So I've taken the plunge...

[metalmare]

Well... I've at least dipped my toe in the water.

I've just made a mock up bitless bridle using my halter and a couple of lead ropes tied together to make rope reins. I put my bridle over the top just in case. I then took up a contact on the rope reins, but left the snaffle rein like a curb, completely slack... so I was riding bitless in a primitive side pull.

I trotted around the yard quite happily, steering and stopping were better than usual! As soon as he got the hang of the pressure release he responded really well so I was soon able to give a very light aid. He worked on a loose rein and had a real spring in his stride (or was that the snow?!)

It went so well I popped him down the lane and back then dispensed with the bridle altogether and trotted around the yard in the halter. I also tried attaching both ropes to the back to make a bosal, which was okay, but I lost steering ability.

My mock up did slide up his nose a bit, so not ideal, but it has given me confidence to make the purchase of a proper bitless bridle. Also, he tended to raise his head, but I think with time (and perhaps a little poll pressure, too) this will stop.

As you can see from his worried face, he was not in the mood to try something new!! I did do a bit of ground work before I got on the daft beast.

 

[*hic*]

He looks so much like mine, love him

 

[metalmare]

Ah, thank you. I love how easy it is to read a welsh pony's face. His worried face above has proper little scrunched eyebrows and he also has an accusing glare that he gave me earlier after I'd made him leave his hay.

 

[Gasper]

I ride in a rope halter with a snaffle bridle over the top , noseband removed as my boy hates pressure on his nose with a vengeance . Use the combination as a double bridle with the snaffle as a last resort . Works for me. Tried a Dr Cooks last week and he hated it - the pressure on his nose was more than he could cope with.

 

[metalmare]

I'm seriously looking at the matrix bridle that people have recommended on here. He was much easier to halt with gentle pressure on the nose and although it clearly felt different to him and he seemed a bit unsure at first he improved so quickly that I feel quite optimistic that this just might work for us.

 

[Dumbo]

Yay, glad bitless went well
I was going to go for the matrix but went for the sidepull from the same site (just because I couldn't wait for 4 weeks!). It's fab and my horse is so much responsive in it.
Good luck!

 

[metalmare]

Yay, glad bitless went well
I was going to go for the matrix but went for the sidepull from the same site (just because I couldn't wait for 4 weeks!). It's fab and my horse is so much responsive in it.
Good luck!

Thank you! Yeah, I'm also very impatient to get going now... it feels like a great adventure.