Curious bitless question

[Shantara]

I saw a post on facebook the other day that basically condemned anyone who uses a bit to hell...it got me thinking if there are any bitless bridles that don't use nose pressure?

I love the idea of bitless and have tried a hackamore and a cross-under style on Ned, but because of his old injury (broken nose) he just can't deal with it, even if I am light with my hands.

Just a question ^^

As a side note - I'm very impressed with Neddy! When I first got on him, he was in a 3 ring gag on the bottom hole and even then there was very little control and now he's in a loose ring snaffle for everything and he'll even pull up with little effort on a gallop towards home

 

[alrees]

I cant remember the name but there is definitely a bitless bridle where it is controlled over the top of the head, the reins run through metal circles at the side of the nose and then run over the poll, Im sure its called Dutch something there were some for sale on ebay. I hate it when people judge bitless riding as the 'easy' option, I rode my 17hh hunter bitless because she hates any types of bits, nothing wrong with her teeth or mouth but when in a bit she shakes her head,rears etc but bitless she is faultless!

 

[Shantara]

I cant remember the name but there is definitely a bitless bridle where it is controlled over the top of the head, the reins run through metal circles at the side of the nose and then run over the poll, Im sure its called Dutch something there were some for sale on ebay. I hate it when people judge bitless riding as the 'easy' option, I rode my 17hh hunter bitless because she hates any types of bits, nothing wrong with her teeth or mouth but when in a bit she shakes her head,rears etc but bitless she is faultless!

Ah cool, I shall try and find it
Ned is actually a superstar bitless, but he starts headshaking after a short while, because of his injury

 

[alrees]

No problem! aw poor lad

 

[NZJenny]

alrees I would think with the positioning of the rings on the noseband, there will still be pressure on the nose, however subtle. The Dr Cook uses the cross under the jaw and over the top of the head, but because of always having to attach the reins somewhere, there is still nose pressure.

I hack and endurance rode bitless and have done so since the mid nineties. It is easier for the horses to drink and eat out on track and it's not like you need the subtlety of control that a bit gives you for endurance or hacking. As for the "brakes" thing, when you line up 40 100 mile fit horses at 1:00 am, and someone yells go, life gets quite exciting and I never had issues that were any different to those who rode with a bit.

What I did find that was when I swapped my strong gelding from endurance to dressage, he still had a mouth. Finding out what type of bitless bridle suits the horse, is like choosing a bit. My two mares have gone well in hackamores, the aforementioned gelding used to lean on them something wicked and was better in the Dr Cook, but not all horses like the "head hug". I have also used the Light Rider, which just uses nose/chin pressure and like that too. Rope halters I find are too sloppy for general riding. And I was experimenting riding my gelding with just a rope around his neck (just for fun) and that is an exercise in rider confidence, but sadly he is out with injury so haven't been able to take that very far.

As for a bit being cruel - I hate seeing a bit being used as a hand brake. But that is all about the user not the tool.