DR Cooks Bitless bridles . . .

[Jeska]

Has anyone tried one? any good? Thinking of getting one for my boy in the hope that it stops him headshaking but don't want to pay a fortune for one and find they aren't very good!

Thanks

 

[hadfos]

Personal opinion??shite,ex racer neddy on the yard used to have one,they had very little control with it,you may as well ride in a tight headcollar!Have you not tried an english hackamore?

 

[Jeska]

Oh dear yes I was wondering what control would be like as although my horse is an angel if something frightens him he tends to fly into a blind panic and would run through a wall if I gave him half the chance! No havent tried a hackamore as believed they can be quiet severe on the nose?

 

[hadfos]

A hackamore is only as severe as your hands

The english hackamore is one of the milder forms,try him,but make sure you do plenty of schooling in it before you hack out,my lad went lovely in it(had to use one when he had tooth trouble),steering good when they get the idea (plenty of give and take down the reins etc,they pick it up very quickly) and brakes are good also,you dont have to be oversensitive with them,just remeber it over their nose not in their mouth

i would much rather hack out and try stop a canter in a hackamore than the doctor wotsit things

 

[bethyboox]

I tried my mare in one, I liked the idea of being bitless but it didnt work out for us, I felt I had less control. But then every horse is different and i've heard a lot of people say they work for them, you can usually get a 28 day trial period on them and if you return it you get 60% of your money back so you could try that?

 

[bounce]

I use one on my ex racer and I have more control in the bitless bridle than with a bit. I tried numerous bits and couldn't hold him and then tried the Dr Cook and found that I had much more control. I was very sceptical about using it as controller headcollars don't work on him.

Didn't stop mine from headshaking though but the he only headshakes when something like flies or snow touch his nose.

 

[Serephin]

I used one on my exracer TB - he went much better in it than he ever did in a bit - much happier- no problem with brakes or steering either.

 

[jackiesansom]

I rode my 17hh ex-steeple chaser all last summer over the stubble fields in just a Parelli Rope Halter and a rope!
Had fantastic stopping power (even in company) and steering once trained.

This is a horse however if you ride in a bit out on a hack and even dare canter (and have a death wish is you want to try it in company) needs a waterford (which looks like a twisted bicycle chain for those who have never seen one!).

 

[HappyHooves]

Sorry but I think the most important thing has been overlooked - this horse is a headshaker. It is not merely a matter of control. The only reason that some HSers respond when a bitless bridle is used is that it doesn't cause pressure in the mouth. In SOME HSers this pressure is what starts the trigeminal nerve trouble which is the CAUSE of headshaking. For some HSers it might be that pollen or dust starts the trigeminal nerve to fire off ,so trust me, HSing is NOT an allergy, it is something that is aggrevated by an external force as well as stress. Likewise, it might be bright light or wind or cold on the face. I owned a HSer for 6 years. I have read more about HSing than I will about anything else, I would imagine. Its a soul destroying thing to own a HSer, unless you are one of the lucky ones whose horse doesn't progress in its HS ing. If you want to try a Dr. Cookes then I am more than happy to lend you mine. What size do you want. Mine is for a large horse. But PLEASE don''t be fooled that this will 'cure' the HSing. Try it on a your horse whilst riding indoors if you can. Your horse might not be relieved of the pain that causes HSing and so you will have a problem - horse in pain, less 'control'.

 

[m3gan]

[ QUOTE ]
Personal opinion??shite,ex racer neddy on the yard used to have one,they had very little control with it,you may as well ride in a tight headcollar!Have you not tried an english hackamore?

[/ QUOTE ]

My Arab has been ridden in a Dr. Cook bridle for nearly 7 months now , I have more steering and control then when he was ridden in a bit.
As a previous poster has suggested if you wish to try the Dr. Cook you can get 28 day trial after which you can have your money refunded if you are not happy!

 

[Oberon]

I broke my Ardennes X in a Dr Cooks. They are much like any other piece of kit - the horse either likes it or it doesn't. Worked well for us.

The 'Be Kind' bridle is reported to be the same design but with better stability so it may be worth looking at them too.

Hope it works out and well done for thinking outside the box

 

[zeuscleoharmony]

Archie came to me wearing a Happy Mouth snaffle but always seemed uptight, not quite right. I bit the bullet and tried a Dr Cooks. That was 3 1/2 years ago and we have never looked back. Archie is, however, a bit of a plodder but the rare ocassion we have 'gone for a blast' brakes have never been a problem. He relaxed literally immediately when I changed from bitted to bitless and for me and him it was the best thing I could have done.

The Dr Cooks website is very, very informative and may well help your decision.

xxx

 

[Donkeymad]

Personally found the Dr Cook fantastic, as have a variety of other people I know. None of us have experienced any steering or stopping problems, even with a very difficult horse. The only answer is to try one, they do a 30 day money back offer.

 

[Selkie]

I got a Dr Cooks for a head shaker and she stopped the first time she wore it. She was nose to the ground and right up so you could see the tip of her nose. She wasnt safe going down hill. She hasnt done it since. OH now has her and rides her in a William Micklim with a bit. But I ride my cob who doesnt like bits in it and have no control problems

 

[shawnamd]

Most bitless bridles come with a money-back guarantee. I've used a bitless on my 4 yo OT thoroughbred for 2 years now and we've never been happier. Those who are afraid to use a bitless because their horse might bolt or be out of control when frightened forget that the reason their horse does this is because the rider tightens up on the reins/bit when the horse gets spooked and thus the rider adds pain to the fright, which in turn makes the horse go insane. A one-rein stop and disengaging the hind end is always your method of "control" at this point, regardless of using a bit or a bitless.

For the record, if a person is looking for a bridle for "control" start thinking about retraining yourself and your horse. A piece of equipment should never be used to control but rather to guide and enhance communication.

Also, for the record, I use a Nurtural bitless out of Canada. I tried the Dr. Cook's first, but it exerts excessive poll pressure and you might find your horse tossing its head and kicking up a stink about it (as mine did). Dr. Cook's is great for many people though. But the Nurtural is amazing and I use it 100% of the time.