How insane would it be...?

[Tickles]

Following on from an earlier post re bitless bridles and a horse's objecting not to his bridle but specifically to his bit when tacking up (it is something v like a French link but with slightly more rounded middle section and in one of those 'tasty' copper coloured metals). How insane would it be to try attaching his reins to his (flash) nose band and going for a pootle in the arena? Trying to work out if he is being naughty/lazy because he knows he can put off being ridden by putting nose in air/clamping jaw shut or actually doesn't like the bit/is in pain.

Teeth have been done relatively recently & were almost fine before then anyway. He is sound. Seems fine once you do (eventually) get the bit in & both his riders have quite kind hands.

Thanks!

 

[Chico Mio]

Try it. I rode in reins attached a headcollar when I forgot my Dr Cook. Make sure you're not on your own though!

 

[Shazzababs]

Didn't see the earlier post but how about using a hackamore as a noseband and having a pair of reins on that as well as the bit, then you can ride with one set or the other and see which he reacts too.

I wouldn't go with reins on the flash noseband I don't think it would be confortable for the horse, or strong enough to stop with.

If you are trying to see if a hackamore would work maybe put reins on a lunge cavesson, you could use that over your normal bridle. I would still have the reins on the bit though, for an emergency.

Maybe even see his reaction on the lunge with the side reins attached at different points?

 

[Festive_Felicitations]

Give it a go, but I think a headcollar would be better than a flash, just becasue of the shape/ pressure etc.
And make sure some one is around incase it goes pear shaped.

Any well behaved/ semi schooled horse shoule be able to catch on to the whole headcollar pressure thing quite easily, but you may find the walk to halt transition a bit difficult at first.

 

[Tickles]

Hmm - interesting ideas, thank you everyone. I shall have a look at what we have around to play with (def have head collars, def don't have a hackamore, not sure about cavesson) but not rush into anything all by myself tonight.

Have ridden some horses bitless before but never been the one to try & work out if they go better that way. He /might/ just be being a lazy monkey but I don't know him that well yet so don't want to rule out discomfort.

So far he's only cantered off with me once (the day I tried him!) and I can mostly get downward transitions with my body only (voice when lunging). Do nearly always maintain a contact unless specifically getting him to stretch though - I'm too much of a control freak to ever hack on the buckle!