Bitless

[PonyGirl]

Question. Feather is now backed as she is not in foal. ( )
She does not do well with a bit. She throws her head then pulls my bad right shoulder outta wack. It isn't good. I put a bitless bridle on her. The nutral bridle. She is perfect in it. Doesn't do her head thing. (my shoulder is saved!) But, can I show in it?

[PonyGirl]

So does anyone show in bitless??

[harveydales]

I'm not a "showing person" but I suspect it wouldn't be acceptable. I've never seen anyone show bitless and the few times I showed Harvey, I was looked down on for being in a plain snaffle bridle rather than a 2-reined Pelham or double bridle.

Bitless bridles aren't allowed for dressage but then those are totally different rules. I get quite heated about the bitting rules in dressage - if your horse can work at the top levels in a plain snaffle, why should it be forced into a double?

I've seen bittless bridles used in SJ. Maybe the rulings are diferent in the US anyway? Maybe have a look on-line at the affiliated rules?

[PonyGirl]

Thanks. I will have a look at what I can find. I searched yesterday and was just fustrated. If the pony can do the job without a bit or in a snaffle why push them to something that does not work for them drives me nuts. (small trip really as I am already off my rocker)

[Debbie]

LOL @ the 'small trip'... I've all ready arrived, so not even that far...

I'm not sure about the showing in a bitless, as I'm with Harveydales, and not that up on showing. However, aren't hackamores allowed in western showing classes?? And I believe I've seen the occasional high caliber show jumper in an english hack. How they do that is beyond me, but I would think a hackamore (jumping/english) would be fine.

I have no clue when it comes to the Dr Cooks bitless though. I bet you'd have to ask outright for that.

[cariad]

Hi

I'm quite hot on showing and as far as i know all ponies who enter a ridden class have to suitable bitted, or so it says in the rule boooks for the 'higher' affiliated shows. I think it would depend on what level you were showing at. It if was a local riding club and the judge didnt have a problem with you riding it it then go for it. As far as the bigger shows are concerned over here, all have to be bitted im affraid.

Claire

[Deleted]

Just a thought if you did want to show, me and my friend both have the same prob with ours as they throw their heads about in a jointed bit, they both go well in a mullen mouth pelham and im going to try the happy mouth hanging snaffle as i cant do dressage in my pelham.
I agree though its a shame to make them have a bit in when they are happy and controllable without.

[PonyGirl]

Is there anything I can do if I can't show her bitless? She is perfect and I would really hate to mess with such a good thing to bit her just to show her. She knocks that right shoulder out every darn time!

[mrsp]

I ride my mare in a bitless all the time,however if I have to use a bit(and yes you do need a bit for showing) she like a pelham - the bitless and the pelham have several(surprisingly) similar actions.Might be worth getting her teeth etc checked(if you haven't already)

[Debbie]

As you're showing in the US and not the UK, I still think you'll want to contact the judges or association to find out the exact standing for the bitless. Like the others have said, for a lower level event, I doubt the judges will care so long as she remains under control. There's no sense in having your shoulder thrown out of whack just to conform to a 'dress code'.

[PonyGirl]

My shoulder is so out of it tonight. Had a EMG or nerve study. They shocked the crap outta it. It is in terrible pain. Don't know if I can ride for a few days as I can hardly move it even to type.

[Debbie]

Oh man, I'm so so sorry you're having to go through this with your shoulder.

I don't mean to make it sound like you're a disabled rider, but would it be worth looking into possibly having a doctor write you a 'reason' for riding Feather bitless?? Perhaps that would be good enough for the judges if they understood she can wrench your shoulder out with a regular bitted bridle?

[knight]

Very sorry about your poor shoulder, hope it calms down and feels better soon. Like mrsp I ride Knight alot bitless and he loves it, but he goes really nicely in a myler mullen barrel pelham too. I like Debbie's point about a doctor's reason to see if the steward & judges will let you show bitless. Couldn't hurt to ask.

[nars]

They show in western using bosals so I guess it depends on what you intend to do with your pony. I know leather western saddles are heavy, but at a clinic here, a lady had a lovely synthetic western with leather trim on. Very smart and very lightweight as I belive she had injury problems.

I often stand on a stool/block when I'm tacking up to take pressure off my neck and back. Could you do something similar?