Bitless Bridles and Steering! (sorry, long)

[Skippys Mum]

Help again:o. I started using a bitless bridle when I brought Arnie back into (very light) work. He is 100% happier and is no longer running away from me when I arrive with the bridle.

Up till now, he had just been going short walks up and down the lane. I had been concentrating on stopping and starting (and was trying to teach him to stop with the neck strap for extra security:o).

Last night we finally went out on the open road for our usual 3 mile circuit. Fortunately, my friend came with me as I discovered that I had absolutely NO steering:eek:.

I have a webbing Dr Cooks copy and was just about to upgrade to a leather genuine one but now I'm panicking.

I felt that the webbing just slid right through from side to side when I tried to steer. My reins ended up different lengths and Arnie just ignored me completely so we were all over the place. We met a tractor and trailer and he spooked and I'm sure it was because he had realised he could! He is normally wary but will walk past carefully.

Can anyone give me any advice about steering? Should I be using a different type of bitless bridle? I have a hackamore but havent tried it yet. Would it give me more control?

I am loathe to go back to a bit as he is so much more relaxed, no more head tossing and neck stretching down but I dont think I can handle much more "happy hacking" like that:o

thanks,
K xx

[wedney]

How many times have you used the bridle on him? The cross under action is different to normal bridles. Some horses take to it straight away, but with others it takes a little time for them to understand the feel of it. Did you do lots of groundwork with him first, longreining etc making sure you do lots of turns so that he understands how the bridle works. With some horses you really have to exaggerate an open rein at first for them to get the idea.

Having said that years ago I bought a webbing dr cook copy off ebay (I can't remember where from so yours maybe different) but it was dreadful. The webbing was too hard and thin to have any stability to the bridle so everything just slid about. It also rubbed my senstive horse and I had to pad everything in fleece.

However she responded enough for me to realise that bitless was the answer so I splashed out and bought a well made leather one from one on the main manufacturers of cross under bridles and it was well worth the money.

Good luck

[Yann]

It sounds like the problem is the bridle you're using rather than that type of bridle in particular, the reins shouldn't be sliding through and the steering is normally very clear in this type of bridle, the horse gets both a push and a pull effect when you take up a rein to ask for a turn. since he likes it so much it would be worth trying a proper one, the Dr Cook distributor used to do a 28 day money back thing, I assume they still do, so you wouldn't be taking a big risk with it :)

[No_Angel]

I would first teach him to neck rein and turn off weight aids, its so much nicer for them and you to learn to turn easily without needing to pull on the head, then you can rely on the reins when you are in a panic situation if you need them.

Also,try sewing the headpiece crossover straps to the noseband headpiece to stop it sliding around

[Skippys Mum]

Thanks for that. I kind of hoped that it was the actual bridle that was at fault. It literally slides right through and I end up with the rein buckle right at his nose. It also seems to be rubbing a bit as its very thin over his nose. I bought it deliberately to see if he would like being "bitless" and if nothing else, its shown me that he loves it, now he just has to learn to behave in it.

He has had lots of mouth issues (teeth and abcesses) which have ended up causing lameness issues and he is very upset with a bit. Although he has been fully sorted out now, I think he is remembering it all and I'd prefer to keep him bitless if I can (he's just turned 5 so only a baby yet).

As he does seem to like it (despite completely ignoring me:o), which of the better leather ones would you suggest? I am quite happy to buy a Dr Cooks but I've also heard good reports about the Nurtural.

No Angel, I am starting to think that I am in a permanent panic situation:D (oh and I'm getting a Freeform to try:D:D)

[Pink's lady]

I found Kalli really liked the bitless (Dr cook) but also found it dead easy to ignore when she wanted:rolleyes: Steering esp was dogy when she didn't want to go where she was told (perfect when she was being good). I found a side pull worked better than a crossunder for steering.

[Skippys Mum]

I found Kalli really liked the bitless (Dr cook) but also found it dead easy to ignore when she wanted:rolleyes: Steering esp was dogy when she didn't want to go where she was told (perfect when she was being good). I found a side pull worked better than a crossunder for steering.

I tried a dually headcollar and he hated it (didnt seem to like the pressure on his nose). Is this what you mean (sorry to sound a bit thick here but my head is swimming with all these new ideas:o)

[Pink's lady]

A side pull is basically a well fitted headcollar that has rings at the side where the reins clip on.

[Cupcake]

Seems like the perfect opportunity to start teaching him leg aids :)

[Skippys Mum]

Seems like the perfect opportunity to start teaching him leg aids :)

Unfortunately they stopped working when we met the tractor:o - and he is usually not bad with big things so I have a feeling he may have been chancing it:)