDAA did get back to me, and no metal is allowed in the hackamore, they also made it sounds like they must all be made out leather of some kind. I think that would narrow it down to just sidepulls and maybe indian bosals.

[NoSuchPerson]

[QUOTE=Draftmare;9038103]
In case anybody is interested, WDAA did get back to me, and no metal is allowed in the hackamore, they also made it sounds like they must all be made out leather of some kind. I think that would narrow it down to just sidepulls and maybe indian bosals.[/QUOTE]

I suspect that when they think “bitless,” they are thinking primarily of the Dr. Cook’s bitless bridle.

[jdobbs64]

or a real bosal, yes.

[Draftmare]

Yes, or a real bosal.

I agree, I think they are just thinking of Dr. Cook bridles, or bosals. Friend of mine has one that she is going to let me try. I never really liked the idea of the “whole head squeeze” but I wouldn’t mind at least giving it a try.

[Pocket_Pony]

I’ve used a Dr Cook’s, a side pull, and a bosal. As far as something feeling similar to a regular snaffle bridle, the Dr Cook’s is the most to give that feeling. The bosal is different and requires nuanced instruction. The side pull is more basic and dull, IMHO. I used the Dr Cook’s for the jumping phases of eventing.

I know a lot of people dislike the cross-under style, but I never had any problems with it and still use it for trail riding.

[Ceylon_Star]

For something a little different - not quite a sidepull, not quite an indian bosal/hackamore, there’s the LightRider bitless bridle. http://www.lightriderbridle.com/

They also have a noseband attachment to make your existing bridle bitless.

A friend of mine has one of the attachemnts, and it seems to work well. Bit more “oomph” than a plain sidepull, but not as confusing/squeezing as a crossunder style either.

[goodhors]

OP better get clarification on sidepull usage in competition. With goal being “Western” Dressage, they will be using Western tack. That means a traditional Hackamore with the bosal.

Nothing about a sidepull or the variations is traditional Western tack. Which kind of makes all the sidepull discussion useless.

OP needs to learn the Rules she will be competing under, details of allowed tack, before going further with “what if I try” questions. Western competitions are much deeper than “just buying a Cowboy outfit” and expecting to be a winner.

[Draftmare]

I have already nixed the idea of showing in one, now I am just looking for one to play around with. My instructor feels that we really need to show in a bit since the understanding of bosals seems to be lacking with most USDF dressage judges.

[gaitedincali]

Nothing about a sidepull or the variations is traditional Western tack. Which kind of makes all the sidepull discussion useless.

Very little of ‘western dressage’ is traditional western either though. I could show a 3yo in a spade bit using 2 hands to direct rein and a cavesson strapping his mouth shut and that would be perfectly fine and dandy per WD rules.

[Draftmare]

@gaitedincali

Very little of ‘western dressage’ is traditional western either though. I could show a 3yo in a spade bit using 2 hands to direct rein and a cavesson strapping his mouth shut and that would be perfectly fine and dandy per WD rules.

They are still learning and refining the rules, though I am still frustrated that a Boucher isn’t allowed since it is perfectly legal in regular dressage. :no:

I am really excited that my local GMO is really pulling out all the stops this year to get the judges all on the same page with what to expect from a western dressage horse. The judging the past two years has really been all over the place except for a select few judges that have an actual interest in western dressage. They are doing a big two day clinic next month and have sent out invites to all of the judges that they use. I hope most of them show up. Mostly I am hoping that there will be some clarification on exactly what kind of trot the judges want to see. I have gotten comments about being too slow, too fast, and everything in between from judges. I have no idea what they want to see at the trot.

[spaceagevalkyrie]

@NoSuchPerson

I tried a couple different Mylers and had no luck with any of them with my mule. They all have too much movement. He seems to prefer a bit that offers good tongue relief and that doesn’t move inside his mouth, i.e. no joints.

Thus far, his least hated bits seem to be the Bomber Happy Tongue and Bomber Blue. Both are supposedly dressage legal under USEF, but I don’t know if they are also approved for western dressage.

YAY another Bombers happy tongue fan! Thought I was the only one who appreciated them on this side of the atlantic :D. I was actually going to post that as my suggestion but you beat me to it

OP, the best place to score the aforementioned magical unicorn bit is off of the uk ebay site. Sign in with your usa ebay account and it should work fine, I’ve ordered several that way.

[Pocket_Pony]

@Draftmare

In case anybody is interested, WDAA did get back to me, and no metal is allowed in the hackamore, they also made it sounds like they must all be made out leather of some kind. I think that would narrow it down to just sidepulls and maybe indian bosals.

I didn’t notice this comment when I posted a reply last time. One thing I noticed when I used the Dr. Cook’s in the past is that the leather version is “sticky” and doesn’t release as well as the beta/biothane version. Something to consider…

[Draftmare]

Wanted to update this since I got another email back from WDAA, Indian bosals are not legal, but the Micklem bridle set up in the bitless configuration (cross under or under the chin) are legal. I have a Micklem that I ride in a side pull configuration from time to time, but I would be worried that the judges would say its illegal since it isn’t mentioned in the rules anywhere. I suggested to the WDAA that they maybe update their bitless rule section since it is a bit confusing on what is okay and what isn’t okay. Nothing with metal is permitted, but the Indian bosal, which doesn’t have metal in it, is also not permitted. The Micklem, which in one of the configurations works much like an Indian bosal, is permitted… Very confusing!! :eek:

[Highflyer]

If you show in it, be sure and print out that email and keep a copy in your truck/ show kit so you can show it to a TD if there is an issue.