Bitless??? Please help me?

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kateknights

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Hi, I am having a few problems with my 5yo, he throws his head up when anxious, so violently somethimes how he doesn't hit me in the face i'll never know! It makes riding him no fun!
He doesn't always do it. I can't pinpoint why he does it, there's no consistency to it, some days he doesn't do it at all!
He does have rather a chunky tongue, he is ridden in a ns fulmer snaffle.
I just wondered if he were yours would you try bitless? I really don't want to try gadgets as he's so young, but really want to help him as he's obviously not happy about something and i hate the thought of him not being happy.
He is up to date with saddle, teeth and back, so they are all ruled out.
Please advise me, i am at a loss and will give most things a try?
Thanks in advance
Kate x
 
Sometimes its a case of trial and error with bits; My pony throws his head up if you put him in a single jointed bit and anything with too much poll pressure;

He hates Pelhams/Kimblewicks and Hanging cheek snaffles. But seems to go great in a french link gag ( I know they are supposed to raise the head?! ) and at the minute he's going nicely in a Thom Thumb with copper rollers.

My other pony just has a Myler comfort snaffle


See if you can borrow or hire some bits to try before you commit; Have also heard good things about NS bits
 
Bitless is great, but it isn't for everyone, or, indeed, for every horse.

If he has a thick tongue then the likelihood is that the joint of your bit is hitting the top of his mouth.. many natives, for example, have this problem. A French link may well solve your problem, also although it goes against all we are taught, some horses are more comfortable in a thinner bit.

If you do want to go bitless then the Dr Cook offers a very genuine trial with a full refund if it doesn't suit. We have 2 in Dr C's, one in a french link, one in an english hackamore and one who goes in anything at all!
 
Head chucking you say? Hmm, you may find that a more steady bit would help. First try would be a Mullen mouth, see if that helps. For bitless
 
It really depends on the horse so if you think he'll be a good boy and stop then have a go, you're the only one who knows that though. I use a dr cooks on mine and she is very good, though I also sorted out the bitting issues and she is sweet in a myler comfort.
 
It really depends on the horse so if you think he'll be a good boy and stop then have a go, you're the only one who knows that though. I use a dr cooks on mine and she is very good, though I also sorted out the bitting issues and she is sweet in a miler comfort.
 
hiya x i know you said he was up to date with teeth, but it could be ulcers. we had our ponies' teeth done today and the dentist found big ulcers from our mares happy mouth bit, so were going bitless (she also shakes her head) It could be pollen, try a nose net? ours both have them on, helps alot!!!
GOOD LUCK!!! xxx
 
I bit the bullet and rode Archie successfully in a bit for 3 1/2 years. He took to it immediately and it was only a confidence issue of my own that led me to put a Happy Mouth bit in but Archie himself gave me no cause to change, it was purely me.

Give it a go but I would suggest someone walking out with you, perhaps on a loose lead first of all then off the lead in a safe area. I rode along a bridleway with no chance of coming to a road or we parted or if he did decide to tank off somewhere where he could air his lungs and I could get control back in good time. Saying that my precautions were unnecessary, he was brilliant and took to it like a duck to water. He listens to my voice and I use my seat so do not particularly pull on a bit anyway. The bitless hugs the head and exerts some poll pressure but unless you are trying to bring him back from a bolt, more or less, you should not need to exert much pressure at all. With Archie it was a little tweak on the reins and my voice and he slowed or stopped accordingly.

You must have a bit of faith in what you are doing but I would say give it a go. I saw a highly spirited Arab at a show being ridden in one recently and, ok, it was very high spirited but the rider kept the ticking bomb under her seat under control and its mouth free from any damage.

Good luck x
 
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