Who has used a sidepull with bit-hanger?

[Ozalynda]

I would like to start my newest youngster with a sidepull, and am considering a sidepull that has a bit-hanger as well. Has anyone here used a sidepull in combination with a bit? Does the hardware interfere with each other?

Our endurance rules in Denmark do not allow the use of sidepulls in competitions, only bits or leverage hackamores. However, a sidepull with a bit as well is fine.

I even wonder about how it would work with a pelham converter between the sidepull and the bit…

Looking forward to ideas. I am open to all of them…

-Lisa

[Guilherme]

We’ve used a side pull on occasion, usually with horses that have some sort of mouth pathology or conformational issue. They are just fine for that.

But to add a bit to a device that is designed to be used without one leads to the question, “why?”

If you need a bit then use a properly designed headstall and you’re good to go.

If you’re not American then you might not be familiar with two Americanisms:

First, KISS.

Keep
It
Short &
Simple

Or, another one is “Don’t try and re-invent the wheel.”

If a horse has a physical issue that prevents use of a bit then go with the side pull, hackemore, bosal, etc. Train appropriately for that device. If it doesn’t then use a bit appropriate to the horse and discipline. Don’t let “philosophy” trump several millenia of horsemanship.

Good luck in your program.

G.

[irish_horse]

I considered getting the same setup, mainly because my horse is fine in a sidepull…after 20 miles! In an endurance ride I’d like to drop the bit eventually. I haven’t gotten around to ordering anything, but I considered this:

https://www.thedistancedepot.com/mobile/Product.aspx?id=1608

[LookmaNohands]

I have used a bit hanger. I start horses in a sidepull but then combine it with a bit for a while, then when they are ready I drop the sidepull and just use a bit. That way they don’t develop resistances to the bit.

I have also used spur straps instead of the bit hanger. It works a little better.

[DMK]

A half breed? I used to start horses in them all the time, and generally used them instead of a side pull. We would just start out letting the bit just “be there” and use the sidepull rings. Then graduate to two reins to transition and finally just use the reins.

The only reason I stopped using mine is it just wasn’t large enough for young TBs, etc - back then they were mostly designed to fit 2 year old QH faces. But a halter and headstall worked pretty good for my last baby’s transition period (since he showed on the line as a two year old he was more than familiar with a bit, so it was a pretty quick transition)

[Lisa_Preston]

That’s an inexpensive set-up (you can make it for less than ten bucks, um worth of euros), and I can see two reasons in the thread already why you might want this set-up. I’ve made it and used it, but I’m so partial to the cross-jaw (much better stopping than a side-pull) that I stick with it, even for starting a baby.

[Ozalynda]

Thanks everyone,
Yes, the whole point is make the transition to the bit as much of a non-issue as possible as he will have had it hanging in his mouth for a long time before reins are set on it, and by that point will be used to all the signals from the sidepull.

And the reason I can’t just stay with a sidepull is, as I mentioned, they are not permitted in Danish endurance rules.

Lisa, I am tending away from the crossjaw as it is my impression that you never get a total release with that. Your experience?

[Plumcreek]

When starting colts, I used both a side pull headstall and split ear snaffle bridle with one over the other. At first, I hung the bridle outside the side pull, and ran the reins through the snaffle rings to the side pull ring, which gave a slight feel on the bit when I pulled on the side pull rein. Later, I hung the bridle inside the side pull, with the reins on the snaffle bit ring, and that gave a
back-up sideways head pull to the snaffle bit, if pulled hard. Worked well.

[Bogie]

I have used a Micklem bridle both as a sidepull and converting it to a bitted bridle by using the bit hangers it comes with. It worked just fine and it’s a nice piece of tack.