Bitless bridles/driving bridles

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walkers_dream

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Whats every ones veiws on going bitless and barefoot...

I have always personally detested the bit its self, and have different veiws on shoes, i.e driving i feel they are needed, and riding it depends what your doing...

But i have found a company that supply different types i.e side pull, and cross under bitless bridles. Im tempted to try them out on my youngster as i have said i cannot stand bits.
 
I'm planning on breaking my colt to drive using this, what type do you use, and with a stallion would you see potential hazards, bearing I'n mind he has never been coltish nor a problem temperament mind hence why he is still a colt x
 
I work for a large manufactrurer of harness and endurance saddlery and have conducted a lot of research on bitless bridles. We have a number of bitless options for riding. For endurance especially there is huge demand and some great bitless options available (as well as some not so great!) We have looked into bitless for our harness range and please don't get me wrong as I am not knocking bitless but whilst bitless might be suitable for some driving horses we feel that on the whole it is just not safe to drive bitless. Through our research we have been made aware of many catastrophic and in some cases fatal accidents resulting in bitless driving.

The potential for horrific accidents are so far greater with driving than with riding so please consider carefully before driving bitless.

FYI there are a number of new designs in driving bits that have become available in just the last 6 month. Some of these bits are very mild in design. I would probably be breaking forum rules if I were to tell you where these can be bought from but it might be worth further investigation.....
 
Im sure if its a private message its not breaking any rules, as i am interested, as its my horses well being at heart nothing else. Im sure admin would understand this, as I have found rubber bits, but there so few and far between, and never managed to find a bit the right size!
 
After many (MANY) years of riding and driving with bits, I'm now a totally bitless horsewoman.
I took on an 18hh showjumper and a 16hh ex flat racehorse, both had issues with bits and so I went bitless, both now love going out, are so relaxed that the ride has improved greatly, which means they are safer because they are less stressed.

The important factor is getting the right design for each horse and step by step training to make communication is good - accidents happen with bitted or bitless horses, training and planning are necessary to reduce risk.

The horses responded by being better behaved, so easier to control, much to other peoples surprise, less is more!
 
DDHorseslave said:
After many (MANY) years of riding and driving with bits, I'm now a totally bitless horsewoman.
I took on an 18hh showjumper and a 16hh ex flat racehorse, both had issues with bits and so I went bitless, both now love going out, are so relaxed that the ride has improved greatly, which means they are safer because they are less stressed.

The important factor is getting the right design for each horse and step by step training to make communication is good - accidents happen with bitted or bitless horses, training and planning are necessary to reduce risk.

The horses responded by being better behaved, so easier to control, much to other peoples surprise, less is more!
Click to expand...

You can not assume that all horses are stressed by their bit most well trained horses are happy confident and relaxed.
that's the norm for my horses.
I drive a carriage and aggree with the post above On bit less driving. I just would not feel safe in fact I pretty sure bit less driving is banned under our club rules.
And some bit less bridles are scarily severe.
 
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