Breaking Bitless?

[Orca]

Back when I was breaking, there was a set procedure we followed. Bitting was standard procedure, one of the first pieces of tack a youngster was desensitised to and was done without question.

Things have changed! At least, information sharing has changed to the extent that many more methods are more widely known and accepted, compared to before.

I'm breaking a 6yo (my first breaking in for a long time) and I'm looking forward to it a great deal. On researching current methods, I'm tempted to go bitless.

The horse has influenced my decision in that she's responsive to voice and pressure from even a normal halter, not pully, bargy or silly and good with groundwork in a halter. This has encouraged me to believe that bitting might not always be necessary and probably isn't for her.

The availability and popularity of a variety of bitless bridles (as opposed to two different hackamores back then!) has also influenced my interest.

What might be the pros and cons of breaking bitless, for a horse destined to become a family horse, possibly driven in future and not intended for resale? If you were to or have broken bitless, which bridle would be your first choice?


Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[Equi]

Well firstly you can not drive bitless so that's out (okay you CAN but it is incredibly frowned upon in most circles because it's just not safe to some) it might be hard to find a bitless driving bridle anyways.

If they for whatever reason do need rehomed bitless will either be a hindrance or an asset.

In your position I would always start off normally. Then when they are going well, switch to bitless.

 

[planete]

I am of the opposite persuasion. Break bitless then graduate to a bit when the horse has been muscled up correctly and has been educated to the leg and the body cues. He can then do the work asked of him in the bit easily.

 

[Orca]

Well firstly you can not drive bitless so that's out (okay you CAN but it is incredibly frowned upon in most circles because it's just not safe to some) it might be hard to find a bitless driving bridle anyways.

If they for whatever reason do need rehomed bitless will either be a hindrance or an asset.

In your position I would always start off normally. Then when they are going well, switch to bitless.

There is a bitless driving bridle available but thank you for your input! I am interested in why bitless is seen as less safe/ frowned upon?

Two opposing views! I'm tempted to agree with you planete but I'm very interested in other views and experiences.

 

[BBP]

I backed mine bitless (used a dually) as he had tooth issues, and just because it felt like the right thing to do. I then added a bit later so he knew what that was all about. Now I just ride in whatever I feel like, either a loose ring lozenge snaffle, a head collar, a bitless rope bridle (side pull type) or no bridle at all just s neck rope. It hasn't caused me any issues (we have many issues but that isn't one of them!)

 

[Equi]

I am of the opposite persuasion. Break bitless then graduate to a bit when the horse has been muscled up correctly and has been educated to the leg and the body cues. He can then do the work asked of him in the bit easily.

I suppose I can see the point to this too, there's no bit to Lean on etc.

I think op that many drivers are still very old school and think a bit is better as it holds the bridle in place more, gives more precise aids and has more of an emergency brake. I know people who drive perfectly happily (mini Shetlands tho) but I'm still a bit old school. I have tried bitless and hated it myself so I would never drive bitless.

 

[Orca]

I suppose I can see the point to this too, there's no bit to Lean on etc.

I think op that many drivers are still very old school and think a bit is better as it holds the bridle in place more, gives more precise aids and has more of an emergency brake. I know people who drive perfectly happily (mini Shetlands tho) but I'm still a bit old school. I have tried bitless and hated it myself so I would never drive bitless.

Thanks Equi. That could be good reason to intro a bit! I'm not au fait with anything driving related yet but it's something Orca could probably do, so I'm keen to leave the option open.

Thanks Kat too, that's encouraging to hear.

I'm not in any way opposed to bits (they are very much the norm for me) but I appreciate the old ways aren't necessarily the only or even best way to approach things! It sounds like bitless breaking is worth trying but that introducing a bit in the future could have benefits.

I'll be quite interested to find the differences in schooling bitless v bitted. Theoretically, each should be equally viable but I'm looking forward to seeing how that plays out in (my!) reality.

 

[PorkChop]

I usually start them with a bit, but I long line off the cavesson for as long as I can, usually about a month.

 

[DabDab]

I've backed a lot of horses bitless, in that they didn't have a bit in when I first got on them. They were all also bitted in that they had all the usual work of having a bridle on to eat tea and being led round in a bridle etc.

To be honest, I've never really had a problem switching between bitted and bitless, but I suppose that would depend how you ride to a certain extent...

A lot of principles during early education are the same in any case, so I'd go for it, but do still introduce to a bit so that you always have the option to switch between the two.

 

[Zebra123]

I quite like starting with two sets of reins, one attached to noseband and the other to the bit, using both and/or alternating between the two. Then the horse has a basic understanding of both making it easier to swap later on. It's also useful to to have in case you need brakes in an emergency but don't want to frighten a baby by putting too much pressure on the bit

 

[Equi]

LOVE the name orca! Very unique

 

[Orca]

LOVE the name orca! Very unique

<<< Black, white and enormous! &#55357;&#56836;

Thanks all for your input. I've now picked up a used scrawbrig to try in hand. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! I do now have the intention to bit too but I've got time on my side. Although she's six already, I'm not in a rush to have her riding out.

 

[Cortez]

Western horses are traditionally started with a bosal or sidepull, no bit, and then moved on to a snaffle, then a curb. Quite apart from the fact that a bosal or rawhide sidepull can be fearsome pieces of kit, not kind at all, the ultimate goal is for the horse to be light in the bridle and responsive to the rein and not pulled around by the reins. The tradition in Spain is somewhat the same; the nose is used rather than the bit to start the horses education, but still the end product is ridden on the bit. I would educate the horse to go in both bridles, you never know what the future may hold and it would be very limiting if the horse could only be ridden bitless.

 

[NZJenny]

All of my horses for the last 20 years have been started in a rope halter, then the bit introduced much later, when they are under saddle, with stop/go etc well and truly installed.

From there, introducing a bit is really easy as they are coping well with everything else. I don't long rein, and have never felt I needed to. The last two I have sent to a trainer to be started, and he works the same way. The really nice thing, is I can ride them in anything and swap depending on what I am doing. The horse in my avatar did endurance in a Dr Cook and dressage in a snaffle. My current ride hacks in a hackamore (she hates the Dr Cook), and does dressage in a bit.

I have another one, who only ever enduranced so only ridden in a hackamore, but if I had wanted to ride her in a bit I don't see it being a drama to re-introduce it.

 

[gnubee]

I started one of mine bitless because she was responding badly to any rein contact on the bit when mounted (but was fine long reining with it in). The big downside is it is not allowed in most types of competition so I would be somewhat inclined to break in the traditional manner and then go bitless later. Western people do it the other way round, but IME it is somewhat trickier to get a bitless horse seeking a rein contact- may be a bit of a catch 22 in that horses that do dressage or showing where a proper outline is desire able will necessarily have been bitted, but I do find the bitless bridle better endears itself to riding with a western style contact rather than English. For English riding I would ideally put a bit in very early on on the schooling process so the horse naturally develops those instincts and transition to a bitless later. Skilled people can get their bitless horses working in a lovely outline but I do think there is more of a knack to it and for the most part they will still need to bit to compete.

 

[dollyanna]

I am starting one of mine bitless at the moment - she longreined beautifully in a headcollar so just graduated to an orbitless set as a sidepull to conitnue. She will be bitted, but I wanted to wait until all her teeth had changed etc, and am not particularly fussed whether she goes bitted or bitless - I do firmly believe that bitless is certainly not as benign as it is made out to be, particularly when using driving reins that give so much more leverage. There are some bitless bridles that I just wouldn't use as I feel they create too much pressure all round. To my mind, I would like to move to a bit when she already knows the principles of steering, basic riding, stopping to gentle pressure etc which she is nearly there with, and then transfer gently either with double reins or by using a noseband that will come into action if the bit gets pulled too far back so that there is never any serious pressure on her mouth.

 

[Orca]

Thanks for your input! I think NZJenny's method is what I had envisaged when considering breaking bitless. That's all very encouraging to hear, thank you.

I had been looking at the Orbitless too, dollyanna. It seems a good option!

I do ride English style, gnubee and like dressage too, so that's something to consider (although I won't be competing anymore).

Thanks Cortez, it's interesting to hear some bitless reason and tradition.

 

[NZJenny]

Actually you can do most types of competition bitless. You have to ride in a bit for dressage and most showing (depending on the rules of the organisation running the show), but you can hunt, jump, endurance ride and do plenty of other activities bitless. IME it is just a case of reading the rules and going from there.

Most competitions don't specifically ban it, and most have never even considered it. Some people just need to be asked - our riding club show now allows bitless bridles - the OC had just never considered it before. Some people will always be anti and site "safety" which is so illogical you wonder when they are going to move on, but hey, as with most stuff eqestrian, they have been doing it that way for the last thousand years, so it must be right. Right?

 

[Orca]

Right! Like shoeing, for example &#55357;&#56835;

Our rope halter arrived yesterday. I'm looking forward to seeing how she responds!