Should I try Hippo in a bitless bridle?

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Arizahn

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Serious question: should I try Hippo in a bitless bridle?

At the moment, she's in a Frenchlink snaffle, which is fine. The issue is with removing her bridle, and to a lesser extent putting it on.

When bridling, she often attempts to avoid having the bit placed in her mouth at first. More worrying is the fact that she will throw her head up when being unbridled. She has caught her jaw on the bit once or twice now - very uncomfortable and scary for her, as you can imagine.

I am able to manage her, as is OH, but it is still a big concern, especially since she is being ridden and schooled over the summer by a competent teen (H). H is brilliant but I am worried that Hippo will catch her off guard when unbridling and end up injured.

Hippo can be sharp and strong, especially over cross country, but for the most has no serious issues. The only problems I have had have resulted from her spooking and then running from whatever scared her. Hence my nerves. Am I correct that bitless can still inform a horse that it is required to slow down or will she just cart me off?

Neither I nor H are heavy on the reins when riding: if anything we tend to ride with quite a soft contact.

I've no experience of bitless, so please enlighten me!
 
I have (or had as I have just given up my loan on him) a 17hh ISH eventer who was evented in a hackamore, bitless bridles have brakes. Hackamores have a huge amount of leverage on the nose so often brakes require a much lighter hand and can cause a lot of damage.

One could be a good solution but would recommend having lessons with one as the feel very different :)
 
Arizahn said:
Hippo can be sharp and strong, especially over cross country, but for the most has no serious issues. The only problems I have had have resulted from her spooking and then running from whatever scared her. Hence my nerves. Am I correct that bitless can still inform a horse that it is required to slow down or will she just cart me off?

Neither I nor H are heavy on the reins when riding: if anything we tend to ride with quite a soft contact.

I've no experience of bitless, so please enlighten me!
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I broke my Tank in a Dr Cook's and he was perfectly happy in it. Very chilled and relaxed horse.

I started using an instructor who insisted I use a bit (TBF - as an unschooled youngster he was leaning on me).

Horse then became spooky and tense.

When I get back riding again, I will be going back bitless!

Other bitless I have tried on him are S hackamore (no steering), English hackamore (kept going into his eye), German hackamore (he freaked out).

My Arab, however, is happy in a bit and would resent any poll pressure.

I've found some people have a mental block about removing a bit and think that they will have no control without one - but it depends on how you view the relationship with the horse. Are you in control...or are you working together? If the horse boils over and decides to kill you....no amount of hardware is going to help.:p

I learnt pretty quickly that The Tank wasn't going to be bullied and that if I wanted to live past 30, I should work with him in co-operation, rather than try and dominate him :D
 
Definitely! Find someone who can introduce you to the world of bitless riding!

My 21 year old (always ridden in a snaffle and sometimes a dutch gag before I got him) and I started bitless riding only about two months ago. I still ride sometimes in the snaffle but boy is he much better without!

I actually have better brakes with him as he doesn't fight the contact so much and he is becoming a much lighter ride because of it.

Try it :) I havn't got a bitless bridle per se- we just go in a halter and rope!
 
I love riding the boy bitless - we tried several, but found he hated the head-huggers, and loved the english hackamore. Really does make a huge difference to mouthy horses, just make sure you get the level of the noseband in the right place.

I do know of several peeps with Dr Cooks, and one with a micklem, and they swear by them.

Good luck xxxx
 
Have. Ridden my tb in a dr cooks, sne hated it, tried an english and flower hackamore and she liked them both, brakes were not an issue she responded well, direction change at speed for sj and xc was however:eek
Im riding her in a nue schule team up loose ring which she goes well in
 
I tried Ned in one, but he hated it as I think it hurt his nose (Sensitive area for him!). However, we had great breaks in it! My friend is now using it and her horse goes like a dream in it :)
 
Have I had her teeth checked? I am a fan of Dr cookes. U can put a sheepskin cover on the noseband if they r a.bit sensitive. If they Lean on it u can drop the nose band done a he and school to stop them leaning then take it back up again after a few.sessions. x
 
Waltzing Matilda said:
Have I had her teeth checked? I am a fan of Dr cookes. U can put a sheepskin cover on the noseband if they r a.bit sensitive. If they Lean on it u can drop the nose band done a he and school to stop them leaning then take it back up again after a few.sessions. x
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Yup, teeth are checked every six months - was done recently. All fine there:)

Thanks for all the feedback folks! Oberon, I like to think Hippo and I work together - was just wondering if poll pressure would work the same way as bit pressure if she spooked:o The bit doesn't stop her when she's scared anyway: if I manage to ride out the initial spook, I end up talking her down to a walk.

Have never had any issue leading or lunging her in a regular head collar. She's very responsive to slight pressure. I think we will try it in the indoor at first to be on the safe side, and if she is happier bitless we will stick with it. Will go with the gentlest one I can find, just to be safe. Hopefully won't go horribly wrong!
 
After months of trying various bits on my mare, I came to the conclusion she just doesn't like bits. Mouth conformation fine, teeth fine. So I switched to a Dr Cooks. She can be spooky (spin, run, jump etc) but after a few steps I can bring her back. I've just learnt to sit up straighter and a bit tighter:D.
 
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