bitless bridle

[Brandy Deck]

I am wanting to hear from anyone who was used Dr. Robert Cook's bitless bridle. I am thinking of purchasing one. They are not cheap, so I do not want to throw away money on something that may not be all it is hyped up to be. I like the idea of going bitless, though many shows do not allow it. I am going to be starting a couple of young horses this spring, and am thinking about using the bitless bridle on them.

Thanks,

Brandy

[dunbnwild]

I hope to hear more about them as well.

I hate the rules about bits in western disciplines. At the Women and Horses Expo, the judge called me back to ask me about the fact that I was riding Rain in a bosal--I was happy to realize that she supported my decision and was impressed with how soft Rain was. Of course she wasn't the QH-type judge that I normally find in the rings around my area.

Ruben Villasenor (www.horsemenswesterndressage.com --site doesn't appear to be up yet) rode Regalo in an interesting bosal that he makes--it has a round nose piece that is fitted lower than a typical bosal. He sells them, but since the website isn't up, not sure how anyone can get one except at an expo.

[Michelle Clarke]

Great subject and one I have been meaning to get an article up on our website about...

The "bitless bridle" is made with a cross under beneath the head, that attaches to the rein and runs behind the ears. When pressure is put on the reins (especially both at the same time), it creates pressure on behind the ears plus tightens on the whole face. In the right hands with the right horse, this is not a problem. However, I have seen first hand how this can constrict on the face and make a horse feel trapped and panicked. This is especially true with a young horse who is just getting used to the feel of things and does not understand how to follow the rein. The youngster is feeling pressure from more than one area and does not understand how to respond.

Gawani Pony Boy had a halter designed like this and I used it on some young horses - all panicked and pulled back; and on some advanced horses, which became confused and if they went to the end of the line, pulled thier heads up and stiffened when the halter constricted them.

With a young horse, you want them to learn to give to lateral pressure first and follow the rein, that is why hackamores are usuallly not a good idea unless you are well versed in vertical flexion and know how to establish lateral exercises seperately. This is the problem I have with the Parelli rope hackmore...the horses learn to suck their necks into the shoulder, get behind the vertical and twist at the poll, instead of extend and bend correctly.

We use what I call a cavesson, which is basically a glorified leather halter (or sidepull) and the reins are attached next to the sides of the mouth, as a snaffle would be. The horses learn to give to the pressure of the nosepiece and follow the rein laterally, which puts a much better foundation on the horse than anything else I have used. There is nothing constricting or creating pressure in multiple points.

I'll post some picts tonight...

[fantasykiger]

I saw a friend use a bitless bridle on a horse that used constriction as a means to cue the horse to stop or turn left and right the main problem I saw was that the bridle did not have a quick release of contriction, when you took pressure off the rein. I know it was not a Cook's Bridle, but it kinda' turned me off the constriction bitless bridle thing. I do however own a side pull bridle.

[Michelle Clarke]

[dmiecznik]

hi, michelle is these the pictures of the cavesson I have a hackamore and was thinking this would be better thanks Danielle

[Michelle Clarke]

Yes, these are the cavessons we use...

[stlkigers]

Michelle:

Love the cavesson...where do you purchase them from?

I have a friend that rides in this: www.nurturalhorse.com/
I have heard much better things about this then the Dr. Cook's...I don't know much about either though...

Angela

[Michelle Clarke]

The western type one with the braided noseband, I actually found at a feed store nearby...the gal that manages the place won't give me their contact info and pulls the tags off the stuff that comes in. A client bought one once that did not have the tag removed and the name of the company was on it. Nothing on the internet, but found a phone number to a business in south Texas, but have not been able to get ahold of any more.

The other two we've had made. I have sold alot of them but my leather guy has become very unreliable (fit, timeliness, etc), so I am looking for a new leather person to make more...they are not that expensive. Some folks would just buy the nosepiece (about $40) and the reins (about $40 also) and use their own headstall. Depending on the type of headstall, the whole set ran about $130.

[pepper]

I've also heard alot of negatives about the Cooks Bitless,mainly in the lack of release of pressure.
I ride my endurance arab in a sidepull(usually after the first 15 miles of a race when his brain has returned to his body & comunication has been restored!we start out in a snaffle) Mine is braided nylon over a rawhide nose band that I add a fleece cover to reduce rubs.I can't find where I bought it(had it for years) but there are several available at www.sportack.com,just not the exact one I have.

[fantasykiger]

Here are images of the side pull or bitless bridle I have been using when riding Fantasy.

a closer look

[Brandy Deck]

Thanks for all the input. I never thought about the "release of pressure" issue. I will just stick with the sidepull. I want to keep a soft mouth on my girls. I haven't started a horse in about 20 years. I am diving back in now that I am in my 40's. It is amzing how many new things there are. I feel so out of the loop sometimes. lol

[lilnagy]

Brandy, I don't have any experience with bitless bridles; But I really want to comment on getting back to horsemanship after 40; YOU GO GIRL!!!! I went 20 years without a horse, and then got two kigers the year I was 40. I now have 4, and am a very happy back-yard horse woman I train my own, and they are very patient with me, and we all learn together. Lil

[desperatehorsewife]

Might I add that for those of you who choose to go bitless, you may want to be sure your horse is also able to ride with a bit as well. No one ever knows what the future holds and at some point in time, your dear sweet partner may find themselves in the hands of a new owner...one who likes bits. The stronger the foundation you can give, the better chance of survival your horse has in the long run.

Typically, the vaquero will start in a snaffle, move to a bosal/hackamore, then into a half spade followed by a full spade. Ruben does a lot of clinics where he gets folks to forget their bit and teach their horse how to respond in his hackamore because it adds to their education. The hackamore is used to transition because it teaches the horse how to properly carry his head before the half spade is used.

[stlkigers]

Tracey:

Good point....I was reading an article about the "unwanted horses" and agreed with the author; so many of the horses I see at auctions that go to the meat buyer are 2-5 yr old untouched or barely trained horses...We prepare our human kids for a successful future, and as the owners of our horses, should probably try to prepare our equines for half as well as we try with the human kids...

Do you get to see Ruben work alot?? If so do you get to see Regalo? He's a gorgeous boy!

Angela