Orbitless bridle... or bitless recommendation

[scats]

Polly is coming back into light work and I am considering trying her bitless. She was a nightmare to bit when she arrived, I tried everything and nothing helped at all. She chomps, chews, grinds, shortens her neck and is just ridiculously unhappy. It starts the second you put the bridle on in the stable. (Teeth are done every 9 months). She was diagnosed with PSD last year and mild hock arthritis so won’t be doing anything other than very light walk and trot and hacking around our farm tracks. I have no further expectations of her. Currently long reining in just a headcollar (lines clipped to the side)and she is much happier and more relaxed and the difference in her whole body is evident.

She has aural plaques so is sensitive about pressure around her ears, plus is generally a very sensitive type, so I’m thinking a Dr. cook style isn’t for her. She wears an anatomical bridle, which ideally I’d like to keep, so i was considering buying a noseband to turn it bitless. Recommendations?
Was looking at the orbitless.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Mine loves his 'little S hackamore' and he's also very sensitive about his ears. IIRC, it's made by Zilco.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I am going to try mine with a side pull type (I've never liked the cross under type)-we done some in-hand stuff with it and he seems to like it. Its this one

https://www.waldhausen.com/en/horses/bridles-and-accessories/star-bitless-bridle.html



One little hackamore type thing I saw the other day I liked was this one
https://www.barefoot-tack.co.uk/bitless-bit-bbb-173-p.asp

 

[tda]

I've got an old Libbys webbing Scrawbrig, like a sidepull I guess, cheap and cheerful x

 

[Steerpike]

I've used an orbitless on a couple of mine and find it works well

 

[stewal]

I use the Micklem Multibridle in the sidepull option with reins fixed to the rings. I had the same problem in finding a bit that my horse didn't seem unhappy with and he seems to be much better with this. Wish I had gone bitless sooner to be honest.

 

[The-Bookworm]

I went to the bit bank to find my mare something she got in with.
But I use the halter if I am in the yard.
You could just ride in the headcollar if off road?

 

[webble]

I have a zilco flower. We switched to it recently and we both love it, have even jumped in it which I haven't done for years because it always just felt like a tug of war.

The only thing I'm not keen on is how snug it has to be fitted. If you are on Facebook have a look at bitless believers they seem v supportive and knowledgeable group