Unconventional tack question

[Lydz13]

We ride on holiday in France and the horse I ride is bitless. As a nervous novice I was advised to be light with him as it is more severe than a bitted bridle. Actually, I got on very well and, although the horse was quite strong, I felt in control and he seemed happy.

I didn't feel like I could turn Fred?? So used his bitted bridle after. It was quite a bizarre feeling knowing I had no bit, but then I've never done the head collar thing (mum was always convinced I would die)

I love those western type bridle things, is it bosals?? I think the horses look more natural in them, but I don't know anyone who rides bitless so I have no idea where to get advice..

 

[Shysmum]

When i was a teenager, my horse arrived with extremely bad teeth - and the vet suggested that once he'd sorted them out, i ride in a hackamore. Then it was the choice of the English or the German type - we had an english. It was fantastic to use, we both took to it well.

Since then, things have come on so much, and I have to say I am really interested in trying a bosal or similar, especially as Shy's had some painful teething going on. He's barefoot, we are just about to go treeless (when my new saddle arrives ), and i'd like to go bitless too.

We stick out like a sore thumb against all the riders in this area, bar one that I know of ! But I just like things "au naturelle" I spose.

 

[Vixen Van Debz]

Of course some people will have that reaction - lots of people have horses that wouldn't be suited to a bitless bridle. That doesn't mean that those who do have no control!

In fact, the only issue I've seen with someone riding bitless is the horse broncing - without the bit the rider had no way of keeping her horse's head from going down, whereas she does when he plays up in his bitted bridle. The brakes were otherwise fine though.

Even in a bit, a horse chooses to listen to your aid to slow down (or not, as the case may be sometimes)! Tack and aids only provide a means of communicating commands: it's then up to the horse to decide to concede or not. A bit therefore doesn't 'make' them brake...

 

[Piglet]

I ride out sometimes in a Parelli halter, am sure it helps improve my riding as there is no bit in the mouth so I have to rely on my body weight, back and voice to control my horse, he canters along quite happily and comes back to me when I sit up even on the moor. I don't take him out in it if it is cold and windy as he is very sharp then and am not sure if be would listen to me, I air on the side of caution!!

 

[Tinypony]

When you ride in a rope halter a lot of what you do relies on good schooling, excellent lateral flexion and, if required a 1 rein stop. If the horse is bronking you don't battle with both hands to get the head up, you go straight into a 1 rein stop and get the hind legs disengaging (crossing under), which effectively prevents the horse bucking. With good timing it's good for rearing as well, although I have to say I hope I don't have to deal with that, I'm not a "problem horse" trainer!

I've not used a Micklem bridle. I tend to keep things simple.

Similarly, I don't use mechanical hackamores, like German and English hackamores. I find it almost impossible to get good lateral flexion using them. I can see they have their place though if you are riding "English style".

 

[Tinypony]

I thought I'd just add, if anyone is thinking of using a bosal then don't just buy one off Ebay and put it on. They are more complicated than they look. If the mecate isn't wrapped correctly to give a good fit a bosal will rub your horse's face and be really uncomfortable. You must ride with a true casual rein if you use a bosal, taking any kind of constant contact would be too much and unfair on the horse. Also, you do not lead from the mecate rein as you might with reins attached to a bit. This is because the bosal should not be pulled forward on the horse's face. You either need your horse to be used to walking forward without any forward pressure on the rein, or you loop the reins up around the neck (had to describe!) and then knot your spare rope at the bottom to lead from, so that the forward pressure would be on the neck, not the face.
I'm sure there will be stuff on You Tube about using bosals.
Oh, and the good ones are expensive. I fell in love with one last year that was wrapped in kangaroo hide - it was nearly £300! Needless to say, I didn't buy it.