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Veteran
Posts: 148
 
Location: South of Dallas | While bridleless riding is a current discussion it got me to thinking about the new "Bitless Bridle" I saw advertized. What do y'all think about it and it's claims? Read the list. http://www.bitlessbridle.com/ Personally, I've never had a horse with asphyxiation or tongue swallowing due to riding with a bit. Any of you?  |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas | Welll, I have only ridden mustangs, TB's, QH, Anglo-Arabs, warmbloods, Tenn. W, Foxtrotters, Arabians, Saddlebreds, Apps, paints, and mules, hunt seat, dressage, saddle seat, and stock seat. Since 1974 more days horseback than not, every week. Not one time has one asphyxiated or swallowed their tongue. I think the bit-less bridle overreaches a tad on the claims dept, and is perhaps the answer to a question that hasn't been asked yet, at least around this outfit. |
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Veteran
Posts: 294
Location: Fort Worth, Tx | I''m sure they have their place just like everything. However, I've seen people ride in all kinds of bitless bridles, ie hackamores, that cause just as much harm as a novice with a 10 inch shank! Bitless DOES NOT mean harmless. I see it claims not to "hurt" the horse in any way...a bit does not "hurt" the horse if it is used properly. Bitless or bitted, it's all about pressure and the horse responding to it. Many people who think that there horse "hates" a bit are mistakening the horse "hating" the rider's rough hands. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah | They were generous enough to support a competitive trail ride I sponsored many years ago. They donated one of their bridles as a prize. And I believe in supporting those who support me.
The person who won it, took it home and used it. I asked them about it some time later. Said the bitless bridle worked great. It was a little weak on Whoa as to be expected not having a bit. But if your horse had a developed stop, The bridle was a good product.
So would I use it on a young full of energy colt. Probably not. Would I use it in place of a Little S hackamore, a Vosal, or a plain halter. Yes. It's just another tool that fits some needs. I have several horses that I ride with a little S hackamore. It has very little whoa and those horses don't need a bit. They are happier with nothing in their mouth, and on long endurance rides or CTR rides, where I'm pushing the horses for long distances and long time periods, I like them to grab a mouthful of grass when the opportunity presents. And not having a bit in their mouth makes it that much easier for them.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 648
Location: Coconut Creek, FL | I used it on my TW when first training him, but had to switch to a bit after about 6 months as he started to push through it too much. Now I have a very easy going SSH that I may try the bitless on, but he's so easy to ride that he'd probably be okay with a halter. A good friend has a 20 year old mare that always threw her head, she switched to a bitless about 6 years ago and she hasn't thrown her head since. She works much better in it. I have other friends that use it, but when I've seen the horses panic and shy, it takes awhile to get them stopped - they would circle a few times at a gallop. It has it's uses, but it's not for every horse. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: Gallatin, TN | I tried one on my very well broke racking horse and it didn't work for me. He had a great stop and responded to voice commands but I felt really out of control with the bitless bridle. I do have to give praise to the people at the "Bitless Bridle" website, as they offered me a longer trial period and then accepted the bridle back without question and gave me a 100% refund. They truly believe in their product and as some of you have said, what works for one horse or rider may not work for another. IMO it is all about the comfort of the horse and rider together. JacciB |
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Veteran
Posts: 270
Location: Roanoke IL | What I've found with a lot of the bitless bridles is that they do not release. Especially the ones that have jowl straps. They hang up and when the horse turns as directed, there is not the instant release of pressure as there would be with the bit. Perhaps it's just the models I saw. I think that a properly fitted bit in educated hands will achieve better results than a bitless bridle. People think bits are "mean" or "evil" but horses have had bits put in their mouths for hundreds of years. Just be responsible and respectful about what you shove in your horse's mouth. He'll tell you if he likes it or not. Just because you think you're being "nice" and using a bitless bridle does not mean that your horse will be "nice" right back to you when he's tearing full force across an open field. Amanda |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 391
Location: Columbia, KY | My old endur. gelding (who is trained to 2nd level dressage and I can ride w/ a rope halter) hated the bitless bridle. he could run right thru it if he felt like it. also what I didn't like was the horse can't eat on the trail with it. he'd open his mouth to grab leaves or whatever then couldn't open his jaws enough to chew so we'd end up w/ this big gob of unchewed crap in his mouth. |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Originally written by wendmil on 2008-02-19 8:02 PM While bridleless riding is a current discussion it got me to thinking about the new "Bitless Bridle" I saw advertized. What do y'all think about it and it's claims? Read the list. http://www.bitlessbridle.com/ Personally, I've never had a horse with asphyxiation or tongue swallowing due to riding with a bit. Any of you? You can NOT use them in USDF Dressage Competitions... |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316
Location: Illinois | My thoughts: I haven't used one, but know people that have. The consensus is it works with some horses, but not all. |
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Your thoughts on the Bitless Bridle and it's claims
