Scawbrig Bridle

[Gemma R]

Does anyone out there use one?? Can you tell me why you started using it and if it has been effective.

Also if anyone can explain to me a bit more about this bitless I would really appreciate it :)

TA :)

[Bebe]

Hi

I used one for a while on my horse but ultimately decided I didn't like it. It works through pressure on the nose and I found that my mare would just tuck her nose into her chin and run away from the pressure. I didn't have any problems with steering at all but found I was having to use far too much rein in halt transitions (with a bit in my horse will halt from the seat but for some reason this went out the window with a scawbrig).

It works for some horses though and I really like the fact that the horse could eat freely out on rides (I let her snack on trees providing she keeps walking at the same time) or when you stop for a break. I'd consider using a hackamore again but a different type to the scawbrig.

Amanda

[Zingy]

Have used something similar, but instead of just nose pressure there's also straps that go under the chin, cross over and up to the poll. I use it as my horse has suddenly got an aversion to bits and looks really stressed in them. As he's slowly being reschooled it seemed kinder to remove the bit altogether so I can introduce it later when his ridden work is better established. I find it really good although the steering's not so effective when longreining in it. Don't think I'd use it on something with no brakes either, but it's kinder than a hackamore if your horse doesn't like poll pressure. Can't do dressage in it though (except classical dressage?), hence the reason why the bit will eventually have to be reintroduced.

[Danae]

This is very interesting. Being in the US, I have never heard of this..although I'm sure riding Western could contribute to never hearing of it too :D..Anyways, I took this tidbit off a website: "Designed as a 'kind' Hackamore for horses with soft mouths or horses experiencing bit related problems. Control is obtained by pressure round the nose and lower jaw when the reins are used. " We have similar items in the western world. Well, hackamores but there's the mechanical hackamore which is for MAJOR brakes, alot of barrel racers use them. There's also beetle hackamores that are thin pieces of twisted, waxed rope that go across the nose. Every hackamore has a curb chain that goes underneath the jaw. Good luck on finding information about it..I'd be interested to know about it aswell!

[Gemma R]

Zingy - thanks for that - where did you get your bridle from??? do you know what it is called??

thanks :)

Bebe - why would you use a hackamore and not scawbrig - out of interest - thanks :)

Ta Danae :)

[Bebe]

The scawbrig nosepiece tightens under the chin and there's no curb chain so the action is different to a mechanical hackamore that has a curb chain and a fixed size noseband. I also don't think that the scawbrig has any poll pressure, whereas a mechanical hackamore does.

I just think the different action might suit my mare better. I imagine that it would be true for most horses, after all no one bit suits everything so it stands to reason that each individual horse is likely to go better in one type of hackamore over another.

Amanda

[Zingy]

Originally posted by Bebe
no one bit suits everything so it stands to reason that each individual horse is likely to go better in one type of hackamore over another.

So true - if I put my horse what I class a 'normal' hackamore ie with poll pressure we'd spend all our time rearing!

Anyway, to see bridle I'm using go to www.horseandhound.co.uk and search for 'bitless bridle'. Will be 2 articles - go to Q&A on using bitless bridle. Incidentally if you look at the other article the same bridle is shown and is described as a normal scawbrig. It isn't! But I do think it's shown very badly fitted with the noseband far too low. To buy one contact HTS Equestrian on 01933 277515.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/products/talkingtack/?afw_source_key={F9A5E62C-E51B-4B95-832F-210112549085}
Don't know if the link will work!

[Zingy]

Originally posted by Zingy
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/products/talkingtack/?afw_source_key={F9A5E62C-E51B-4B95-832F-210112549085}
Don't know if the link will work!

Shock horror!!! It doesn't!

[Mehitabel]

to make it work, you have to go to edit your post, and where the blue bit stops, you'll see /url] . you need to put that at the end of the link instead. it does this if it thinks the link is too long, it does it to my picture links as well.