Maybe a stupid question

Why the hell not? If your horse does well and you feel comfortable, DO IT. That's great that you and your horse are at that level. Bits and bridles are for, basically, better communication with a horse, so if your communication is good enough without one, great.

            

If you are not competing in anyway that requires you to use a bridle, then ride any which way you want & feel you have communication with the horse.

            

I obviously don't know what a "bitless bridle" so if anyone wants to explain that to me that would be great.

For me riding bitless would be in a rope halter or in a bosal. Riding in a bosal is an art in itself to achieve results.Basically riding in a bosal is bluffing a horse in a way. Once he learns he can push through it you've ruined it. And the same is with a halter. You have to have the respect. However I am not saying you get from a bit. Same with a bit, if you pull on the same area constantly you numb that area and you have to pull harder to get those same results. I see so many people riding in the bosal and never change the position on the nose or never have it adjusted properly to begin with! Let alone using it correctly and they just end up with a hard faced run away. Buying a good bosal isn't easy either, you have to know what to look for and want to spend the money on it. Instead of buying some cable core POS for $30 at the feedstore. When done correctly a hackamore horse can have more finesse than a bridle horse believe it or not. And I don't think most people have the knowledge to accomplish that....not saying that I do, but I have been learning.

I am not an advocate of most people riding with a bosal or halter all the time because I have seen more wrecks than anything else. I worked for a cowboss who would fire you if you rode out of the saddle barn with a bosal hanging on your horse to go doctor yearlings just for that reason. Here you are with a 700 lb steer on the end of your rope and there is dip **** trying to pull up Brownie in his hackamore rig to get close enough to get a heel shot in. But if you wanted to ride your horse in the pens at the barn and do a little training on one that was fine with him. I can ride and rope with a halter or bosal on all my horses, but do I do it all the time..no. I realize that most people are not going to be outside roping wild Mexican steers in a hackamore so I am sure its fine for most folks.

I sounded off earlier in this thread without really thinking but now I think
It's not really a matter of using a bit or not, but rather gaining the respect and responses from your horse that is desired. And if you have abilities to do so that is great!


Again I am speaking about bosal/hackamores(NOT the metal contraption hackamore-that is not a hackamore!) and rope halters. I have no idea about a "bitless bridle" or what it is and how to use one.



Vettech- good explanation of true collection and false headsets!

            

I found this definition: "
Bitless Bridle: Definition: A bitless bridle is any type of headgear used to control an animal (usually a horse) while riding that does not include a bit.
There are many types of bitless bridles. For example: A bosal is a bitless bridle. A hackamore is a bitless bridle. A side-pull is a bitless bridle. A cross-under is a bitless bridle. And a riding halter is a bitless bridle."
exactly :)

            

Thanks for the definition...another question...what is a cross under?

            

Originally Posted by xxGallopxx     I totally agree. My horse's old owner rode him in a hackamore. His philosophy was: ''If you can't get a horse to do what you want him to do without a bit in his mouth, you have no business riding that horse.'' I'm not even kidding. I don't see how he rode Joker, since he was a huge brat that just threw his head in the air and ignored what you asked of him. After working with him for 90+ days almost every day, with a bit that fit his training level he turned into a much more respectful, and better trained horse. It's too easy for horses to run through hackamores, and my trainer said that when you pull back on the reins, it cuts off their air. Wether or not this is true, I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was.

            

This made me envision cartoon steers in big cliche sombreros and ponchos, like those mice in the old Speedy Gonzales cartoons

            

Here is cross-under

            

The Indian bosal or Indian hackamore is also a cross under, but just around the jaw.

            

Bah ha ha
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