Considering bitless

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Paint Me Proud

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Chico is just 5 years old, been backed for 11 months and is ridden for about 20 minutes daily.

I have been considering trying a bitless bridle as i am very right handed and tend to hang on the bit on the right side.

Do you think that a bitless would be suitable for my circumstances.

If so how to dr cooks, easytrek, unbranded ebay one compare?
 
I use a Dr Cook. It's a crosspull, so if you hang on the right rein you will be doing a lot of circles!

I like them because I felt I was heavy handed and that it was better than yanking on the mouth. I now ride FB in a Dr Cook always - even for jumping and competition - and the Ari wears his for hacking and has never been a problem. I am a fervent bitless advocate...but Ari has a Happy Mouth French link with cheek pieces because he needs it for schooling, whereas FB knows the routine and I could ride him in reins made of chocolate anyway.

The thing I have found is that if there is a brakes failure you can haul away (one rein braking if needed) and know you are not going to damage their mouth, which is quite reassuring. I would add I have never HAD a brake failure and would advise that you work on your seat and leg aids too.
 
i am too....would like a dr cooks but rode bitless once before in a hackamore and she was really good. so may just go back in that! only problem is she rushes into her fences so i doubt i would have any brakes should i put her into a bitless bridle.
 
i have bitten the bullet and gone for an easytrek bitless.

I read this website (click here) and decided that that was the one i would go for. The easytrek is virtually the same as the Dr Cooks but half the price. Couldnt warrant spending the extra at the moment.
 
Taz is ridden and driven in a dr cooks ( synthetic)and we have no steering issues at all ;)

We did find she got a bit sweaty under the noseband so attached a bit of sheepskin and thats soleved the problem..... other than that no isses.

The easytrek does look good as its looks more padded on the moseband so it I were needing a replacement I would certainly look at that if I could not afford a leather dr cooks.


as to your right handedness..... I guess that it depends on the training of the horse really... your horse might get used to it and know the difference between what it "normal" and what means "yes I do want you to go right now" . If you were to ride / drive Taz you might do a few right hand circles lol ..... either that or you would learn to compensate with taking more contact on the left rein.

anyway I suppose most of us are one handed anyway
 
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I ride one of my ex-racers bitless in a Dr Cooks - he is fabulous in it - he's very light in the hand and responsive - I don't believe a horses' brakes should be in the mouth anyway, so never had any problems stopping - even took him on the gallops in it.
 
see, I have never had any problem with libbys getting stuck, I absolutely loved mine, then lost it, was actually looking at them today and thinking that I was going to get another for eb's for next year. Steering was fine too, but then I don't use reins to steer, I use my body and my legs and a light touch with the rein, so perhaps that is why I was happy with it. I know a lot of endurance riders use libbys
 
i have had an easytrek for several weeks now and whilst i only use it very rarely Chico does respond well to it. I need to use it more often actually.
 
I rode my old hot headed TB in a hackamore and she was a very happy bunny in it - much easier. and I'm about to go bitless with me strong-minded, hard mouthed irish cob as well.

I'd strongly recommend hackamores, but then I don't school, except during a hack, so it might not be what you would need.
 
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