Has anyone tried the bitless bridle!?!?

Question

I saw it in the new dover maginene and i am dying to try it but i wanted to know if anyone has had any experince with it yet because its like 200$ and i definaltly want to hear about results before i buy one. And yes i have tried a hackamore and i do not like them. Oh and by the way i ride in the hunter ring so i want to know how they do with jumping also!

Answer 1

I ride in a parelli hackamore which is technically just a rope halter and reins. Nothing fancy

Simply get a rope halter from any tack shop, and buy a 12 foot rope (or longer...but I wouldn't go shorter). Hook the one end to the rope halter (make sure it's a rope halter that doesn't have a lead rope attached). Then put the other half around his neck, and tie it around the rope halter so it forms reins. There is no correct way to tie it...I do it differently each time...as long as it says you are fine.

I use it and it works good for my horse. He behaves better in the halter

Answer 2

Are the teeth bothering him????  This was a problem for a couple people I knew and then it became a habit, and they had to train it out of them in the end all was well.

But I just use my Halter and reins?  Saved me lots of green in my pockets:)  But I do know a few that bought them and love it.  

Answer 3

Yes I've got one and it is great.  My horse does well in it but you might need to spend some time in a round pen or arena first just for safety.   there is a group in yahoo groups for the bitless bridle where there are people you can communicate with about it.  I've got some trail buddies that use them exclusively and won't ever got back to the bit.  They break their young ones directly to the Dr. Cook's bitless bridle.  Dr. Cook's is the brand that I have, I purchased the western style because it is a little cheaper but it is a very well made and handsome bridle.  They offer a 30 day money back guarantee, no questions asked.  What do you have to lose?  go to bitlessbridle.com for more information.

Answer 4

I have my mare in a bitless bridle and she goes awesome in it! I'm not sure if it's the same one that Dover carries, I have Dr Cooks bitless bridle. http://www.bitlessbridle.com/

The difference in riding her is like night and day.  When she has a bit in her mouth she pulls on the bit constantly and is very "heavy" in her mouth.  Tosses her head a lot and gets herself all worked up when she wants to run and I wont let her.  And there are no problems with her mouth that would cause any of that.  With her bitless she is light as a feather, no fussing, and picks up on her cues right away. I have never jumped her so I dont know how they would be, but I feel safe galloping her in it so I would think jumping would be fine.  You just have to check horse show rules if you plan on showing in it.  I heard a story of a 4-h-er who was kicked out of the show ring because she rode bitless and did not want to put a bit in her horses mouth, which I think is complete c**p...who cares if the horse has a bit or not?! But that is a whole nother arguement.  So yeah, I HIGHLY recommend the bitless bridle!

Not the best quality, but here is a vid of my mare going bitless.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A-zjJB1i...

Answer 5

There a gazillions of different bitless bridles, I'm not American so I don't have that Dover magazine.

My advice would be, if your horse is going well in his current bridle, don't change it!! If he's not going well, speak to someone who knows your horse personally (your trainer perhaps) to assess what bit/bridle they suggest.