Dr. Cooks Bitless Bridle

winniewoo

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My 4, going on 5 year old is having a few changes with his teeth and finding it very uncomfortable with a bit in his mouth. I have read a few things about the Dr. Cooks Bitless Bridle. Anyone out there that uses one. What do you think of them? Only intend to use it until his mouth has settled down.
 
They're great. I used to use one when Daisy went through a stage of trying to evade the bit. Really taught her that you could flap your head as much as I liked and I still had control.
 
Used them, they're fine, nothing special. Some horses don't like the 'trapped' feeling they produce and I found my steering was better with just a normal headcollar. Cheaper too ;) But then all my horses are well behaved enough to just ride in headcollar regardless of where we are and what we're doing. :o

If your horse is well behaved and not 'strong' you'd be cheaper buying a Libbies scrawbrig until he's finished teething.
 
I ride both my geldings in them. One is 14 and wore a Pelham until three yers ago. Put him in a Dr Cook while we waited for the dentist and never took it off. No problem with steering or breaks and we do long distance and I jump him in it.

Six year old AA, broken with a snaffle by previous owner at five, now also ridden in Dr Cook with no issues at all.

I love them, but I don't ride a discipline that requires a bit.
 
I use a Dr. Cook on my ned after he had an accident which needed clips in his mouth and I have found it brilliant , better steering and brakes all round , wouldn't go back to a bit unless we had real problems!
 
I got one for Bill not long after he was backed because he was having wolf tooth out. It was only meant to be for a few days but ended up using it for his first year of ridden work until he was ready for proper schooling. I still use it now for hacking out and jumping, he goes just as well if not better.
 
I use 1 on 1 of my horses. She randomly stopped jumping last summer, had her checked and she was physically fine, tried her in it on an off chance and it made the world of difference!

She hunts in it and everything (though she's virtually never strong anyway)
 
It didn't suit Friendly (the horse I bought it for) but I have found it brilliant on Roz (the pony I hadn't bought it for!) I just wish someone would invent a noseband-less version, as Roz is so hairy now (Cushings) the noseband makes such a sweaty mess of her nose, I've gone back to riding in a noseband-less snaffle.
 
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