Dr Cook bitless bridles

Got one for my Dales a few years ago without a doubt best thing I ever did all the fighting bolting jogging napping stopped and he became so easy my six year old was riding him last year.....this is the pony my adult experienced sister wouldn't get on! I also put my daughters pony in one when we first got him because he was struggling with her hands he's not in it now they've moved on and they don't work for all but then nothing does but I've had good results. My Dales will never have a but again although he is now semi retired but I have done everything including xc in it and had total control which is more than I had in any bit with him!
 
I've been riding my lovely section D in a hackamore for a couple of months or so (purely because I had one here and just thought I'd try it out). He goes really well in that, and isn't head strong or anything. I bought the Dr Cook and he seemed fine in it apart from moving his head about from left to right much more whilst out hacking - I think he was enjoying the lightweight freedom of it!
 
I bought one years ago for my ex racer and it worked well for her until she started leaning on it and it rubbed her quite badly.
I make my own style of crossunder bridle now if I use them on my horses, although I tend to use sidepulls and hackamores now as my horses prefer them.
 
I rode my TB in one for years. We did endurance and he would sometimes get a sore mouth frmo his bit, which is why we swapped. He loved it and we never had any control issues, even fast in company. I found that when I first started using it it took him a while to work out what I was asking as steering feels bit different. I ended up using my seat a lot more which must be a good thing! I stopped using mine as my dentist said he had sore bits on the inside of his cheeks where they had been 'squeezed' against his teeth. I know some people are also concerned that the pressure does not release quick enough when you relax the reins - maybe this was an issue that contributed to my boys sore cheeks, not sure. I found he schooled nicely in it and I had no trouble getting him 'on the bit'. He is quite sensitive to pressure though so not sure if it would be the same on a horse, for example, that is inclined to drag you when being led etc. I seem to remember when I got mine there was some kind of buy before you try scheme.
 
I've recently bought a cross under (over?) bridle which are very like the dr Cook I believe (considerably cheaper though and easier to come by on ebay!).
My mare has often been fussy in her mouth and used shaking her head up and down as a favourite evasion making it very difficult to maintain a contact when schooling.
So far I have been thrilled with how she has got on with it.
I had the usual concerns regarding steering and brakes. I rode as I usually do and had no problem with steering at all, but then, because she fights the rein I tend to use very subtle rein aids anyhow, but was still pleasantly surprised.
The brakes so far have been great. Once she sussed out the different action she was very happy and responsive, again I must say she has always braked well with a bit. Her bitting problems come more in my attempts to take a proper contact when schooling. We have yet to be in a very challenging situation but have galloped out on a hack with an enthsiastic other horse and I had no problem at all. I plan to try it out in a jumping session soon. she is fine over a couple of jumps at home.

She has pinched the odd cowslip on a hack that she didn't try before which made me laugh!

I do still ride her with a bit sometimes because, at this point, I don't want her mouth to soften and have problems if I use one again, and also because I use a combinaqtion bridle usually as I do le trec which allows me to swap from bridle to headcollar and I'm not sure they make a bitless that I can also use as a headcollar. I use a martingale and you are not allowed to lead from the reins when treccing if your horse wears one, so must have a headcollar underneath - hence the combination bridle is perfect. If I can find a cross under/over (??) that I can also use as a headcollar I will probably try it.

I have been so pleased with it that I have just bought one for my youngster. I am bitting him at the moment but would be happy if he went well in both.
Also, does anyone know, can you compete in dressage in a bitless (dr cook style)?
 
because I use a combinaqtion bridle usually as I do le trec which allows me to swap from bridle to headcollar and I'm not sure they make a bitless that I can also use as a headcollar. I use a martingale and you are not allowed to lead from the reins when treccing if your horse wears one, so must have a headcollar underneath - hence the combination bridle is perfect.
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I use a bitless bridle (an Orbitless) and it attaches to a regular bridle, but I have a "conversion" piece that I got made up - a ring which buckles up under the chin to the back of the noseband and a strap that attaches it to the throatlash, so I can clip a lead rope on if needed. I have used it at Le Trec training days and it worked well, but not checked if it is suitable for competitions.
 
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