Bitless bridles

[harleydales]

Have a look at www.bitlessbridles.co.uk

The bridles work on the same principle as the Monty Roberts 'Be-Nice' halter, where the pressure is on the whole of the head rather than in distinct areas, and as soon as the horse softens, the pressure comes off.

I'm trying Harley in a hackamore at the moment and he's going well in it, but the pressure form hackamores on the nose cheeks and poll is phenomenal and I'm looking for a gentler bitless option.

What does everyone think of these, and has anyone seen one in use?

[shiatsudales]

I've got one of these and I use it sometimes on Drummer. If you want to borrow it let me know and I can post it up for you to try.

I like it if you have good hands but it can be an incredibly harsh bridle, acting like a non-releasing pressure halter and causing them to panic if both reins are pulled at once as it puts pressure on the head from both sides and makes the pony feel really restricted and pressured.

They can also run through them as easily as through a normal bridle. When a native chucks his/her head up, sets the neck and runs there's not much going to stop it, including one of these.

Drummer was OK when I rode him but I've had 'hand, hands, hands,' drummed into me by both a german dressage rider and my current instructor so I tend to have soft hands and rarely take with both at once, except when nervous. When he was ridden in it by other riders, even ones who ride well and normally ride him in a frnech link snaffle, he started head tossing badly, then throwing himself about and reached the bucking point with one person.

He basically doesn't like it and prefers his snaffle. I've kept it in case another horse I have likes it in the future, hence being happy to loan it out to others to try.

I think one of the main problems with it is that the release doesn't come very quickly. I found that if it tightened up and applied pressure I had to shake the rein to get it to release fully rather than just partially. I think this is why Drummer got so upset, he has a real and strong sense of fairness and expects a release from a negative pressure as soon as he gives or performs the required behaviour. He didn't get this from the bridle.

I have used pressure halters quite a bit over the years, always for particular cases and reasons. I'd use this bridle on other horses but I don't think it's the curative, fix all that they say it is.

I also don't like the way they say that all bits are cruel and cause pain. If this was the case Drummer would object to his bitted bridles and he doesn't, he opens his mouth and practically puts his bridle on himself. He si a pony with attitude and he lets me know when his equipment (including rider) are not comfortable or behaving well

Henry (chariot pony) has one of these and, if you have any contact at all on both reins at once, he refuses to go forwards at all so it does act as an effective blocking aid for him but it emphasies the fact you need soft and good hands to use of them. He seems happy in it and it seems to work for him.

[harleydales]

That's very interesting reading Heather, thanks. I'll pm you re borrowing.
I agree that not all bits are cruel and cause pain - a lot of it is in how they are used and I'm sure this bridle can create a lot of pressure as well.
Harley responds well to his Be-Nice halter, and understands it. If he's playing up in his conventional one and I put the BN one on, he instantly behaves. He sat back on it once, went right up, thought better of it and since then has had total respect for it.

I can see why the pressure would be slow to come off - with the BN halter you are in front of the head and gravity will take the pressure off. When you are on the horse, you are at a different angle and may almost have to throw the reins away to get it to give.

I think i've got quite nice hands, I used to ride a pony who objected to pressure so I had to have gentle hands for him.

Just wondering if there's a way I could rig the BN to do the same thing?? The only thing that would be missing is the all-round noseband.....

[jec248]

I have one of these and quite liked it. I went to the beach today and wore a bridle with a pelham bit because about a month ago I had a jumping lesson in the bitless bridle and felt I had no control.

[knight]

Knight likes the bitless bridle as a change and goes very well in it. He does get confused though if the pressure dos not release quickly so what Heather's said is very true.

[greydales]

I had a Libby's bitless bridle for Pip, it wasn't a crossover but just had the reins coming through rings which tightened a strap beneath the jaw - Pip always had good brakes but I felt that if your horse was a puller you wouldn't have an awful lot of control.

[mickey]

I hate that bridle- with a passion!!! Friend has one for her cob and loves it- I rode cob out in it and felt very unsafe. I didnt feel I could stop if I wanted whereas I have no worries with a pelham`. He put his head down at one point to grab grass- its near impossible to get it back up I found He also throws in the odd(!) buck when cantering and I felt her could get his head down furthur and buck a little better.
That said- his owner got him as a BOGOF and has backed him and ridden him for years (think he's 9?10?) and is used to him- he prefers it to a pelham too.
I just really dont like it. That said when we get a school I may beg and give it a fair trial on Yeti (within 4 walls) and provide entertainment for the yard :rofl:

[harleydales]

Well, I bought one. And hacked out on my own on Saturday no problem.
So I thought I'd be bold and use it on a hack with both horses on Sunday - no problem! Remember the posts about Harls being a prat in company? He was still a prat, but no more of a prat than before and I had brakes and could keep his head up, so it has a thumbs up from me so far....

[PonyGirl]

O please keep these posts up. I am looking at getting one for the mare.

[harleydales]

Having read Heather's post about the releaase (or not) of pressure, I got Mike to put his hand between the straps and Harley's head and used my reins - and he felt it. Then I released the reins and he said the pressure did come off, though I couldn't see much movement on the straps.

I also found that if he put his head down (Harls, not Mike lol) that it came up again if I lifted my hands straight up rather than up and back as with a conventional bridle.

[sweetpea]

We are just backing Sweetpea in a Dr Cooks and everything is going really well at the mo. I don't feel that the pressure isn't released, but then she tends not to pull too much and brakes are good at walk and trot. Have also tried several types of snaffle but she seems more relaxed in the bitless. We are only doing light hacking though so can't comment on it's effectiveness during something a little more lively!! I've been using it for quite a while for leading out and long reining so she has had plenty of time to get used to it. When we first started with it she would go to the back of her stable and sulk when I took it off and I wondered if it was a little more harsh than suggested but we have continued with it and she seems fine with it now.

[knight]

So interesting about your testing the release and Mike finding he could feel it. As you say the straps don't seem to move much but maybe the release is enough they can feel it. Maybe Knight is just pulling one over on me and pretends to be confused by it occassionally. I wouldn't put that past him, he does try to get out of work when he can.

[greydales]

It's lovely to hear about Sweetpea, I have a real soft spot for her ;D, I remember on one visit to Lorraine's she followed me all around the field! Do you have any pics of her?