A few bitless questions.

Meowy Catkin

Meowy Catkin

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I have no bitless experience, so please forgive the basic questions. I am considering taking my gelding down the bitless route.

Can you long rein and lead normally with a bitless bridle?
Which bitless styles are mild and which are stronger?
How do I fit a bitless bridle correctly?
Any tips for working out what type would suit him?
 
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Sorry no answers, had been using a hackamore as mine chews bits to death! Recently reverted back to a bit to do some lungeing and long reining. Have bought a Dr Cooks but not tried it yet. Will follow thread with interest.
 
Faracat said:
I have no bitless experience, so please forgive the basic questions. I am considering taking my gelding down the bitless route.

Can you long rein and lead normally with a bitless bridle?
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Yes. Although lack of normal bit rings can be a PITA.

Faracat said:
Which bitless styles are mild and which are stronger?
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In order of mildest to strongest -

Halter
Bosal
Sidepull
Crossunder
Hackamore

Faracat said:
How do I fit a bitless bridle correctly?
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Depends on the style. Some are fitted lower on the nose than others.

Faracat said:
Any tips for working out what type would suit him?
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Start with a side pull or cross under as they are mildest but will help with steering.
 
Yes you can lead/longrein on a bitless bridle.
I use a dc cooks and an english hackamore so can only give advice from them.
I find the english hackamore is the stronger one
They are both fitted with the noseband just on the end of the nasel bone.
I fancy trying the matrix as that incorperates both bridles. { google bittlessandbarefoot}
 
Will add a couple of points :)

Some bitless bridles allow opening rein aids, some don't. Some have rather more limited steering communication, some don't.

So you can give very subtle cues using a well fitted sidepull (or the fancy schmancy version, the Riding Cavesson ;) (e.g.
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)

but try to give the same kind of aid using an English Hackamore (or one I've used: the Flower Hackamore) and you run into trouble. However the hackamores are pretty good for slightly more exciting stuff provided you understand that they don't work like bits: you shouldn't ride with a full contact all the time.

Quite a few bitless bridles come with different settings. These are a great idea if you are not sure what you need. The Micklem Multibridle is one (I'm saving up for one!) - it has sidepull, scawbrig and crossunder settings.

I use an Orbitless - it can be used as a sidepull, or with a bit of poll pressure, or with a bit more poll pressure, or with a bit of curb and poll pressure, so quite versatile.
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A lot of it is about you learning about how best to ride using one (not quite the case that you ride as you would with a bit) and the horse learning to be more responsive to your seat and leg aids, IMO :)

ETA - I do longrein, but off a headcollar!
 
I should have added that he is unbacked at the moment.

He is a strong, hot, forward going chap. I can lead him easily around the yard in a headcollar but I need more control out and about (I take him for in-hand walks). I have tried many different bits with him, but he is making it quite clear that he is not happy.

He leads sweetly in a headcollar and chain. I was thinking of getting a proper bitless set up sorted, get him (and me) used to it and then use it for backing in the future. I will probably keep trying various bits every nown and again, just incase there is one that he likes out there.

ETA. The Matrix looks interesting as there are different options. http://www.bitlessandbarefoot.com/bitless-bridles.php
 
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If you want a Dr Cooks, I have one for sale - full size. I've just listed it on fleabay but can always withdraw it if you're interested...gutted as it belonged to my old horse and I need a cob size for the one I've got now.
 
Ah, I see why you ask :)

I would probably be tempted with another youngster to get a riding cavesson, and run through the whole straightness training programme on lunging and in-hand work until horse was light and responsive to aids in-hand. Then I'd be more confident he understood well enough to transfer to ridden. That's kind of what I did but there were no straightness training manuals on t'internet back then (google Marijke de Jong for e.g.).

WRT longlining - funnily enough, the one I would definitely not use for long lining is the Dr. Cook. With the lines, it would be "always on" - it wouldn't ever really release as it should, something that can even IMO be an issue ridden. Same with any hackamore with shanks (English, German) - long lines would be a real no-no.

Long lining would be fine with Micklem, sidepull, cavesson, even the non shanked type of hackamore like the Orbitless.

Leading in a bitless bridle - I do, but my horse is very light in-hand, so you can lead him anywhere now in a normal flat headcollar. He actually had a mad prance today when he saw two lady horses running up a field to meet him, and never once did I feel the slightest pressure on the rein I was leading with - he pranced while keeping slack in the rein :) But - having said that - you can get a coupling to lead from bitless bridles: I use one for LeTrec. It couples the throatlash to the back of the noseband, with a little ring you can clip lead rope on to. I got it with another bitless bridle (the Corbin, I think it was), but use it with whatever bridle I'm using if I am doing a TREC etc.
 
Have seen your questions have already been answered but I second, start with a sidepull.
I ride my Tb in a sidepull. Decided to start with the mildest sort that just works on nose pressure and he took to it instantly. There were a couple of hairy moments but now I've learnt to really ride with my body and make my aids clear through my legs and seat and we have no problems :)
For long reining I'd definitely go with a sidepull. My sort has the extra rings to attach reins with would make long reining simple :)
Have a look at www.bitlessandbarefoot.com Lots of info on there and the lady who runs the site was very helpful when I was transitioning
 
I don't often disagree with Oberon, but...
A rope bosal is mild. A conventional western bosal isn't really, and needs to be used with a bit of care. They need to be carefully fitted and you shouldn't even use them to lead forward from the ground.
I've already posted a couple of pics of one of mine ridden in one, but here again:


It's new and I'm still faffing about with the fit. I'll be adding a "git down rope" that will stop the bosal being pulled forward on his nose if I get off and decide to use the spare mecate rope for leading.
Some "cowboy" trainers use a bosal as a training stage before introducing the bit, but I'd suggest that isn't because it's mild, but because it gives quite "definite" aids. Then there is another school of thought that says a bosal can be severe if not used correctly and it comes after the snaffle bridle, when horse and rider are ready.

The key to riding bitless is getting the basics in place properly. Proper flexion and backup, really good lateral flexion and the good old yielding of hindquarters/1 rein stop.
 
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Take a look at bitlessandbarefoot.com. There is a big page which explains how each bitless works and what they are called. Also she sells a bitless called the matrix whihc converts to all the bitlesses mentioned by oberon so you can trial all of them and see which ones works best for you and your horse. I have bought a scawbrig from her and the quality is great and you can buy really nice plaiteed reins to go with it if you fancy:) I found that when I started riding bitless I had to let go of pretty much everything I had been taught previously. No pulling on the reins, no trying to half halt and et ponio in an outline but more riding with seat and turning with seat and stopping with seat and using the reins only when necessary! Im still learning and still sometimes reverty back to old behaviour as its so inbred. We are using a cordeo for lungiing now and for leading as I want to teach my mare and myself to be as light as possible. Another great sight to check out is fairhorsemanship.com. Ive been using her videos to ride cordeo style and she knows her stuff but theres some really great stuff on converting to bitless on there:) Good luck:)
 
I am interested in the Matrix as it's got different options. Also they do made to measure which might be wise considering that he has a teeny head. I will do more research before I decide.

I will remember that there are different types of bosal.

The key to riding bitless is getting the basics in place properly. Proper flexion and backup, really good lateral flexion and the good old yielding of hindquarters/1 rein stop
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I've not taught the one rein stop but he does everything else.
 
Faracat said:
I am interested in the Matrix as it's got different options. Also they do made to measure which might be wise considering that he has a teeny head. I will do more research before I decide.
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I looked at the Matrix for a while, however if you take a look at this website: http://www.bitlessandbarefoot.com/bitless-bridles.php and scroll down to the pic of the bay wearing one, it looks pretty damn uncomfortable. Perhaps it's the way that one has been adjusted, but surely having the top ring dig in to the cheekbone (as it appears to be doing) would have to be painful?
 
Ive ordered the Matrix Pro, should come this week, I like how you can alter it to try it in different ways, currently ride my mare in a Hackamore, but wanted to try the stallion bitless, and thought this was the best way to go
 
The matrix is quite popular! I nearly ordered one but couldn't wait the 4 weeks is takes to make so went for the sidepull.
I think you can trial the different bridles from that site but the matrix does look fab.
 
Faracat said:
F - Ooh, let me know how you get on. :D Also did you go for a made to measure one?

ETA - 4 weeks order time. That's good to know.
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Yes Ive gone for the made to measure, and yes it has took 4 weeks, and I was told when I ordered, and it went in the post today, Ive only ever ridden the stallion in a loose ring snaffle with a lozenge, but I do like the idea of bitless and my mare goes far better in a hackamore, no more fighting and getting my arms pulled out, she is very light in it, and im very soft with my hands... I will let you know how I get on :D
 
The Matrix is a new one on me.

I like the look of the sidepull with curb - I reckon that would suit The Tank :).
 
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