Bitless Bridle -Advice Needed Please.........

[raceyruby]

Have a 6yr old gelding with a VERY sensisitive mouth has since birth. My instructor has suggested a couple of times a week to ride in a bitless bridle to give his mouth a rest.The Hackamore which a yard friend suggested is apparently quite severe. In the Robinson equestrian book there is a Scawbrig.
He rides in a snaffle & becomes strong at a jump. I REALLY want to get this choice right so any advice greatly accepted.

Can you share you knowledge with me please. Which bridle would be best? Is there a kinder bit?

Thanks for reading.

 

[brucethegypsycob]

try a google search on dr cooks bitless bridle

 

[Pale Rider]

It is true that some bitless bridles can be severe, just as bits can be severe.

The real problem is that lots of riders ride the horses head not the horse.

The horse should really be ridden through the seat, with only the lightest contact through the rein whether a bit is used or not.

Proper schooling is the only genuine solution, though this seems harder and harder to see nowerdays even when riders are supposedly at the top of their game, haulling on the reins is a common sight and just accepted in all disciplines.

Most people blame a strong horse when this happens, basically it's poor ridden skills and poor training for the horse. If you have to get strong with your hands the horse is not responding to the seat, so you need to ask why?

Talking about horses getting excited and strong when asked to perform is no real reason to get hard with your hands. Horses should respond to the riders seat no matter what they are doing, anything else is poor and dangerous.

A real push button ride is the rider deciding, now we go fast, now slow, now we jump without the horse getting excited and taking over.

I'm not saying it's easy, because it isn't to produce a horse which will co operate with its rider as I describe, but, people should at least attempt to ride through their seat, and leave the reins alone.

 

[raceyruby]

try a google search on dr cooks bitless bridle

Actually found some old posts which have been helpful too. You just like to hear other peoples experiences to help you make the right decision. Equine knowledge shared sometimes helps you sleep better! Thank you.

 

[FionaM12]

I've just bought a "cross-under" bitless bridle new on ebay. It's very similar to a Dr Cooke, but far cheaper. My mare is a head-shaker and I wanted to try her without a bit, to see if it helps.

She goes really, really well in her new bridle. It works with a sort of all over head-hugging action and isn't severe. Certainly on my mare it seems to offer the same level of control as a bit does.

The head-shaking has stopped, but to be honest I don't think that was caused by the bit but by other factors. I probably won't always ride without a bit, I'll experiment with and without and see what suits best in the end. I'm impressed with the bridle though!

 

[jinglejoys]

"The real problem is that lots of riders ride the horses head not the horse"

Well said Palerider

 

[threeponies]

I have a Libby's scawbrig and have ridden my Highland in it for years, but I use a bit for hacking purely because she knows she can eat in the scawbrig and I can't do anything about it. I have brakes, steering etc in the scawbrig, have never had her run off ( just been 'hoovered' home eating the verges) but I would say you will need to use your legs and seat a lot more with it.

 

[Dutch1horse]

I would recommend the dr cooks bitless bridle.

 

[classicalfan]

It is true that some bitless bridles can be severe, just as bits can be severe.

The real problem is that lots of riders ride the horses head not the horse.

The horse should really be ridden through the seat, with only the lightest contact through the rein whether a bit is used or not.

Proper schooling is the only genuine solution, though this seems harder and harder to see nowerdays even when riders are supposedly at the top of their game, haulling on the reins is a common sight and just accepted in all disciplines.

Most people blame a strong horse when this happens, basically it's poor ridden skills and poor training for the horse. If you have to get strong with your hands the horse is not responding to the seat, so you need to ask why?

Talking about horses getting excited and strong when asked to perform is no real reason to get hard with your hands. Horses should respond to the riders seat no matter what they are doing, anything else is poor and dangerous.

A real push button ride is the rider deciding, now we go fast, now slow, now we jump without the horse getting excited and taking over.

I'm not saying it's easy, because it isn't to produce a horse which will co operate with its rider as I describe, but, people should at least attempt to ride through their seat, and leave the reins alone.

BRAVO!!! Well said!