DraftXLuvr
31st Aug 2006, 03:11 AM
Today I received my Dr. Cook's bitless bridle and I couldn't wait to go try it on my horse! I have to give it a thumbs up!
A little background on my horse Jazz: he's a 3 yr old draft cross gelding, I started riding him this past June in a D ring snaffle. He was doing fine in the snaffle, but I was having problems steering him in the arena for a while until I got my act together then he steered much better. I wanted to try the bitless bridle because I like the idea of not having to use a bit if possible. Also Jazz is missing some teeth on one side of his mouth (kicked out when he was very young, before I got him). The vet said he has some scarring and it may or may not affect his taking to a bit. Like I said he seemed to be OK with the snaffle, but his teeth are not fully mature yet and I thought I won't have to even worry about it if I go bitless.
I bought the Beta draft size Dr. Cooks and it fit my horse perfectly on the tightest setting. This is good news because I swear his head grows every day. I used my own reins, which were almost too short with my Western bridle but they fit much better with the Dr. Cook's because of the rein attachments. I looked for rub marks after our work out and didn't see any, but I am concerned because of the tight fitting nature of the bridle. I will keep a close eye on it.
Jazz did not object to my putting it on at all. I decided to long line him rather than lunge him because I figured it would get him more used to the pressure action of the bridle. He was extremely responsive on the long lines, and seemed perfectly happy. Next I got on him and we did our workout on the rail, patterns around barrels, and then some half halt and stopping transitions at the trot and walk. Next we did some backing. He was completely fine in the bitless. I believe he even steered better, possibly because I was not worried about pulling on his mouth while convincing him he needed to bend.
I also have a Nurtural bridle on order that should arrive soon. I am anxious to compare the two.
On a sad note, poor Jazzy has a small pea sized open sore on his back right next to the spine where the saddle sits. I noticed it 4 days ago, and thought it was no big deal but I would give it several days to heal up. It is a shallow scrape, no doubt a gift from his turn out mate. :rolleyes: Today I rode him because it looked pretty healed up to me. But afterwards I noticed it had opened again. Now I will have to give him about 2 weeks to heal fully before I can ride him again. :( After that I will report back again on my experience with the Nurtural Bridle.
A little background on my horse Jazz: he's a 3 yr old draft cross gelding, I started riding him this past June in a D ring snaffle. He was doing fine in the snaffle, but I was having problems steering him in the arena for a while until I got my act together then he steered much better. I wanted to try the bitless bridle because I like the idea of not having to use a bit if possible. Also Jazz is missing some teeth on one side of his mouth (kicked out when he was very young, before I got him). The vet said he has some scarring and it may or may not affect his taking to a bit. Like I said he seemed to be OK with the snaffle, but his teeth are not fully mature yet and I thought I won't have to even worry about it if I go bitless.
I bought the Beta draft size Dr. Cooks and it fit my horse perfectly on the tightest setting. This is good news because I swear his head grows every day. I used my own reins, which were almost too short with my Western bridle but they fit much better with the Dr. Cook's because of the rein attachments. I looked for rub marks after our work out and didn't see any, but I am concerned because of the tight fitting nature of the bridle. I will keep a close eye on it.
Jazz did not object to my putting it on at all. I decided to long line him rather than lunge him because I figured it would get him more used to the pressure action of the bridle. He was extremely responsive on the long lines, and seemed perfectly happy. Next I got on him and we did our workout on the rail, patterns around barrels, and then some half halt and stopping transitions at the trot and walk. Next we did some backing. He was completely fine in the bitless. I believe he even steered better, possibly because I was not worried about pulling on his mouth while convincing him he needed to bend.
I also have a Nurtural bridle on order that should arrive soon. I am anxious to compare the two.
On a sad note, poor Jazzy has a small pea sized open sore on his back right next to the spine where the saddle sits. I noticed it 4 days ago, and thought it was no big deal but I would give it several days to heal up. It is a shallow scrape, no doubt a gift from his turn out mate. :rolleyes: Today I rode him because it looked pretty healed up to me. But afterwards I noticed it had opened again. Now I will have to give him about 2 weeks to heal fully before I can ride him again. :( After that I will report back again on my experience with the Nurtural Bridle.