Bitless bridles

[Leary]

I am looking for a bitless bridle but I don't know if it exists. My mare fractured her jaw and I don't really want to go back to a bit again. Trouble is, all the bitless bridles I've found put pressure around the jaw bones (exactly where I don't want any pressure at all). Does anyone know of a bitless bridle that puts pressure on the nose instead. I think I will start riding in my friends Dually headcollar, but not sure if I'm allowed to ride on the road in that. Does anyone know??

 

[stencilface]

I don't know of any bitless bridles without jaw pressure, but Archiesmummy on herre I think might know a bit more about them, so could always PM her.

As for riding in a headcollar, I don't think there is any law that you have to ride with a bit in a horses mouth, only that you are in control - people ride out in hackamores don't they and there is nothing in the horses mouth.

If you trust your horse (and try it out somewhere safe first!) then I would give that a go before any (possible) permanent solution. I have ridden out on a heacollar before with no probs

 

[Jazzelle29]

You could us a western Bosal. When fitted correctly it just applies pressure to the nose, and won't tighten around the jaw.

 

[michelleice]

only work with german hackamore so couldnt tell you but most english ones will put pressure on jaw i would imagine what about american one might be what Jazzelle said looks more like a halter than bridal

 

[Chico Mio]

The Dr Cook uses pressure on the cheeks/side of the head and poll. It does have a noseband that you are supposed to do up until you can only get one finger in it under the chin - I have mine a hole looser, but FB is used to it after two years!! The action of the reins through the rings on the noseband is on the nose and not on the jaw.

Here is a link to the diagram of how it works (scroll down to the diagram)

http://www.bitlessbridle.com/cat/Users+Manual.html

 

[dwi]

Yes you can ride on the roads with a dually because it's classed as a bitless bridle. You can't legally take a horse on the road with a headcollar. If you are in any doubt i would check with your insurer.

 

[Impy]

You could always ask your local saddler to adapt a leater headcollar for you so that there are straps that apply nose pressure. I am sure if you draw up what you want they would be able to do it for you. I would not ride out in just a headcollar as if something did happen I would have thought it is quite likely that a claim could be made that you were not in full control of the horse (even though it may be entirely approapriate for your horse, you may not be able to prove it).

 

[Leary]

Thank you all for your advice, will look into the ideas offered.