First attempt bitless...

metalmare

metalmare

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So I've hacked out in a flower hackamore this weekend, with it set almost as a sidepull.

99% of the time my spirited welsh has gone beautifully in it. For the first time ever I have been able to halt him simply by adjusting my weight and breathing out... he has always fought halt transitions in the past. Trot to walk transitions are also good.

In canter, he takes a while to respond to a downward transition, however this is new to him and he hasn't been schooled bitless yet. He did stop eventually.

So, all in all, I was feeling very positive.

However, on returning to the yard today, my yard owner's rottweiler came running towards him and he spun and bolted a long way down the road before I managed to stop him.

I have always been able to prevent him spinning before, however I have less control of the steering now and once he had spun he was off. Luckily there were no cars!!

So now I don't know whether to feel pleased because he did eventually stop in the bitless? But then I'm wondering whether in his bit I would have prevented him spinning in the first place? And I'm also wondering whether if I'd set the hackamore to the stronger setting, with poll pressure, I would have regained control more quickly? Especially as he took off with his head up.

Other signs are so promising, I don't intend to give up, as I've seen such a positive improvement already in his response to my seat... but it has unnerved me!
 
Do you normally stop the spin and bolt by using one rein flexion?
I've found that when riding with a mechanical hackamore lateral flexion has been sacrificed. So a 1-rein stop isn't as effective as a 2-rein stop, if that makes sense.
 
I normally hold both hands low and wide as if asking the horse to work long and low, in what I think of as a 'funnel'. Bitted, this has always been effective.

I'm not sure that I reacted quickly enough though today, as I was probably too busy wondering what would happen in the hackamore!
 
You could be right there. :-)
Well, normally bitless riding relies on good lateral flexion, but I think using a mechanical hackamore the rules are a bit different. Your approach might be more effective (if you just forget the change of headgear and do it!).
I've never found that I had less control in any bitless, but it did take a bit of a change in belief to get to that point.
Sounds as if you had a very positive start.
 
Please keep us up to date on how you're getting on I've a flower hackamore being brought out to me in March when the kids visit. My boy behaves well in a simple rope halter , hates a bit, hates a Dr Cooks bitless even more - but he's an ex endurance and I would just feel better having some brakes when out in the desert .

Will share my experience when it arrives but until then I'm riding with a rope halter with hackamore rope attached together with a simple snaffle bridle (nose band removed ) over the top - riding as if in a double bridle with the snaffle for emergencies only.
 
Things like this happen - just unfortunate and hope you're ok!

I'm pretty sure your horse would have bolted, regardless of having a bit in his mouth or not. I've heard though that horses run from pain, so being tugged in the mouth with a metal bar won't stop them.

So I think if you've lost your confidence a bit, use a school (if you have one) and practice steering with your legs. If you're fairly new to bitless (sounds like you are) then I think your horse may need a bit longer to adjust?

What about trying a sidepull? I think steering is better than on a mild setting of a flower hackamore :)

Good luck :)
 
It takes a bit of practice!! I have only used a Parelli hackamore (rope sidepull) since 1998 and from the first I felt I had more control than with my snaffle bit that I had used before this. But both pony and I learned a lot about following a feel, phases, one rein stop etc.....I do have some alternatives that I will try but at the moment I don't feel the need!! Neither pony or I liked the Dr. Cook. We have a Light Rider and a Knot Just Rope noseband (no extra knots!) to try!! I don't blame him from running from the Rottie!!....Is he not confined in any way? That is a disaster waiting to happen and I would talk to the YO in the hope the dog can be confined in a special area!!! Just imagine if it was a child on a pony.......
 
I think it sounds like you are doing well. Yes, you won't get the same lateral flexion as bitted, but the flower plates will still exert pressure when you take the opposite rein, so there will be encouragement to turn. I use a little s hackamore, have been interested in the flower type but might cut up an old continental gag to get a similar effect.

I just forget i'm bitted or not bitted - as long as there isn't continuous pressure, my horse respects the brakes far better in the little s hack.
 
Thank you for all the encouragement guys... this is just what I needed to hear. I'll respond to comments below... they're all such valid points!
 
Dumbo said:
Things like this happen - just unfortunate and hope you're ok!

I'm pretty sure your horse would have bolted, regardless of having a bit in his mouth or not. I've heard though that horses run from pain, so being tugged in the mouth with a metal bar won't stop them.

So I think if you've lost your confidence a bit, use a school (if you have one) and practice steering with your legs. If you're fairly new to bitless (sounds like you are) then I think your horse may need a bit longer to adjust?

What about trying a sidepull? I think steering is better than on a mild setting of a flower hackamore :)

Good luck :)
Click to expand...

I think you're absolutely right in all that you say above... the pony has bolted a few times in the past (bitted) although he has never gone so far... but perhaps he wasn't so scared in the past? The steering from the leg is really nice in the walk, I only have to open my hand to invite him to turn and the rest is coming from legs, seat and hand, although there is still a long way to go and we are only good at this in walk at the moment and then only when pony hasn't got other ideas... so there is still lots of practise needed :-)

Sadly we don't have a school and the fields are very wet, so it was just a case of putting my faith in him and going for it, which I know sounds crazy, but as you say I think this would have happened anyhow, bit or no bit.

And yes I think we both need longer to adjust. It's just hard throwing yourself into something new when you don't have anyone who's done it on hand to refer to... which is where you all come in :-)
 
Alyth said:
It takes a bit of practice!! I have only used a Parelli hackamore (rope sidepull) since 1998 and from the first I felt I had more control than with my snaffle bit that I had used before this. But both pony and I learned a lot about following a feel, phases, one rein stop etc.....I do have some alternatives that I will try but at the moment I don't feel the need!! Neither pony or I liked the Dr. Cook. We have a Light Rider and a Knot Just Rope noseband (no extra knots!) to try!! I don't blame him from running from the Rottie!!....Is he not confined in any way? That is a disaster waiting to happen and I would talk to the YO in the hope the dog can be confined in a special area!!! Just imagine if it was a child on a pony.......
Click to expand...

Well... re: the rottie I was pretty cross. He is disabled (the dog) and the YO hadn't realised he was capable of cantering towards my horse.

There are 5 dogs in all and they always run around the paddocks, so you would think Kes would get used to them, but he isn't keen and often offers to kick them. Having the dog run at him from the front, on the driveway, with me on board, was obviously a new and scary scenario (I would be scared if a rottie ran at me!) So I don't blame Kes; it just got me thinking about whether I could have done anything differently (as you do).

It is the YO's family home though; I am one of only two liveries so it's not a 'yard' as such, so although I did point out that my horse had just shot down the road (she hadn't realised) I think now I have to just let it lie.
 
Orchardbeck said:
I think it sounds like you are doing well. Yes, you won't get the same lateral flexion as bitted, but the flower plates will still exert pressure when you take the opposite rein, so there will be encouragement to turn. I use a little s hackamore, have been interested in the flower type but might cut up an old continental gag to get a similar effect.

I just forget i'm bitted or not bitted - as long as there isn't continuous pressure, my horse respects the brakes far better in the little s hack.
Click to expand...

Thank you :-)

I think I just have to take the rough with the smooth. If I keep thinking 'there could have been a car' I'll never get on a horse again.

I can't wait until the paddocks dry out and I can start some schooling in earnest.
 
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