Bitless help - calling Endurance Riders too!

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Sheri

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I am due to take part in my first fun ride on Sox (our Arab) this weekend ready for your first NCR ride the following week.

Sox is 16 a gelding and a typical crazy arab. He has done alot of dressage and is ridden in a hanging snaffle for this, he used to get very stressed and so we have taken the decision to leave the dressage etc to my other horse and do some endurance with him so that he can have some fun.

When I have out in company I have no brakes and not to many when I am on my own, he throuws his head up and bolts (throught over excitability) I have tried every thing under the sun and nothing stops him. I have started riding in a German Hackamore and he is fab in it, untill in company, I have a lot more breaks now and he no longer throws his head up which is great, however I am unhappy with it as it is marking his nose (this does go after a short while of untacking) but I feel it must be quite uncomfortable, plus I have slight turning issues because of the way the shanks are joined.

So! my questions are....

anyone one use a bitless bridle if so which one, why and is it good

Should I try an english hackamore as the hoseband is alot nicer (for him) but its meant to be less severe?

I dont want to tack him to the eyeballs becasue of the endurance but at the same time I want to be safe and enjoy the ride?

What would you suggest

Any advice would be great
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Pickle goes quite nicely in a dr cooks bitless. The only reason I no longer use it is that I have started doing dressage now. They are definetly worth a try.
 
Hi Sheri, I do Endurance Riding and it is really important to have good brakes, you're quite right to put some thought into it!
I used a Dr Cook's Bitless Bridle throughout the winter on Boris and I really rated it. It was just as effective as a snaffle but I would say it was more comfortable for the horse if Boris' low, relaxed head carriage and happy demeanor were anything to go by. I just didn't feel it provided me with enough brakes for the excitement of an endurance ride though so I now use a pelham. I may well just be a coward.
You may find an endurance ride quite tough if you have an exciteable horse as it can involve a lot of horses passing you (the pleasure rides are low-key but more advanced endurance riders use them for training and they do fast average speeds). What I would advise is to aim for a fast speed, that way you shouldn't have too many people overtaking you and you might find it more enjoyable. Make sure Sox is really fit so he can cope with it of course! Good luck.
 
Don't do endurance - yet! But I do ride in a Dr Cook which my horse loved before he had his accident, he's getting used to it again after 9 months of no work.
 
Brill thanks all, I will have a good look into them now

I have been looking at the s-hackamore this morning but I'm not sure...

I cant wait to get started, I figure he will get used long distances and riding with lots of others and I have worked so hard on getting him super fit just incase he wants to canter the whole thing!!

Will keep you updated
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Sounds like you're doing all the right things Sheri - if he is as fit as you say then you can do all the overtaking which he will love!!
 
Well today was the Sponsored Ride (the warm up for the Endurance Ride next week)

German Hackamore + Sox = No Brakes!

Seriously talk about bolting I actually had to wrap the reins around my hands with I know is really stupid but I litrally couldn't hold him at all. (was still fab though)

What I loved the most was asking 2 girls if we could pass by and them cantering off causing my horse to completely bolt with me! Thanks!

I am contacting Myler tomorrw with regards to their combination bits.

Any one use one?If so what are you horses issues and do they work!
 
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