Bitless bridle help please

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Jesstickle

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No, I haven't gone over to NH quite yet ;) Nitty needs her wolf teeth pulling (I knew she had them but hadn't felt for myself until yesterda but the near side one is so far forward there is no way it isn't getting walloped by her bit when I pull the reins) so I can't ride with a bit right now. Obviously will call the vet and get her booked in but in the mean time, and whilst she heals, I was thinking bitless (purely because I am sick of going back to the start with her and would really like to keep momentum this time!)

Would you all just ride off the headcollar or would you buy a bitless bridle. If so which one?

She doesn't really understand the bit and does pretty much everything off my voice atm anyway so she'd switch to bitless pretty easily I'm sure. I just don't know if my headcollar will be ok or if I should invest.

It'll be money thrown away as I'm not likely to use it beyond three weeks time. Any advice?
 
jesstickle said:
No, I haven't gone over to NH quite yet ;) Nitty needs her wolf teeth pulling (I knew she had them but hadn't felt for myself until yesterda but the near side one is so far forward there is no way it isn't getting walloped by her bit when I pull the reins) so I can't ride with a bit right now. Obviously will call the vet and get her booked in but in the mean time, and whilst she heals, I was thinking bitless (purely because I am sick of going back to the start with her and would really like to keep momentum this time!)

Would you all just ride off the headcollar or would you buy a bitless bridle. If so which one?

She doesn't really understand the bit and does pretty much everything off my voice atm anyway so she'd switch to bitless pretty easily I'm sure. I just don't know if my headcollar will be ok or if I should invest.

It'll be money thrown away as I'm not likely to use it beyond three weeks time. Any advice?
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If she is safe in a headcollar - then headcollar is fine (obv not for hacking due to insurance).

If you need 'more' then you can pick up a cheaper cross-under or side-pull from eBay.
 
ApacheWarlord said:
These are quite good, and fairly mild compared to a lot of the bitless bridles:-

http://www.horseandharmony.co.uk/libbys-scawbrig-bitless-bridle-949-p.asp
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Thanks for the link :)

Oberon said:
If she is safe in a headcollar - then headcollar is fine (obv not for hacking due to insurance).

If you need 'more' then you can pick up a cheaper cross-under or side-pull from eBay.
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I think she'll be fine in her headcollar tbh, she pretty much stops dead when I say woah. Reins don't do much as of yet! lol

I will try her in her headcollar and see what happens. If I vanish it means she has taken off with me and we are in the next county :D
 
dafthoss said:
What about BH's head collar with the chain if you struggle in a normal one?
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I could do that. Two sets of reins would probably work and I probably wouldn't even need the second set

marydoll said:
If you need a loan of a FS dr cooks you can try mine, Personally me and mine didnt like it
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thank you marydoll, that's very kind of you. Sadly she has an absolutely weeny head and is only just in a cob sized bridle. I really do think she'd fit into a pony size if you let it down a bit :eeK:
 
Halter may be slightly better than head collar due to fineness of it, give you a little more measure of control than a head collar (though big beasties as they are can do as they please regardless sometimes :) )
 
agree with flerty gerty

i ride newly broken horses in the dually with reins att

cost about 40 quid and next day delivery

and they are v useful bits of kit for groundwork etc so you're not throwing money away on soon to be unused tack

(in case anyone doesn't know, these are the Monty Roberts' headcollars and have 2 rings attached to a second 'noseband' -
they are designed to be used as bitless 'bridles' for starters, attach reins to each of the rings
as well as their primary use for groundwork, when you att a lunge line to ONE of the rings)
 
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Malaga was started in a Rope Halter/Hackamore and has done about 200 hrs in it so could use a bit for refinement but I'm happy hacking him and continueing his experiance.However its not just a case of putting on a head peace and off you go.Reins are the last bit of the equipement I call on so if you are really reliant on your reins and bit it might be fun just to do more work on groundwork and practising not using your reins to "steer"/stop :)
 
jinglejoys said:
M if you are really reliant on your reins and bit it might be fun just to do more work on groundwork and practising not using your reins to "steer"/stop :)
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I don't get the impression that she is!

jesstickle said:
I think she'll be fine in her headcollar tbh, she pretty much stops dead when I say woah. Reins don't do much as of yet! lol
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Thank you all for the replies :)

One of the ponies on the yard has a dually I could probably borrow of an evening to ride in or I can probably stretch to a rope halter if not. Lots of good suggestions that I wouldn't have thought of ( I don't have much imagination!)

She really does stop dead. It wouldn't get us many marks in a dressage test. I say woah and she just bangs to a halt. I have been in danger of shooting up her neck on more than once occasion! lol. If I pull anything to stop it is usually her neck strap at the moment. Mouths being sacred and all :)
 
Tickles said:
http://www.nags-equestrian.co.uk/

Cheap, cheerful and customisable as they are made to order :-)

Good service too.
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Good grief - that's a good price. Thanks for the link
highfive.gif
 
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