Would a bitless bridle potentially help a 'hot' horse?

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t411y

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Has anyone had experiences of using a bitless bridle on a hot horse and having success with it, particularly when jumping?

Just interested in people's experiences as I'm thinking of trying it with mine.
 
I had the same situation with my pony, he was stupidly strong when just schooling constantly leaning ect and i shall not go onto him jumping as he just goes crackers! I decided to try bitless with him after joning a facebook group, which i really recommend if you do have facebook, called 'bitless and barefoot- metal free horses' and it is like another world once you delve bitless! I took the plunge and decided to ride my pony in a padded headcoller with reins attached either side which is called a 'side pull' and schooled him. If im honest i did feel abit uneasy at first as though my crutches had been taken away from me, but i pinched myself amd got on with it and safe to say im shocked with the results, no leaning no acting like an idiot! I know i will need abit more stronger bitless bridle and pressure dispersed more around his head rather a side pull oera hackamorehich is just nose! So i asked about and got recommendes this website from the facebook group- http://www.bitlessandbarefoot.com/
So i am not saving up for one of there bitless bridles!
Admin remove if i am breaching rules but i am merely giving advice not advertising!
 
t411y said:
Has anyone had experiences of using a bitless bridle on a hot horse and having success with it, particularly when jumping?

Just interested in people's experiences as I'm thinking of trying it with mine.
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Yes I always ride my ex racer in a bitless bridle. I was about to give up on him before I went bitless and now he's a different horse because he doesn't have the distraction of a bit causing him discomfort.
Definitely try a bitless bridle - it is very easy to transition to and I'm sure yor horse will be very grateful!!
 
Thanks for the replies, I'll definitely join the fb group and have a look on there. It sounds like its worth giving it a go!

Did you both just give it a try one day, I have a Dually headcollar so I could start off with that before looking into a proper bitless bridle?
 
Give it a go in a safe place, and do some schooling...stating the obvious. One of mine was transformed by going bitless. He used to run through a curb bit with his chin on his chest, (very bendy neck) leaving me absolutely nowhere to go but wherever he wanted to, and at whatever speed (and often sideways). I started with a Dr Cook, and had INSTANT brakes. It was like he breather a sigh of relief. I now use an english Hackamore, and he's absolutely light as a feather in it - I hardly have to touch the reins. He'll even go in a rope halter, and I've taken him on a fun ride in a light cross under rope Indian Bosal, and galloped and stopped without any problem at all...to the amazement of others who were struggling to slow up their bitted horses.
Certainly worked for my boy. I tried bitless with my other horse, and for him it didn't feel quite so safe...only did it the once (stupidly went straight out on a hack, early days of horse ownership!!) and lived to tell the tale but never bothered again, because he's actually fine in a bit.
So I have 1 of each, but the bitless one is the more manoevarable, and the one that drops his head to put on the bridle.
 
Really worked for my mare. We hunted in a gag and afterwards i found that she was locking onto the bit, not accepting it and an outline was a rarity.. if we got one, it was rushing and rigid - not enjoyable. Riding her actually really hurt my shoulder (i have a weak ish shoulder) as i was locking on to her trying to slow her down (we'd end up pretty much galloping around the school trying to stop).
Anyway, i tried going back to a snaffle which wasn't successful either. So i tried a hackamore and she was so relaxed it was amazing, slowly we worked on slowing things down and calming all her schooling down. She was so calm and relaxed i just think it was a lot less for her to concentrate on.

We spent around 3 months riding in that and then i tried a pelham in her.. I figured i could ride softly in it but it would be introducing a bit back.. anyway been riding in it for a couple months and she is like a different horse. We have collected canters, flying changes, counter canters - all sorts of different stuff and its all relaxed and controllable.. i love it and my shoulder hasn't hurt in months and my hands are relaxed and light again.

I'm thrilled but i think it all comes back to the time spent in the hackamore :). Good luck, try in a school or fenced area with someone on hand if you have any problems. :)
 
Well its early days for me, only been riding mine bitless for a week, decided to try it after joining "Bitless and Barefoot forum" and also because my boy head shakes!
So far it is going well, he is not throwing his head around and is far more relaxed, we have not done any fast work yet though!
 
Yes it worked for my (long dead) neurotic mare. She had previously been ridden in all sorts of gadgets by her previous owner and she was branded as a total nutter by most people. I made my way down to bitless though, I didn't just go straight in there and put it on her as I didn't trust that I would have any control. I put her in a french link first, then to a bendy rubber snaffle and then a hackamore. Each drop down in severity brought positive results and in the end she was always ridden in a hackamore. She was still a speed demon in the jumping ring but all the fussiness was gone. When I took her XCing I have to admit the brakes didn't work so good, but then they never did in her stronger bits either. All in all though, I found a much more relaxed horse, not calm; she could never have been calm, but definitely a happier camper. So I'd say it's definitely worth a try at least :)
 
Hi everyone, thank you for all your replies.
I gave her a try in our dually today - I know it's not really representative of a bitless bridle but thought it would give me an idea of how she would take to it before I part with any money.
She did seem to be a lot happier in it - she is very giraffe like usually but she was a lot more relaxed today and her jumping was relaxed and almost normal, I'm so happy as she truely is nuts when jumping, I've been told in the past she 'defies the laws of physics' as she goes so fast.
On this basis I think I'm definitely going to look into going bitless a bit more - after looking on the Bitless and Barefoot site I've considered looking into their Matrix bridle which can be converted into several different bitless types - which sounds good as I don't yet know what she will like best and whilst I barely need any brakes out hacking I'd be needing a lot more for jumping.

Does this sound like a good idea? Any more advice before I carry on?

Thank you for all the help so far!
 
t411y said:
Hi everyone, thank you for all your replies.
I gave her a try in our dually today - I know it's not really representative of a bitless bridle but thought it would give me an idea of how she would take to it before I part with any money.
She did seem to be a lot happier in it - she is very giraffe like usually but she was a lot more relaxed today and her jumping was relaxed and almost normal, I'm so happy as she truely is nuts when jumping, I've been told in the past she 'defies the laws of physics' as she goes so fast.
On this basis I think I'm definitely going to look into going bitless a bit more - after looking on the Bitless and Barefoot site I've considered looking into their Matrix bridle which can be converted into several different bitless types - which sounds good as I don't yet know what she will like best and whilst I barely need any brakes out hacking I'd be needing a lot more for jumping.

Does this sound like a good idea? Any more advice before I carry on?

Thank you for all the help so far!
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That is the one i will be getting for my boy, just need to save up my money! Have you checked out the facebook group yet? If you ask on there you will get alote more advice! XD good luck, and welcome to the dark side!
 
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