Views on bitless bridles

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Quartz

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My horse really doesn't like the bit, so for hacks I am thinking of going bitless. I am quite interested in the Dr Cook bitless bridle or similar, what are your views and any ideas on where to pick one up cheap!!!!
 
You can trial a Dr Cooks for 30 days from one of the websites.

I have a couple of the leather Dr Cooks and the quality is very high - but I would always replace the cross under straps with beta as I found the leather ones to stretch.

Have a look on ebay.
 
Thanks for that will have a look on ebay. My horse is quite young only 6, but I don't feel he ever tries to overpower me. I think he would be really happy bitless. The one problem I have with him is he pulls the reins out of my hands as he hates contact with the bit. I literally ride with the reins the longest they can go and only take up proper contact to stop. Although we have only really been hacking during the summer and playing at a little bit of dressage and jumping in the field. He now hates the bit even more, as when we do dressage and jumping he doesn't like the reins shorter than when we hack!!!!
 
I broke in my ArdennesX in a Dr Cooks and he was always happy in it.

It is always worth trying one for a fussy horse.

You basically have three types of bitless. Hackamore (English, German and S), sidepull (Scrawbridge) and cross-under (Dr Cooks, Be Kind etc).

Hackamores are severe (bearing in mind it is the hands at the end of the reins that dictate severity), sidepulls are mild and cross-unders are in the middle.

I would tend to start off with a Dr Cooks and if my horse needed more leverage (either through leaning or ignoring) then I would use an S Hackamore.
 
Oberon said:
I broke in my ArdennesX in a Dr Cooks and he was always happy in it.

It is always worth trying one for a fussy horse.

You basically have three types of bitless. Hackamore (English, German and S), sidepull (Scrawbridge) and cross-under (Dr Cooks, Be Kind etc).

Hackamores are severe (bearing in mind it is the hands at the end of the reins that dictate severity), sidepulls are mild and cross-unders are in the middle.

I would tend to start off with a Dr Cooks and if my horse needed more leverage (either through leaning or ignoring) then I would use an S Hackamore.
Click to expand...

Isn't it possible to break the horses nose with a Hackamore?
 
mine hated the Dr cooks. I had it on trial and eneded up sending it back. goes nicely in a scawbrig or a hackamore although I couldnt use a scawbrig for proper endurance rides, because once the adrenalin kicks in, I have trouble slowing down in it, but for normal everyday, its fine and very mild.
 
I have a Micklem bridle for the really tricky mare and it has been excellent.

When she came she wouldn't tolerate a bridle of ANY kind and virtually had to be knocked out cold to get teeth even checked!

Resorted to childhood for a while (headcollar & 2 ropes!) but then saw ad for Bill's invention!

Long story short - got one, persisted with it (it has several variations) and now she's quite happy with it.

The beauty of it for her, was that I could attach a bit whilst using the bitless action so was ideal to get her used to the concept of something in her mouth before it came into play (did have to improvise a little tho).

Apologies for very long previous sentence!

Hope you find something that is usefull :)
 
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