Bitless...........

Devonshire dumpling

Devonshire dumpling

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Sooooo been reading lots of stuff about all this bitless milarky, took the youngster around the farm (massive fields) for a blast in his head collar and saddle and OMG the brakes were just the same as with the bit in, was most surprised! Stopped in walk no probs, stopped in trot no probs, so thought sod it no point faffing around and went for a gallop and guess what, brakes were fine :-) was very liberating lol.
 
Made absolutely no difference! and he was excited and had a bit of a bronc, so was wound up, still had perfect brakes ( must add he has good brakes anyway in his french link) but I like to think that is because he has been taught to stop! Steering was a bit duff, but then it's never that great rofl! Lets say it was no worse!
 
I have an English hackamore that I occasionally ride mine in - I've taken him XC in it and he's been fine. I quite like riding in them sometimes for a change! I do find though that when something really gets his goat the hackamore doesn't do a fat lot, especially when it comes to steering!
 
What benefit would I have from going bitless? He didn't seem any different, so what would be the benefit of buying a bitless bridle? Not a loaded a question, genuinally interested!
 
Devonshire dumpling said:
What benefit would I have from going bitless? He didn't seem any different, so what would be the benefit of buying a bitless bridle? Not a loaded a question, genuinally interested!
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For me, the reason i chose bitless is because i believe the bit can cause a lot of discomfort, which is not nessesary to train a horse. The nose is a lot less sensitive than the mouth, so its harder to actually hurt it. altho its still posible with rough hands.

The bit really isnt nessesary to train a horse, so why do we use it? Mostly tradition, because its always been done. You can teach a horse to do anything bitless, that a horse can do bitted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a-aV0Rsxmg

This might also help explain what the bit does in the mouth, not to scare you or anything, i just find it interesting.
 
Jennyharvey said:
For me, the reason i chose bitless is because i believe the bit can cause a lot of discomfort, which is not nessesary to train a horse. The nose is a lot less sensitive than the mouth, so its harder to actually hurt it. altho its still posible with rough hands.

The bit really isnt nessesary to train a horse, so why do we use it? Mostly tradition, because its always been done. You can teach a horse to do anything bitless, that a horse can do bitted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a-aV0Rsxmg

This might also help explain what the bit does in the mouth, not to scare you or anything, i just find it interesting.
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Awww thanks for that we have that halter too, might try that next time! Made things more clearer, he opens his mouth like that sometimes!
 
I'm certainly not anti-bits but I always think that horses should really have BETTER brakes from pressure on the nose seeing as that is what they are used to from youngsters when they are halter trained!

It probably makes more sense and is clearer to them in a perverse way.
I used to ride a warmblood mare who was useless at rein back when bitted, she would just pull her head in closer to her chest until she couldnt do that anymore, THEN go back. Rode her a few times in a dually and she stepped back straight away! It was like she finally understood what I was asking! Quite amazing really.
 
My boy came to me in a bitless bridle and it was the opposite way for us. I could never get him to work nicely in the bitless. He just stuck his nose up in the air and did whatever he wanted to do. (Not just my bad-riding, he did it with a very experienced competition rider too) He didn't like the pressure elsewhere on his head and it made him a pain in the backside. Even on a loose rein the head was still in giraffe position.

Put him in a snaffle and different horse. Really, really soft contact, uber light in my hands and head straight down, settled into work. Much happier, no messing with his head and the brakes (which were absolutely non-existant in bitless) have appeared... and no, not by me pulling on his mouth, we have brakes on a long rein without any contact now. He's just a happier horse in a bit :)

If he'd have gone nicely in the bitless, as your boy sounds like he will, I would've stuck with it. But it's not for everyone obviously.
 
Trish C said:
My boy came to me in a bitless bridle and it was the opposite way for us. I could never get him to work nicely in the bitless. He just stuck his nose up in the air and did whatever he wanted to do. (Not just my bad-riding, he did it with a very experienced competition rider too) He didn't like the pressure elsewhere on his head and it made him a pain in the backside. Even on a loose rein the head was still in giraffe position.

Put him in a snaffle and different horse. Really, really soft contact, uber light in my hands and head straight down, settled into work. Much happier, no messing with his head and the brakes (which were absolutely non-existant in bitless) have appeared... and no, not by me pulling on his mouth, we have brakes on a long rein without any contact now. He's just a happier horse in a bit :)

If he'd have gone nicely in the bitless, as your boy sounds like he will, I would've stuck with it. But it's not for everyone obviously.
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Depends how they are brought on and trained, as you say someone who is heavy handed with a bitless bridle can make a complete mess of the horse as the pressure on the poll and that is enormous.
 
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