Convince me to go bitless…

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cobbycobgirl

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My ottb has been with me for 2 years now and I’ve always had her in a happy mouth Mullen bit. She has always been a happy girl and always had breaks, even as a 5 year old out cantering on the common land.
Shes an angel and we’ve never had an issue with her bit. I have soft hands (sometimes too soft) with her.
We’re just happy hackers at the moment but I’d love to take her out more in the future and try my hand at drag hunting, fun rides and cross country.
I’ve fallen down tiktok and facebook rabbit holes about bitless being kinder on the horse and its got me thinking…
If you were me, would you just give up with the bit?
If yes, where do I start with bitless? Hackamores seem a bit harsh to me.
If no, would you stick with the bit she’s in since we’ve got no issues?
 
Give it a try. You can always go back to having a bit. My horse goes bitless but also with a snaffle or occasionally a Pelham. I think the change does them good. Gives them something to think about.eta I think some bitless bridles can be harsh. Do your research. Sorry I've had my bitless thingy so long I've forgotten it's name. It's a sort of wheel afaire where the reins can go in different slots to give more or less leverage. Also make sure it's not fitted too far down the nose. Take a look at photos of horse skulls,you can then see how harsh low fitted ones can be.
 
If it ain't broke, don't fix. My mantra with horses. And stay out of the rabbit holes.

My gelding goes in a bit; my brief foray into experimenting with bitless with him involved some interesting moments of having no brakes or steering.

My mare goes in a bosal because I couldn't find a bit she liked when I was backing her, so I went "f**ck it' and went down the rabbit hole of vaquero horsemanship, though I am not sure if we are achieving anything resembling that.

I chose the bosal because it's the only bitless bridle that offers as much, if not more, precision than a bit. In theory, if you know what you are doing. It's a different way of riding than English riding. I mostly balls it up. A sidepull is just a glorified headcollar. A mechanical hackamore has decent brakes but isn't ideal if you want to teach a young horse lateral aids. Cross-under thingmes offer muddled cues. Things like sidepulls can work just fine on an educated horse, but don't offer the clarity to needed educate the green horse in lateral cues.
 
No, I wouldn't try it. Things are going well; why tempt fate just because of what you read on FB or Ticktock? Peer pressure generally creates problems.

Your yearn to try drag hunting and fun rides across country would be better first tried with the bit you are using. You can always reassess in the future. Just don't feel pressured to go witless and bitless.
 
cobbycobgirl said:
My ottb has been with me for 2 years now and I’ve always had her in a happy mouth Mullen bit. She has always been a happy girl and always had breaks, even as a 5 year old out cantering on the common land.
Shes an angel and we’ve never had an issue with her bit. I have soft hands (sometimes too soft) with her.
We’re just happy hackers at the moment but I’d love to take her out more in the future and try my hand at drag hunting, fun rides and cross country.
I’ve fallen down tiktok and facebook rabbit holes about bitless being kinder on the horse and its got me thinking…
If you were me, would you just give up with the bit?
If yes, where do I start with bitless? Hackamores seem a bit harsh to me.
If no, would you stick with the bit she’s in since we’ve got no issues?
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Honestly, I wouldn't fix what ain't broke. Bits are just as gentle as bitless, it's all about the hands.
That said, I have an old blog post that might give you some ideas. I had lots of input from riders that use different forms of bitless options. USA based but you'll be able to get most anywhere. I got a great bitless headstall in Spain a year ago!
Here it is:
jessicaeblack.org

Bits, bosals, hackamores, and sidepulls - Wild Horses

Discover the differences between bits, bosals, hackamores, and sidepulls. Which bridle option may fit your horse and riding style best?
jessicaeblack.org jessicaeblack.org
 
Know your horse, and be sure she is schooled enough to listen to you. If you can handle her well on the ground in a headcollar, then by all means, try her bitless. My opinionated cob went well bitless, and I rode him in a cross under until his retirement. Bear in mind that every horse can have it's moments, and your brakes will be no different to a bit. The horse has to be taught to listen to the different aid, some horses are happier, some are confused.
 
Try it if you want to! It's just another skill for you and the horse. I've given a hackamore a go and found it a good training tool for me, made me more aware of my hands and my balance. Not convinced the pony noticed much of a difference. It was borrowed and not a great fit though so it was a brief experiment, but I have been eyeing up the flower-style ones for a while. See if you can borrow one and if you don't like it, hand it back! Bitless isn't necessarily "kinder" so I personally don't think you have to attach an ethical value to one or the other. Kindness comes from correct training and not using either a bit or a bitless bridle as a blunt instrument (again, personal opinion).

Lois Lame said:
No, I wouldn't try it. Things are going well; why tempt fate just because of what you read on FB or Ticktock? Peer pressure generally creates problems.
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Growth requires change! Of course you shouldn't just copy what randoms on the internet are doing for no reason but if you see something and it gets you thinking, I don't think that's a bad thing.
 
Sanversera said:
Give it a try. You can always go back to having a bit. My horse goes bitless but also with a snaffle or occasionally a Pelham. I think the change does them good. Gives them something to think about.eta I think some bitless bridles can be harsh. Do your research. Sorry I've had my bitless thingy so long I've forgotten it's name. It's a sort of wheel afaire where the reins can go in different slots to give more or less leverage. Also make sure it's not fitted too far down the nose. Take a look at photos of horse skulls,you can then see how harsh low fitted ones can be.
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Thank you!
 
Caol Ila said:
If it ain't broke, don't fix. My mantra with horses. And stay out of the rabbit holes.

My gelding goes in a bit; my brief foray into experimenting with bitless with him involved some interesting moments of having no brakes or steering.

My mare goes in a bosal because I couldn't find a bit she liked when I was backing her, so I went "f**ck it' and went down the rabbit hole of vaquero horsemanship, though I am not sure if we are achieving anything resembling that.

I chose the bosal because it's the only bitless bridle that offers as much, if not more, precision than a bit. In theory, if you know what you are doing. It's a different way of riding than English riding. I mostly balls it up. A sidepull is just a glorified headcollar. A mechanical hackamore has decent brakes but isn't ideal if you want to teach a young horse lateral aids. Cross-under thingmes offer muddled cues. Things like sidepulls can work just fine on an educated horse, but don't offer the clarity to needed educate the green horse in lateral cues.
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This is a pretty good point lol. This does remind me that she’s definitely still green in the school because we literally don’t school😅
 
Lois Lame said:
No, I wouldn't try it. Things are going well; why tempt fate just because of what you read on FB or Ticktock? Peer pressure generally creates problems.

Your yearn to try drag hunting and fun rides across country would be better first tried with the bit you are using. You can always reassess in the future. Just don't feel pressured to go witless and bitless.
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You have brought me back down to reality. I needed that hahaha
 
Always good to have curiosity and a spirit of adventure? I discovered a brand new bitless attachment for a Miklem bridle in our tack room so thought I’d have a go. My horse (TB) also never experienced bitless before but he’s very polite and well schooled so🤞cracked on as normal…schooled beautifully in arena, hacked out alone/in company on roads/trails in all paces. THEN after about 3 weeks he suddenly discovered he could put head down to graze and my arthritic hands had no affect! Rides then turned into extended picnics🙄 until someone recommended daisy reins and I gave up in shame - much to his disappointment 😂
 
Of my previous two ridden horses, one went far, far better bitless, the other was a tanker offer if ridden bitless but stopped beautifully in a bit. My youngster was started bitless, 6 months in I added a snaffle which worked perfectly well, but we've ditched it again mainly because I can't be @rsed as she goes so well in a sidepull or S-hackamore, and I tend to ride with a loose rein anyway. Her brakes are excellent, even with a neck rope. I think it's horses for courses, there's no "should" about it as long as you are both happy.
 
My own experience of bitless would be to say "if it ain't broke, don't go trying to fix it".

My coblet (profile pic) was/is already barefoot & treeless; and I wanted to complete the trio by having her bitless as well. So (this is a few years ago) I put her in an Orbitless, which I had bought from a friend.

All was well at first, I'd ridden her doing fast work in an open space, and hacking along the lanes, and everything seemed good. Then I noticed over time that she was tanking in trot - & in canter particularly, she was poking her nose out, and hollowing her back. This just wasn't like her normal self at all.

I asked our physio to have a look at her. She found that she was sore around her poll area, and shoulders/withers, but also her sacroiliac area; it was probable she felt that mare had transferred the tension right along her back.

I changed her back to her French-link snaffle. She hasn't ever repeated this behaviour. It was almost as if she was saying "phew" and breathing a huge sigh of relief.

So what I would say is that if your horse is happy in whatever bit they are in, don't be in a rush to change it to a bitless one just for the sake of "going bitless". Certainly I would suggest you thoroughly research the various types of bitless bridles and the way in which they work: some are frankly very severe indeed. Also I would suggest you look at the anatomical structure of a horse's head, with the various nerve networks etc., during your research.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
I don't think it's "either or" - we go bitless where appropriate.

I have one horse who doesn't like new things and thrives on consistency. She just gets worried when things change and she doesn't like to get things 'wrong' so she's not an appropriate horse to experiment with.

The other horse is naturally curious and brave, doesn't rely on structure in the same way, and is always up for any kind of game. So that horse goes bitless from time to time.

I also consider that I have the right environment for it. I ride bareback and in a head collar up from the field on our own farm but won't do so at livery where there is a busy professional environment. I ride bitless in a Micklem multi-way out hacking on our farm, off-road in familiar territory. If I was going to hack somewhere new, across roads, in a group, on a fresh morning, whilst the hunt might be out - bit. It's not that I don't trust the horse or I feel less safe bitless, but I take extra precautions to be extra responsible.

We generally school in a snaffle, although she has done some dressage schooling bitless. She'd be expected to go softly in a bit when competing so it makes sense to school accordingly.


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And then there is 'the horse on the day' factor. Some days, the horse just isn't with you. On those days I use a bit.

So I would make sure you have the appropriate horse for 'experimenting' - one who has the confidence and maturity to enjoy the learning process and won't get confused or worried. That have the right environment and context. And the horse on the day is with you.
 
rabatsa said:
Before heading off hunting I always taught my horses to stop to a tug on a neckstrap. No risk to the mouth and kind. I too am in the if it aint broke dont fix it.
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LadyGascoyne said:
I don't think it's "either or" - we go bitless where appropriate.

I have one horse who doesn't like new things and thrives on consistency. She just gets worried when things change and she doesn't like to get things 'wrong' so she's not an appropriate horse to experiment with.

The other horse is naturally curious and brave, doesn't rely on structure in the same way, and is always up for any kind of game. So that horse goes bitless from time to time.

I also consider that I have the right environment for it. I ride bareback and in a head collar up from the field on our own farm but won't do so at livery where there is a busy professional environment. I ride bitless in a Micklem multi-way out hacking on our farm, off-road in familiar territory. If I was going to hack somewhere new, across roads, in a group, on a fresh morning, whilst the hunt might be out - bit. It's not that I don't trust the horse or I feel less safe bitless, but I take extra precautions to be extra responsible.

We generally school in a snaffle, although she has done some dressage schooling bitless. She'd be expected to go softly in a bit when competing so it makes sense to school accordingly.


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And then there is 'the horse on the day' factor. Some days, the horse just isn't with you. On those days I use a bit.

So I would make sure you have the appropriate horse for 'experimenting' - one who has the confidence and maturity to enjoy the learning process and won't get confused or worried. That have the right environment and context. And the horse on the day is with you.
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Thank you. Beautifully written and beautiful horse!!!
 
Thank you everyone for your replies. I’m going with the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” approach haha. Pony is happy in her bit. That being said, what IS the kindest bit to use in your opinions? Out of curiosity…
 
Very much dependent on the horse, mullen/straight bar snaffles are considered the 'mildest' as they have a simple action, over few points of control, but they're only the kindest option if the horse is happy with the way the bit sits in his mouth and understands the aids with light pressure.
A jointed bit will offer more clarity of aids and, as much as they get a bad rap, single jointed bits can be the preferred option for some horses.
Even a curb bit can be kinder in certain circumstances, for instance if you have a horse who tends to throw his head up in exciting situations it is kinder to use light pressure and add in the extra points of control over the poll and curb groove, to encourage him to lower his head back to a place where the bit/aids are effective, rather than heaving on a snaffle bit.
 
SpeedyPony said:
Very much dependent on the horse, mullen/straight bar snaffles are considered the 'mildest' as they have a simple action, over few points of control, but they're only the kindest option if the horse is happy with the way the bit sits in his mouth and understands the aids with light pressure.
A jointed bit will offer more clarity of aids and, as much as they get a bad rap, single jointed bits can be the preferred option for some horses.
Even a curb bit can be kinder in certain circumstances, for instance if you have a horse who tends to throw his head up in exciting situations it is kinder to use light pressure and add in the extra points of control over the poll and curb groove, to encourage him to lower his head back to a place where the bit/aids are effective, rather than heaving on a snaffle bit.
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Thanks for your reply!
 
cobbycobgirl said:
Thank you everyone for your replies. I’m going with the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” approach haha. Pony is happy in her bit. That being said, what IS the kindest bit to use in your opinions? Out of curiosity…
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A rubber coated mullen mouth snaffle. Started all mine in them,then they progress to an eggbutt snaffle with a french link which I think gives more finesse. What matters most are the hands on the reins. Light hands make a light mouth.
 
Be curious but don’t be stupid. (Says the person who thought showjumping and hunting were ideal “trying out my mate’s hackamore that I’m borrowing” activities…) If you want to try bitless then go for it, but do so in a safe area that the horse is comfortable with and check your brakes and steering before doing anything more exciting.

A head collar is probably a good starting point if you’re literally just wanting a play (I had my first plays in a rope halter but I’d say a head collar is more stable & less likely to slip around on the face) or alternatively a lunge caveson. (You could long rein / do classical style groundwork off 2 reins a few times first to check that you’re going to have some control).

If you decide you like it and want to do more then you can have an explore with some of the different options of actual bitless bridles suitable for doing a bit more in.

As for “kindest” bits that depends partly on mouth shape (a thick rubber bit will be really uncomfortable for a horse whose mouth isn’t big enough to accommodate it and a thinner, different shaped bit would be kinder even though thin bits sometimes have a reputation for being harsher) & preferences of horse (in terms of what material and type of mouthpiece they prefer) and also whether the horse will respond softly to a light aid from said bit or try to pull your arms off (the second option is kind to nobody even if the bit itself has a reputation for being nice… obviously the situation where the horse is dropping BTV to try and escape the action of the bit isn’t a good one either)
 
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