Dr Cooks Bitless Bridles.......

Hi I've just joined the forum and was wondering if anyone has a Dr Cook bitless bridle and if they have what they think of it? I have just bought a treeless saddle and have just found these bridles which I have yet to find anything negative about. They seem to improve every horse! Is it true?

I bought one of the cheaper biothane ones. I'm a trail rider so I may not be the best one to give a review. I tried it once on the trail and I think if I would get myself motivated and do more arena/round pen work with it, it would be great.
Vida seemed responsive to it but I felt I needed the control of the bit on a trail ride....For now

My two cents on bitless bridles:
There is a trend going now to use a bitless bridle or hack because it's "gentler" and the horse "doesn't need to feel the pain of the bit" - phooey. If you have light hands, the bit does not induce pain! If the bit is fitted correctly and you are using the right type of bit... there is no pain!!!
A lot of people mistake lack of training for bit problems when it's not... have you consulted a trainer about any problems you might be having?
Another thing - a lot of people mistake pain in other areas as the horse not accepting the bit - is the horse sore anywhere? Does your tack fit properly?
Anyways, that's my little rant..
We recently started stocking the bitless bridle at the tack store I work at... they sent a demo video with it and it is awful.. none of the horses work in a frame, there's even a segment of a horse bucking in it... I was shocked at the content.
I personally am going to be trying one of these bitless wonders soon, and will be able to give you my honest feedback. (If I'm still alive... I'll be using it on my OTTB...haaaaa...)

I don't have one, but one horse at my barn's mouth needs REALLY SOFT contact/his mouth has a problem. It got very sore from people pulling too hard on him (little kids I suppose), etc. He has to use a Bitless bridle *& it's Dr. Cook's*, I've used it with him & it works really well. :) I like 'em!

You took the words out of my mouth Poptart. I think if a horse has mouth or teeth problems it can be a horse saver.

^Exactly. :) I think they are very useful for that & it gives the owner hope, that even if their horse has a bad mouth/sore mouth problem, they can still train them/ride them properly! They do work really well.

Sorry I didn't explain myself better...
I agree with above posts regarding sore mouth/teeth/conformational issues that a horse would be more comfortable in a bitless.. BUT many people misdiagnose a soreness issue or training issue to be a "bit problem" when in fact there is another issue.
What I'm annoyed with is the "trend" towards bitless bridles because miss princess poof horsie's owner doesn't want to hurt poor miss princess poof horsie. In the right hands, a bit is a communication tool that is nothing more than that; it is not painful, in fact the horse seeks it. A bit is not a torture device. Having said that, it IS a torture device in the wrong hands.
I think it would be a great idea for beginner riding horses... as in horses used for beginners. Probably a mouth-saver... hah.
Like anything, a bitless bridle is NOT for everyone/every horse. A bitless bridle can be a good thing in some cases.

I'd add bitless bridle may be as severe as a bit (if not more) in wrong hands. Personally I didn't like the idea of it. Attaching reins to the wide leather halter is a much better way to save horse from "wrong" hands than using bitless.

I do agree about horse with sore mouth and all - I'm referring only to the reason that "I feel too bad for the horse to use bit". I've run into BEGINNERS who say that and then put a mechanical hackamore on horse.

JDI: I wasn't referring to you, I was just saying in general. I agree with you on that part.

I was actually thinking of getting this for my one gelding. We do not use a bit for him (he takes it fine, listens well, but we have chosen not to use one.. .he was also a lesson horse that got "abused" by inexperienced riders)
I have not gotten it for him as I have been riding him in either his nylon, leather or rope halter.
It seems decent enough, though I have not personally seen or used one.