Scawbrigs, Hackamores Bosals etc.,

[joy70]

Can any of you bitless experts out there put me straight!

im going to be using (as you may know) a Scawbrigg on my boy this weekend! but am now getting incredibly confused:confused: at the different type of bitless bridles about.

Can someone explain to me in laymans terms, what the differences are in them and how they work PLEASE :)

[Mehitabel]

hackamore - pic here ( http://equicom.bizhosting.com/preview/bits_files/hckmre.jpg) gives nose, chin and poll pressure. not terribly accurate sideways, so you need to be steering with seat and legs. can be quite severe as there's a lot of leverage on the poll and nose. there are a few types - the german hackamore (http://www.barnstormers.co.uk/acatalog/588H.jpg) is more severe as the noseband and chin piece are thinner so the same pull onthe reins gives more pressure on a smaller area.

the scawbrig (http://www.dtsaddlery.co.uk/catalog/images/BR24 Scawbrig Bridle.jpg) works nmore on chin pressure and 'pulling' the head round - it's more similar to riding in a headcollar.

no idea about a bosal though, i'm afraid. from te looks of them, they're very mild and are essentially halters, so working on neck reining and body weight.

[shaka]

A bosal is a very gentle hackamore, working on the nose of the horse. It 'pushes' the horse where you want it to go rather then pull ive found! Most horses like it as it is quite gentle and Es is right in that it is used mainly with weight aids and neck reining, although direct contact is given as well.

[joy70]

Thanks people :D

So a Scawbrigg is quite gentle then? i hope, just hoping we don't end up with a wall of death style session in the school tomorrow! as im trying out the scawbrigg for the first time!

[Mehitabel]

yes, they are mild. but as i've said to you before, i think your chap is probably running away from the pressure of strong bits, so it could well be just the thing. we use one on one of the school ponies - she had her mouth ruined when she was sold and went to another yard (used to be a livery, then we bought her back for the school) and she was always whizzy. i used to sj her and she was a real speed demon. in the scawbrig she is much happier than she ever was with a bit in her mouth - even though she was only ridden in a snaffle. there's much less to fight against.

[Showjumper]

Well it's all been covered lol! :D

Similar (well, kind of) to the bosal is the rope halter, like I ride Dolly in. The reins are attached under the chin instead of on the side of the face.

The sidepull is most like a headcollar. The reins attach to the sides of the noseband. It's the mildest of all the bitless bridles.

There's also the Dr Cook design where the throatlash straps cross over under the chin. This one wraps the whole head, and acts as a pressure headcollar from the ground. It pushes the horse instead of pulling, so turning and stopping is pretty easy in it.

[joy70]

Thanks for your advice :D

I tried his scawbrig on last night, just to check fit etc., i have a libbys cob size! hes' 13.2hh so i was amazed to see it only just fits!

on the noseband, i know it shouldn't be on the fleshy part of the nose, but where should it be? does it go in the same place as a cavesson? and also how tight/loose does it need to be! this one cannot be altered for tightness/looseness around the nose, only the height of the noseband can be adjusted!

help!!

[Showjumper]

Try moving it about a bit until it's at a height where it's not resting on the fleshy part of the nose, but the scrawbrig action only comes into play when you tighten the reins.