Bitless

Yes, I use an English hackamore for hacking and general stuff.

We first used it when Shy was teething, and he seems very happy in it ; he constantly chomps at bits, so we've just started bitless again, and he loves it.

I did try a Dr Cooks, but that didn't work, and a couple of others, but the hackamore is the best for us - but you have to have very light hands with it.
 
I use a Micklem bitless bridle.
Initially used an english hackamore due to teething issues. When it became obvious that the problems were ongoing, I wanted a more comfortable bridle and after much research, came to the conclusion a Micklem should do.

I do everything in it ... hack, school, jump, pleasure ride because I have to really.
Suits us though and if I was to have another horse, I would certainly look into bitless again.
 
mmm I've been looking at the Micklem, but they are just sooo expensive. have heard nothing but good reports about them. :)

Yes, they are but they are so damned versatile and the leather is very good quality.

In theory, you would never need another bridle as there are the 3 different setting for bitless and you are also supplied with leather straps (and clips if necessary) for a bit.

I did umm and ahh before committing but I must say it is worth the money.
 
Yes. I've tried a few bitless options. I didn't like the crossunders, none of them released properly. Similarly, the LightRider tended to get stuck, as did the scawbrig.

I now use the Orbitless. Very happy with that :) It's just on the sidepull setting.
 
Yes i ride in an english hackamore, my girl was getting harder and harder in a bit and constantly wound up/upset.. i tried all sorts of bits and ended up trying her in a hackamore.

The difference was amazing, she was going on and low into an outline, holding it with a very light contact and actually performing - because she was calm enough to listen to me! She's lovely out hacking, much more subdued about it all - not so wound up and ready to flee at the slightest of thing's.

I tried her back in a snaffle last week and sadly i don't think she's quite ready for it, so back in the hackamore for a few more months and we'll try the snaffle again after that. She'll get the idea eventually, soft and on a contact, working around/off my leg and not buggering of with me at, everything's much slower in the hackamore - i just want it to be transferred to a snaffle so i can try some dressage.

Our main love is jumping so it's not the end of the world if she never goes back into her bit again it's just personal preference. :)
 
I use a Dr. Cook, as recommended to me on here, and it has worked very well on my Arab for nearly three years now.
 
I use a PNH rope halter or hackamore. But I do have a knot just rope noseband to try when I am back on board again!!
 
I ride bitless, I normally ride in just a rope halter, and my horse does fine in it. I have bought a bitless attachment for my bridle too, it goes on the straps you'd attach the bit to and replaces the nose band, and it has a ring on either side to attach reins so it gives the same pressure as a simple rope halter. It's nice to have it, as my bridles don't go to waste then, and my horse is much happier too!
 
Yes, they are but they are so damned versatile and the leather is very good quality.

In theory, you would never need another bridle as there are the 3 different setting for bitless and you are also supplied with leather straps (and clips if necessary) for a bit.

I did umm and ahh before committing but I must say it is worth the money.

I've just bought my second one :) Love the fact I can use it so many different ways. I ride mostly with a bit as we are schooling with an aim to eventing and thus need a bit for dressage but often take the bit off and ride as a side pull. Expensive but well worth the money IMO.
 
I put my welsh in a dr cook bitless when he kept evading the bit and bolting he went so much better in it did everything from hacking to jumping
 
I use a rope halter. I just moved to he moors so put a snaffle back n as I was nervous but it was ridiculous. Getting her to stop was ridonkulous! We are back n a rope halter now but quite like the look o the matrix on bitlessandbarefoot.com.
 
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