[Kirsty f]

  Hi there,

Ive always liked the idea of riding with a bit-less bridle, still never tried.  Does anyone have any opinions or advice good or bad.

Thanks Kirsty

[Alistair]

Tried it once on a freinds showjumper, didn't like it, less control, even less stopping control, she used it to try and correct some issues, horse back on a bit now, mind she knows what she's doing

Why?, can't see the attraction myself

[Rosemary]

I used to ride my Highland in a Parelli halter but at that time we were doing a lot of Parelli stuff. I drove him in a Liverpool bit and I use that now - he seems fine with it too, but likes it warmed up if the weather is cold 

Bitting is really complicated because there are so many types and variations and they work in different ways and with different levels of severity - a hell of a lot of it depends on who's on the end of it though - and some folk just see it as a quick fix for other issues, like flash nosebands and stuff.

The bit should be a way of communicating with the horse on a more subtle level than pull to go left, right or stop but I think it's hard to get that level of subtlety unless you work pretty hard at your riding.

I've got a Dr Cook's for Bug but haven't used it yet. This summer for sure 

[feldar]

We had an irish hunter that would get his tongue over the bit constantly whatever method we used to stop him, so hubby changed to a bitless bridle which worked a treat he was a much happier contented horse in it.
Saying that, my Halflinger was totally uncontrollable in it! where i did dressage with him he actually looked for the bit to take, so he could mouth it and rise up onto it, the bitless bridle left him totally confused.
So its different for every horse, can you not try one out before you buy?

[Alistair]

Couldn't agree more, I'm working very hard on my riding at the moment, to the extent I'm having lunge lessons once a week & jumping lessons once a week as well at the moment, the lunge lessons are amazing in their results, I've noticed that I'm not using the reins with as much force as I was, not that I was ever that aggressive with them, but I've got far more finesse than I had, probably because I've got my weight, seat and legs in the right places

[SallyintNorth]

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts if you do have a go.  My own feeling is that pretty much everything you see for controlling the lead and/or ridden horse, including the wonderful Dually, is about applying pressure somewhere, and different horses have different sensitive spots.  The most important thing is to release the pressure when the horse does as it's asked  - and for some riding styles you want the horse pushing into the pressure (coming up onto the bit), so that has to be confusing when there is no bit! 

I had a great riding teacher some time ago, she really got you using your weight, and getting the horses onto the bit so that you could steer them with the lightest of touches, rarely more than a tightening of the fingers on the reins... happy days!    (Oh, except one failed racehorse, who went BarmPot every so often and couldn't be stopped by any means!   )

These days my ponies seem very happy with a simple snaffle, and a Liverpool for driving, so I've not felt the need to explore other options so far.  Do let us know what you find out if you do explore!

[mowhaugh]

My 'default mode' is snaffle, unless I have a reason to change it.  If your pony is happy in what you are using at the moment, then I would leave things as they are.  If there is an issue, then you need to pinpoint what it is (someone else looking on is always very helful here) then think through what the best solution might be, which may or may not be bitless.  I have used a Dr Cook's on a horse who was normally ridden in a happy mouth snaffle (he was an ex racer who was exceptionally strong, but also had a very soft mouth and objected quite dramatically to anything else) when he had to have a tooth removed.  He went beautifully in it and seemed happy, I probably would have continued riding him in it, but it was just borrowed and he did like his happy mouth too.

[lord flynn]

I agree that if horse is happy as it don't change it for the sake of it. I start my youngsters off bitless though (even though they've been bitted by that time). I long rein in a padded out, well fitting headcollar and progress to a sidepull, then I'll ride in a sidepull before progressing to a bit.  I tend to have breeds that don't have alot of room in their mouths and have a bit bank to address that.

[sabrina]

I had a horse who had a fear of the bit. He had been badly broken and his mouth damaged. We bought him from Ireland as a 5 year old. Every time I tried to school him he would go mental. Nothing seem to work and then one day my OH was watching while I was riding in the paddock and he said maybe if we took away the bit things would improve. he went online to see what he could find. Next thing I knew a bridle was on its way from America. I cannot remember what it was called but the reins crossed over under the chin and there was suppose to be pressure on the poll. It worked wonders. One happy horse that could go show jumping, cross country, hacking. It was amazing the change in him. We could not do dressage with it but I was just happy that he could enjoy life again without fear. When I had to stop riding with my back we sold him on with all his history and tack telling the new owner not to put a bit in his mouth.

[shygirl]

iv often hacked in a dually but i wouldnt on the road and it isnt sharpen enough.
hackamores are sharper but you have to be experienced.
i think a snaffle is as kind but all bits are as the hands using it.

[Hevxxx99]

I've ridden (mostly) bitless for the past 40 years using anything from a length of rope to parelli (same thing really) to an english hackamore and don't find a need for a bit most of the time other than as a requirement some competions.  There are some horses who take a little while to get used to bitless and it takes a while for the rider to get used to it too as the "feel" is a little different from both ends!

Bitless is exellent for horses with damaged mouths, and a boon for headshakers and horses that get either over or under the bit as they seem to not need to evade in the same way without something in their mouth.

If you use a hackamore, be sure it is an english design, not german which are far harsher with long shanks and that you have it sitting well up on the horse's nose: about midway between the nostrils and the cheekbone as the nosebone can be damaged if it is too low.

[Steph Hen]

Horses broken western style use a bit less bridle, a bosal and the horse is ridden in that till he learns about neck reining and what's going on before a bit is used. It works beautifully for a horse who's forward going and willing, but on one who spends the whole time napping and trying to get home it wasn't fine and quick enough to nip it in the bud. If it's not broken don't fix it. But I did ride one horse who had a dreadful mouth, ridden only by strong men in a gag and still deemed mad. She had great manners from the ground and I decided to jump on bare back one day with the lead rope just to one side. She was lovely, but the owner didn't believe anyone would dare, so my mum took a photo the next time.

[Fortuna]

All my horses, including my Irish Hunter that I rode for 15 years and NEVER bitted, can be ridden in a bosal. 


We train all our horses Western and ride mainly with our body weight, including for the stop.


They are all taught to neck rein but bear in mind, this is something that is done with body movement and re-enforced with a rein laying on the neck.


We ride on the roads, on the beach, in the forrest - all on a bosal.


A horse can be trained to do anything you want, with enough practice and schooling.  Remember, stopping a bolting horse is easier with a tight turn than dragging on a bit!


Don't be afraid to try it and see if you like it - your horse may turn into a different animal!

[Kirsty f]

Thank you all for your responses.  I will let you know how it goes if I decide to try

Regards

Kirsty

[jinglejoys]

Its not about the bit its about the training.
Malaga was started in a rope hackamore and has never worn anything else but we practice before we get on and before we start off on every ride and I always feel I've lost a point in the game if I use the reins anyway
(Sorry tried to post a photo but it refuses to paste the url)