Going bitless?

[Chinchilla]

Thinking about going bitless.
Tell me everything I need to know.
Had a look online but all the advice seems to be from bitless bridle retailers, e.g. Dr Robert Cook, or bitless & barefoot, and whilst I'm sure these people know their stuff I want sources from owners/users of bitless bridles.

What are you experiences/thoughts with/on bitless bridles?

How would you train to understand a horse to understand bitless cues?

I was thinking about getting a matrix bridle if that helps at all.

 

[AFB]

I think you probably need to give a bit more information on your horse and why you're looking at it for people to be able to offer advice - i.e. bitted issues, horses way of going etc., will help people offer suggestions and ways forward

 

[Chinchilla]

Okay...
I just feel like I have far too heavy hands really. And when lunging she often opens her mouth/shakes her head as if she is in pain, particularly with the mouth opening, and also sticks her head up very high when I am trying to bridle her.
It was actually my mum lunging her here and me behind the camera; yet Diva was still throwing her head about and opening her mouth, despite the fact that the handler has very soft hands.

You can see the line is not tight either.

 

[Mule]

I went bitless for a while when my horse was headshaking. I just rode him the same way as I do with a bit.
If you make sure she's responsive to slowing, stopping and turning in an enclosed area you should be ok to go.

 

[mynutmeg]

First time I rode my mare bitless was because she had bitten the tip of her tongue and I wasn't happy to bit her. A friend was very into her bitless and encoruaged me to try it - I'd always thought she wouldn't be suitable as she can be quite strong in her headcollar but she took to it really well.
I can't say I did any schooling proper with it - we just pootled around the school and then went for a hack. Our steering from the bitless alone isn't always great but I use legs a lot for that anyway but her brakes are brilliant in it - I do endurance and the couple of rides I had done before switching required pelham and even then we were fighting and I didn't have great stopping power. In the bitless she can occasionally get a bit strong and need a bit more holding but she listens much better and I have much better control.

Provided your horse understands to give to pressure then they should pick it up quickly, just have a play in a safe place first.
I use a nose rope - costs about £20, attaches to a normal bridle and has a braided band across the front of the nose and then two lines that cross under the jaw so pressure hugs around the nose, slightly below where the cavesson would sit. http://www.noseropes.co.uk/

 

[Sukistokes2]

I was chatting today with the lady who designed the transcend bitless bridle. That looks good, why not look into them.

 

[Sleipnir]

My gelding has such a strong reaction to any kind of bit (and also both our vet and dentist agree that he has a tiny mouth and a low palate compared to the size of his tongue), that we have been always been bitless, sans a few periods of attempting to getting him used to a bit (to no avail). In my experience, there's really no big difference from riding with a bit if you find the right one for your horse. My boy hates the amount of "face hugging" pressure the cross under/Cook's bridles give, and for some odd reason he despises the simplest sidepulls, so we have stopped at an Orbitless and both love it. Despite him being quite a strong horse, we not only school, but also hack, jump and drive in it.

As long as your horse responds to pressure/release well and is generally obedient, I don't think you'll have any problems. Have fun! I know quite a lot of rider/horse pairings that have gone bitless and, if anything, they swear that their horses have become much calmer and happier since ditching bits.

I have also heard very good reviews of the above mentioned Transcend bridle.

 

[Landcruiser]

Agree with the above. You'll probably try a few different types before settling on one you like. I started on Dr Cook, but didn't like the way it sometimes doesn't release (but horse went well in it). Ended up with an english hackamore just because we are western and it looks a bit more like a western bit/bridle. If you have heavy hands this probably won't suit though.

Go for it....you might find (as I did) that control improves as the horse is less distracted by discomfort and listens more, and is more relaxed. Less is more.

 

[BBP]

Well done for recognising your problem, it sounds like a good instructor will really help. It's important to realise that heavy hands in the wrong bitless bridle can be every bit as painful to the horse as in a bit. I ride in an Enduro rope bridle, which being rope and having knots and a narrow surface area concentrates any pressure, my horse finds it severe if I even get a little tight in the hand and then over reacts to it. So I use a gel pad on the nose which makes it a very soft gentle bridle. I prefer sidepull bridles, I don't think crossunders release fast enough to give a clear signal, and I'm not a big fan of hackamores as again with heavy hands you can create an awful lot of poll and nose pressure. Sidepulls are more foregiving I think. The horse tends to understand a sidepull as it's a similar cue to a bitted cue. Because I use mine for 'dressage' work and ride with more of a contact than a lot of bitless bridles are usually used with (often no contact at all with rope ones, neck rein only), I need it to be a very kind soft bridle. Start in an enclosed space and then you can always move to a bigger space and use double reins, one set on a he bitless and one on the bit as a 'just in case'. Then once you are confident your horse is listening you can take the bit away. My horse is perfect bitless, I'm really glad I swapped away from a bit, I didn't intend for it to be a permanent change but he goes do well I haven't felt the need to swap back.

 

[Shay]

All good advice and all worth trying. There are a massive range of bitless options available so there will be something to suit. But one thought - the mare's reaction could be to pain in the poll area rather than the mouth in which case a bitless bridle won't help. If you haven't already it might be worth getting a vet or Chiropracter to check?

 

[pansymouse]

I've recently given up on bits as my mare got more and more fussy with them - her mouth confirmation is just not bit compatible - vet confirmed everything health and teeth wise was fine. I use an English hackamore but I have very light hands and ride from my seat - it is not a "bit" for a rider with strong hands. People do say it's not great for steering but that's not an issue for me - I steer from my seat anyway so the bit is irrelevant!

 

[Chinchilla]

All good advice and all worth trying. There are a massive range of bitless options available so there will be something to suit. But one thought - the mare's reaction could be to pain in the poll area rather than the mouth in which case a bitless bridle won't help. If you haven't already it might be worth getting a vet or Chiropracter to check?

She was bitless a while back and didn't have the same issues. But I chickened out because of pressure from more traditionalist people. But have now decided they can all take a hike because so long as the horse and I are both happy who gives a toss. Lol

 

[Chinchilla]

Well done for recognising your problem, it sounds like a good instructor will really help. It's important to realise that heavy hands in the wrong bitless bridle can be every bit as painful to the horse as in a bit. I ride in an Enduro rope bridle, which being rope and having knots and a narrow surface area concentrates any pressure, my horse finds it severe if I even get a little tight in the hand and then over reacts to it. So I use a gel pad on the nose which makes it a very soft gentle bridle. I prefer sidepull bridles, I don't think crossunders release fast enough to give a clear signal, and I'm not a big fan of hackamores as again with heavy hands you can create an awful lot of poll and nose pressure. Sidepulls are more foregiving I think. The horse tends to understand a sidepull as it's a similar cue to a bitted cue. Because I use mine for 'dressage' work and ride with more of a contact than a lot of bitless bridles are usually used with (often no contact at all with rope ones, neck rein only), I need it to be a very kind soft bridle. Start in an enclosed space and then you can always move to a bigger space and use double reins, one set on a he bitless and one on the bit as a 'just in case'. Then once you are confident your horse is listening you can take the bit away. My horse is perfect bitless, I'm really glad I swapped away from a bit, I didn't intend for it to be a permanent change but he goes do well I haven't felt the need to swap back.

I am having lessons I am quite nervous and tend to hang on to the reins far too much, which my instructor says is where the problem comes from, so we have been doing confidence building stuff - yesterday I was trotting without reins to get me to relax which was awesome! I think a few more sessions like that will really help but don't want to hurt Diva, plus as she doesn't seem happy anyway (see above picture where my mum, not me, was on the end of the reins) and I would rather not just stick a flash or a grakle on her to get her to shut her mouth, hence wanting to go bitless.

 

[Amye]

Sorry to hijack the thread OP!!! but I have a quick question about bitless - I'm thinking of trying this with my boy as he has melanomas in the left side of his mouth right where the bit sits and they have got slightly bigger and the bits I try with him pinch (even though in all other ways they're a good fit).

Did you all just buy your bitless bridles straight out? Did you borrow from someone or is there anywhere that lets you 'trial' them first?

I think J would be OK with the pressure, but I'm not sure which 'style' he'd like. I've ridden him in a headcollar in the school and he's been ok with this.

 

[mynutmeg]

Well done for recognising your problem, it sounds like a good instructor will really help. It's important to realise that heavy hands in the wrong bitless bridle can be every bit as painful to the horse as in a bit. I ride in an Enduro rope bridle, which being rope and having knots and a narrow surface area concentrates any pressure, my horse finds it severe if I even get a little tight in the hand and then over reacts to it. So I use a gel pad on the nose which makes it a very soft gentle bridle. I prefer sidepull bridles, I don't think crossunders release fast enough to give a clear signal, and I'm not a big fan of hackamores as again with heavy hands you can create an awful lot of poll and nose pressure. Sidepulls are more foregiving I think. The horse tends to understand a sidepull as it's a similar cue to a bitted cue. Because I use mine for 'dressage' work and ride with more of a contact than a lot of bitless bridles are usually used with (often no contact at all with rope ones, neck rein only), I need it to be a very kind soft bridle. Start in an enclosed space and then you can always move to a bigger space and use double reins, one set on a he bitless and one on the bit as a 'just in case'. Then once you are confident your horse is listening you can take the bit away. My horse is perfect bitless, I'm really glad I swapped away from a bit, I didn't intend for it to be a permanent change but he goes do well I haven't felt the need to swap back.

Depends a little on the cross under - the one I use releases immediately as it's rope running through metal rings. Its one of the reasons I chose that one.

Sorry to hijack the thread OP!!! but I have a quick question about bitless - I'm thinking of trying this with my boy as he has melanomas in the left side of his mouth right where the bit sits and they have got slightly bigger and the bits I try with him pinch (even though in all other ways they're a good fit).

Did you all just buy your bitless bridles straight out? Did you borrow from someone or is there anywhere that lets you 'trial' them first?

I think J would be OK with the pressure, but I'm not sure which 'style' he'd like. I've ridden him in a headcollar in the school and he's been ok with this.

I initially borrowed a friend's Dr cook style for a few rides but then just bought the nose rope - it's only £20 so not much if it didn't suit. If you know people with different types then borrow and play till you find what you both like, otherwise bit the bullet and buy something you think will suit. As to style it really depedns where the melanomas are and where you can have pressure on the head

 

[buzyizzy]

I've had my Appy bitless for about 11 years. I broke him with a snaffle, but when it became obvious that he had an enormous jump, I bought a cheap Dr Cook to try as I was concerned I would catch him in the mouth. I still ride bitless 99% of the time, and he is very obedient to it, I wouldn't know the difference. I occasionally use his snaffle bridle, and will do today as I am trying to teach him to collect and I KNOW you shouldn't be needing a bit to collect them up, but despite my best efforts, I need one just to go down another notch. Anyway, I'd recommend a Dr Cook leather one, had mine 10 years, use it all the time, hacking, x/c etc. It's also a lot kinder than a bit, even with the softest of hands. Try using a bit on the inside of your arm where the sensitive skin is, and you'll see what I mean My daughter's Connemara has been bitless for the same amount of time and he came out of a dutch gag. That took some courage on both of our parts I can tell you!

 

[Chinchilla]

I've had my Appy bitless for about 11 years. I broke him with a snaffle, but when it became obvious that he had an enormous jump, I bought a cheap Dr Cook to try as I was concerned I would catch him in the mouth. I still ride bitless 99% of the time, and he is very obedient to it, I wouldn't know the difference. I occasionally use his snaffle bridle, and will do today as I am trying to teach him to collect and I KNOW you shouldn't be needing a bit to collect them up, but despite my best efforts, I need one just to go down another notch. Anyway, I'd recommend a Dr Cook leather one, had mine 10 years, use it all the time, hacking, x/c etc. It's also a lot kinder than a bit, even with the softest of hands. Try using a bit on the inside of your arm where the sensitive skin is, and you'll see what I mean My daughter's Connemara has been bitless for the same amount of time and he came out of a dutch gag. That took some courage on both of our parts I can tell you!

A cross under when I hang on with my hands would be an instrument of torture, especially as my horse is young and sensitive... I really hate the idea of a cross under anyway though, the mere concept makes me claustrophobic, but maybe I am anthropomorphising too much aha xD

I am going to use a synthetic sidepull, probably beta biothane as it ĺooks like leather but isn't (I am vegetarian so try and avoid it wherever possible as it goes against my personal beliefs / ethics, sorry!! .... I have no issue with other people using it though, so not hating on you or anything)
Also the closest simulation of a bit would be across the top of your foot - arms carry lots of cushioning soft tissue, horses' Jaws or feet do not. :=) I got my brother to learn on a nathe American gag laid across my foot and Holy crap it was painful. :'(

 

[emfen1305]

I went bitless a couple of months ago after trying every bit under the sun. I have a zilco flower hackamore as it has a lot of different options for where you can have your reins and the noseband. Even the hackamore setting is still pretty mild which is good if you are worried about your hands! I love it, the biggest improvement I have seen is in his jumping. I had a few nasty falls last year so started riding very defensively into the jumps which meant he was cat leaping and then being socked in the mouth which is understandably not nice but since going bitless he is much more willing to take a stride out if we get an iffy one because he knows it isn't going to hurt! Now he has nothing to fuss with he can focus on actually listening to my aids rather than evading them and I find that I have the same amount of control as I did in the bit (though I won't be taking him hunting in it admittedly!) Good luck if you do decide to try, there are so many options now!

 

[Chinchilla]

well I have made my own bitless bridle.

Basically all I did was mutilate an old headcollar. It's a close fit but no tighter than a 'snug' cavesson (I can get two fingers
all the way round easily). Lunged her bitted today but I think the corners of her mouth are a tiny bit bruised because it's gone sort of darker? Either way I'm glad I'm doing this....had a slight mishap yesterday trying to lunge in a headcollar but today lunged first in a bridle and she was brilliant - lovely outline, decent transitions - but sooooo much headshaking, tongue flapping out of her mouth, etc. Oddly enough she was worse on her 'good' rein.
But bitless it didn't happen at all! she was amazing, despite doing it in the rain bitless! I want to get a comparison video now....maybe tomorrow...

 

[Chinchilla]

That being said the mutilated-headcollar-DIY thing won't work forever so can people please show me their bitless bridles and state brand/where they bought them from so I can weigh up my options! Ta! X

 

[claret09]

try an orbitless bridle. I rode my 17.2 in it for a while