Does anyone hunt bitless?

[Doncella]

Short of it is my horse has a bone spur in his lower jaw and will be bitless until sorted out. We SJ in a Hackamore and hack in a Dr Cooks. My horse hasn't been hunting and as my hunt uses 'closed' farmland it he does go it will be in the confines of a field albeit a large one.
So Hackamore or Dr Cooks??
Advice sought please.

 

[Sanolly]

Have you taken the horse XC? What was he like?

 

[autumn7]

"Closed farmland"??? Really intrigued! Tell me more!

Sorry, no help on bitless since no experience. Sure someone will have tried hunting bitless though so can advise.

 

[oakash]

Yes, hunt bitless regularly - no problems. Always use a Dr Cooks which I consider is the most advanced form of bitless.

 

[Bug2007]

No i haven't but might as well the little use they have on my horse when we are out!!!

 

[humph]

Yes - my husband had control problems with a horse of his and I suspected the bit was the problem so I took him out hunting in a dr cooks and had a dream ride. Sadly by then my husband had decided to sell him so I only got one day, and it was only cubbing but it worked a treat.

Also intrigued by the big field scenario, and also suggest you try him xc first but would think you'd have better steering in the dr cooks than you would hackamore

 

[oakash]

Yes: interesting that some people think horses need strong bits as if there is a direct link in the horses mind between pulling. Seems to me that the old story to demonstrate that you can't stop a horse with a bit is SO true! ( If you think you can, find a tin tray. Pierce two holes in one end, and attach a rope as reins. Take this to a steep grass slope above a hundred feet deep quarry. Sit on the tray and as you slide down the slope, see if you can stop it by pulling on the 'reins'.)

The great advantage of the Dr Cooks is that it squeezes the head without hurting the horse, thereby giving it a signal without causing it to run away from the pain of a bit.

 

[Lollii]

Y ( If you think you can, find a tin tray. Pierce two holes in one end, and attach a rope as reins. Take this to a steep grass slope above a hundred feet deep quarry. Sit on the tray and as you slide down the slope, see if you can stop it by pulling on the 'reins'.)

I have read this quote (above) several times ... I still can't see what similarities are to riding a horse with or without a bit

 

[Ravenwood]

LOL - I think he is just saying that if the horse takes hold of/goes behind the bit you have no control whatsoever and my God its a bit frightening going down a steep hill!! LOL

I have no experience of Dr Cook's at all but have hunted a mare I used to have in a hackamore - seemed fine, she was a skittish, silly mare anyway and the bridle I used didn't help her use her brain!

 

[Hoof Hearted]

.... Always use a Dr Cooks which I consider is the most advanced form of bitless.

Agree with that 100% !

Both our horses are ridden in Dr Cooks. I've not been hunting yet but never have any problems stopping either of them, one of them is an ex racer. I wouldn't use any other bridle