My bitless vs. bitted review

[MaisieMoo]

So this weekend I hacked C in the Dr Cooks and then the next day in the french link hanging cheek snaffle - both of which I have on loan.

He schools really well in the french link so I was hopeful he'd be good to hack in it to (I was wrong)

Dr Cooks Bitless bridle -

C was nice and responsive to half halts.

There was absolutely no head tossing (we were out in gale force winds and heavy rain and he was a darling).

He did struggle when I asked for flexion so any thoughts on that welcome.

He was also breathing heavily/noisily through his nose which is not normal - again any thoughs welcome!

French link hanging cheek

Not particuarly responsive to half halts - had about 10 - 15 strides of trot or canter before I'd come down a gait. He did eventually get better after lots of transitions but a couple of times I was nearly pulling the back teeth out to get him to listen - when I took him on the road and did more schooling he was fine

Lots of snatching/head shaking towards the end of the hack.


So, I'd like to try him again in the bitless and try and see if he responds the same on a faster hack and also to see if we still have the heavy breathing and problems with flexion.

If all goes well I think I'm going to buy a Easytreck bridle (can't afford the leather Dr Cooks just now) and start hacking him in that but again still schooling in the french link.

I know a few other people are thinking of switching and therefore might be interested as to how we got on.

 

[MrKia+Me]

Have you tried a thinner bit to see if that stops the head tossing and improves brakes??

I know it worked a treat on Kia. He does have a thicker tongue tho.

Its good to see reviews. It dodnt work for me and Kia btu I think he was running away from the pressure on his nose. Nice to see that it worked in area for you!

Nikki xxx

 

[Skippys Mum]

Why not use the french link for schooling and the bitless for hacking? Maybe a combination of both would be more effective than one or the other.

For the record, I have probably more control on fast hacks bitless than I had with a bit so hopefully you will be the same.
Good luck!

 

[kirby]

Re the noisy breathing, is his noseband positioned correctly, as it needs to be in a certain place with the bitless, this link may help
http://www.freewebs.com/alternativehorse/fittingabitless.htm

 

[Yann]

Interesting Have you thought about a beta Dr Cook rather than the leather one? That's what I have and it's great, very hard wearing and you struggle to tell it's synthetic.

The breathing shouldn't be affected, I've never had that issue, you've not got it too low have you?

I school in a bit and hack bitless, it works fine

 

[MaisieMoo]

Interesting Have you thought about a beta Dr Cook rather than the leather one? That's what I have and it's great, very hard wearing and you struggle to tell it's synthetic.

The breathing shouldn't be affected, I've never had that issue, you've not got it too low have you?

I school in a bit and hack bitless, it works fine

I haven't seen one of th e Dr Cook synthetics so I wasn't sure of the quality but I may consider that.

Kirby - thanks for that link - I think that was roughly how it was sitting but will put it on him again and take some pictures - I'm hoping to try one more hack in it before I send it back and then I'll hopefully have made up my mind but at the moment I'm leaning towards getting one.

 

[Nookster]

I haven't seen one of th e Dr Cook synthetics so I wasn't sure of the quality but I may consider that.

Kirby - thanks for that link - I think that was roughly how it was sitting but will put it on him again and take some pictures - I'm hoping to try one more hack in it before I send it back and then I'll hopefully have made up my mind but at the moment I'm leaning towards getting one.

Seriously keep it with you until you decide which one you want and until you recieve your new one. No time limit so take all the time you need

 

[cinammontoast]

Why not use the french link for schooling and the bitless for hacking? Maybe a combination of both would be more effective than one or the other.

For the record, I have probably more control on fast hacks bitless than I had with a bit so hopefully you will be the same.
Good luck!

Ooh, am going to do exactly this! Noangel has very kindly offered me a scawbrig, but I'm not brave enough to try it out just yet!

I'm impatiently waiting for it (just bought it tonight!) cos I cannot WAIT to give it a go!

Sorry, overexcited post!

 

[MaisieMoo]

Seriously keep it with you until you decide which one you want and until you recieve your new one. No time limit so take all the time you need

Thank you!!

My main worry is what happens if he spooks or trys to run off which he does on occassion - I have little control when he does this even with the bit - he is much quicker to respond in general in the Dr Cooks and I just wonder if I would maintain control when he does try to mess about.

 

[kirby]

I have read on here alot of people saying they have alot more control with a bitless, With a bolting horse with a bit, they can evade the bit by putting tongue over it or or grabbing with teeth, Also whilst bolting the pain coming from a bit jabbing in their mouth makes the horse more frightened and continues to bolt, whilst with a crossunder bitless, no pain involved, and a good clear signal by the pressure of a one reain stop, which turns in the horse, or even pressure to bring in the horse

 

[Nookster]

My main worry is what happens if he spooks or trys to run off which he does on occassion - I have little control when he does this even with the bit - he is much quicker to respond in general in the Dr Cooks and I just wonder if I would maintain control when he does try to mess about.

Chinook who I rode bitless everywhere was an all time spooker lol I felt I had same control as I did bitted in my opinion, I used it the similarly to a bitted as well.

Only time I felt I had no control was on our forest ride (old yard had forest track across the road) It led down to a section that was soft enough for a good canter. This was a long steady uphill with a bend at the top. We used to plod all the way down in walk and nearing the end he would get hyper knowing he was allowed to let rip soon. (being on hard standing all winter he loved his hacks).

We used to have so much fun on this route and with his turn on a sixpence race start and off we went back up the hill full pelt. In bitless I never had problem doing this and did this ride most days if not other routes with no issues. But this one occasion he stuck his head between his legs and went hell for leather flat out. I couldn’t for the life of me pull him up or communicate with him. It was like riding the head less horse and full speed. I do feel tho that day even in a bitted it would have been the same. He just had too much energy he needed to let off. That day we did that same section 3 times to calm him down haha

 

[Peaches]

He did struggle when I asked for flexion so any thoughts on that welcome.

He was also breathing heavily/noisily through his nose which is not normal - again any thoughs welcome!

You know, I have exactly that combination of bit and bitless for Lance

Okay, breathing sounds - what were they like? Lance snorted the first few times I used the dr cooks on him. It wasn't too tight or too low, but because of pressure being applied to the nose even v gently, he took a bit of getting used to it and the snorting was his response. He soon stopped and is happy as larry.

If it's more a heavy breathing, make sure the noesband isn't too low like others said, or too tight. Lance responds better to his bridle when it's actually higher and looser than recommended, and you may find you have to play about to find the adjustment that suits your horse.

On the fitting side of things; run your fingers down the centre of your horses face/nose. You should feel a point where the auxillary notch is; the hard bit of the nose becomes softer, the top of the softer feeling bit being a point/triangle upwards. The noseband should rest so that you can just feel this notch above it, but not loads of it else it is too low. You need to make sure the noseband isn't covering the higher hidden portions of the nostrils. This guide is better than the so many cm's/inches above the lip corners as horses heads are proportioned differently.

Regarding flexion, it can take a bit of time to get used to the aids being applied to a different part of the head. Try schooling in it as well (not necessarily instead of the bit as if you compete dressage you'll need the bit, but alternate for a bit maybe). I find flexion comes easier in the bitless now than the bit tbh for Lance. He will flex forward, down and in but also inside/outside etc. It just takes practice. Think of taking a youngster who has been bitted but not taught the aids yet, or at least not confirmed them - that's kind of the situation for you at the moment in the bitless and it sounds as though the basics are there but the flexion isn't quite yet - it'll come don't worry =]

Sounds v positive on the bitless side. I was one that had a nightmare tanker in Lance bitted - in the bitless he's polite and sensible and doesn't pull or tank - we previously wrestled our way through sj'ing courses and xc (any exciting situations really) yet in the dr cooks it's so easy.

 

[Khamis]

If all goes well I think I'm going to buy a Easytreck bridle (can't afford the leather Dr Cooks just now) and start hacking him in that but again still schooling in the french link.

What size do you need? I have a black leather Esaytrek in cob size for sale, worn once, my boy is not suited to bitless as he doesnt like the pressure and prefers his bit.
PM me if intrested