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Bitless Bridle

4K views 22 replies 14 participants last post by  BlueSpark 
#1 ·
Im thinking about buying a bitless bridle, does anyone have comments on them? Or suggestions? Thanks! :)
 
#2 ·
Some horses don't adjust to them very well, so make sure you have a horse that knows how to take cues from one. I used a hackamore on my gelding and he did not take it well at all. He wouldn't turn or anything and just stopped with the pressure. My mare however listened better, but she can neck rein so it wasn't too difficult. Depends on the horse, really.
 
#4 ·
I prefer the All-In-One training halter bitless bridle. I have used Dr Cook's and it pinches under the chin and the chin straps don't release so my horse ends up shaking her head. Its like a vice grip from poll to chin. I bought an all-in-one and love it. All my horses have them now and our entire barn too. Missy Wryn makes them and teaches how to train a horse bitless www.MissyWryn.com. Hope this helps
 
#8 ·
There's many, many bitless options available! Please research as many as you can to find one suitable for your horse, then try a few once you've narrowed it down. Not all horses like the same thing! Some bitless options are sidepulls, indian hackamores, LG zaum bridles, hackamores, bosals, lightriders and crossunder bridles. Feel free to message me if you have questions, though there's lots of information out there to be had already :)
Happy trails.
 
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#9 ·
They're pretty strong. I put one on my gelding just to see and it was pretty crazy, he listened but he also became strangely "wiggly" in the body so I had to use a lot more leg. He also hated that the noseband was so tight, with the "cross under the chin" type the tight noseband is essential.

You can ask at a local tack store before you buy what their return policy is if you're worried your horse won't go well in it.
 
#10 ·
I would check and see how your horse likes it.
I don't use bits, so mine are fine with bitless bridles. The horses I stopped using bits with over 30 years ago didn't mind and actually handled better without a bit, but for them the bit was useless, since they neck reined and never had any pressure on the mouth. I think they just liked not having anything in their mouth anymore.
But we didn't have bitless bridles then (or at least I'd never heard of one back then......no internet). Just made a halter with some rope and attached to long end to the opposite side, or used their halter with reins attached.

Would certanly check how well your horse response and handles without a bit first, if a bit is all it knows. You can train them (that's really what it's all about, since it's the training that controls and not the bit), but it's a good thing to know up front if your horse will handle ok, or would more training be required.
 
#11 ·
Alright, well seems like I have to look around quite a bit at different ones but thank you for all your tips and help everyone! :) Ive heard a lot of good things about the lightrider but I havent heard much about the others so Ill have to take a look into those ones before choosing. My only problem is the local tack stores dont carry any so Id have to order online that is why I would like as much help as possible so that I know what I could be getting into.
 
#13 ·
From my personal experience...

My horse HATED the Dr Cook's bitless bridle. It made him ANGRY and I had to emergency dismount in the arena. However, I've discovered that he loves the S hackamore. Go figure.

There's many horses at my barn that actively work in a hackamore, and many more than CAN work in a hackamore but their owners are....too cowardly to give it a go. I've done it without incident, though.

It's one of those "it depends" type of things. I think that most horses could eventually go in some kind of hackamore - some will need more training with it than others. Some types will work better than others. I suggest trying to buy one used, and buying one without a bridle, to cut down your costs.
 
#14 ·
This thread was posted at the perfect time! My horse will be 3 in August, and I really want to use a bitless bridle on her. We've noticed she has a white line on either side of her jaw- if you were to pull her lips back (like if she had a bit in her mouth) that's where the lines are. I've wondered if this could be some kind of scarring from having someone be rough on her with a bit. I haven't ridden her except for when I tried her out (I've only had her a month), and I'm working with her as though she hasn't been broke.

I didn't mean to hijack this thread at all, I'm just thrilled, because I was going to make my first post to the site about this exact topic, so thanks!
 
#16 ·
Hey ladies,

I just ordered a bitless bridle/halter combo *with side pull and knots* from eBay.ca and it's actually done amazing results in just two uses. Cerra can be pushy but is rather easy to put in her place... Bailey, on the other hand -- if she doesn't wanna do something, it's a standoff until she gives in to the pressure. Using this new combo as the halter (clip both loops to the lead rope) has been so effective with her! She refused a few times, but gave up after that. You'd think that she didn't have a mule's attitude... LOL! I bought from Knot Just Rope in Ohio, and she sent instructions plus an e-mail to forward my feedback.
 
#17 ·
Thanks ButterfliEterna, I'm definitely going to check that one out. Like daaybreak said, my tack stores don't sell any bitless bridles either, so it's great to see what people have liked and tried. I'm glad to hear some feedback about the Dr. Cook's bridles, because I was leaning towards that one before. Now though, it sounds like my Shiloh won't like it too much.
 
#18 ·
My quarter/appy loved Dr. Cook's bitless. I did everything in that bridle: hack, jump, and school dressage. When I bought it I could only afford the nylon version but it's super easy to clean and take care of though so that is always a plus. I was lucky because I had the opportunity to ride in my trainer's before I had to make the purchase so I knew my horse would like it. I haven't tried it on my new horse yet (an ottb) but reading this thread has made me want to give it a go!

I hope you find something you and your horse like.
 
#20 ·
I just got a sidepull to try on my boy. He has an unknown background and was very headshy when I got him and terrified of having his mouth or ears messed with. I thought he might be a candidate to give one a go if he's had a bad experience with a bit... he had sores on his mouth when he arrived. He has taken well to it in the last month since we started ground driving and longing and has the cues down so we'll see how it goes when I get on him for the first time. I like the idea of bitless, when I was a kid my favorite thing to do was relax and ride out on the trails bareback with just a halter and lead rope when I needed a break from all the stuffy training.
 
#21 ·
my horses HATED the doctor cooks bitless. I think it had something to do with the presure being distributed to so many different points, even though I have very soft hands. Tried it on three horses and gave up. I use a leather side pull that a local guy made for me. I'll have to get a picture, it looks awesome, is simple and works great. I'm not a big fan of mechanical hackamores. I also regularly ride in a rope halter.

I figure if a horse can feel a fly landing on its bum, it can certainly feel me pulling on a halter and respond accordingly:lol:
 
#22 ·
I've noticed my horse has two white lines on her face, one on either side. They're about an inch long, and by her lips...like if she had a bit in her mouth pulling back on her lips, that's where the white lines are. They're an inch or two long. Could these be from having a bit ripped around in her mouth with a lot of pressure? She's only two still, but I know she had people on her back, including some young kids, before I bought her. This is part of the reason I'm reluctant to use a bit on her. She's not headshy at all, and doesn't seem sensitive in that area, but could this be a possibility?

That's part of the reason I'm interested in a bitless bridle.
 
#23 ·
i've never heard of this, but anything is possible i guess. You should try a bit and see how she reacts. i've had two, one with a weird mouth, and one that was really sensitive, that by far prefered a halter or side pull, but idealy a horse will work well in a bit or without.
 
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