Bitless bridles

[AlpinePony]

Does anyone have any experience with these?

My mare's behaviour has deteriorated quite badly over the last 2 months or so, to the point where I've been "scared". I've turned to home and last weekend I set out with good walking socks, mobile and a drink knowing that at some point I was going to have to get off and lead which I did after she stopped for no apparent reason and backed in to a barbed wire fence!

She is normally ridden in an eggbut snaffle but to try and give myself a little control I've actually been riding in a Pelham with double reins. I'm finding she leans quite heavily on the curb rein even though I'm very light-handed. If I release the curb rein then she is very head shaky and fights the snaffle rein and walks almost crab-like is the best way I can explain it.

I suspected teeth issues to be the root cause, she's had them over the years and has broken one dentist's nose in her time... - however a friend suggested a bitless bridle and when I started reading up on it and it seems traditional bits can cause a facial paralysis which obviously is very painful.

So I've ordered the bitless and tbh, I am a little worried about brakes although have many assurances that this won't be a problem.

I'm expecting the courier within the next hour or two - any words of wisdom out there for me?

I'd have probably got an equine dentist out first (again) - our vet is a qualified dentist.

What does she do that scares you - is it just stopping and backing up? If so what happens when your ride her on stongly or tap he with the whip?

Of is that she gets strong and heavy when going forward?

Bitless bridles take experience and proper fitting to work. They are usually used when a horse won't accept a bit - maybe because of injury to it's mouth or gums.

Have a read of this first - www.horse-advice.com/equi-therapy/saddlery/hackamore-bridle.shtml

If I push her on, she goes up and properly up as in vertical which is very scary obviously.

I've always ridden her with a bit but am a bit of a hippy ;) and my barefoot trimmed has been nagging me to try her in a hackamore. I've got the doctor cook now and am comfortable and confident to fit it properly!

I will of course get the dentist out too and look at the link you've suggested.

Could it be a back problem? Has the problem only started in the last couple of months or has it been building for a while? Is there anything in particular that sets her off?

She will also learn that if she acts up you will get off and take her home, which isn't ideal. Though I can see why you do - I'd far rather have a bronker than a rearer. Have you considered sending her somewhere for some re-schooling?

She had a big check-up before winter by the chiropractor and all good and since then she's checked over monthly by the trimmer who is also a physio - so I'm pretty sure it's not back.

She is usually a pita at the beginning of summer and I put it down to hormones & spring grass, but it's been going on too long now and I'm not comfortable with the way she's going forward - even when working "well".

I know, I know about the getting off and going home. The first time she pulled this shit was in the middle of a rambler's walk with children - not the place for a fight. The second time was at a crossroads with blind bends. She's a fucking marvel at picking her places! This is why I went out last weekend ready to walk, and I did, for around 30 minutes before I found a mounting spot. We then had 3 more "fights" - i) 2 OAP's walking up a path, ii) 2 ponies and a carriage (horse slavery in her eyes) and iii) going past a football match. Yet she did not so much as blink walking past the circus tent (yes, for real!) complete with loud music and drunks.

I too would prefer a bucker, the rearing has happened I would say until now perhaps once a year, and it is as frightening as hell - she's normally a bucker. Usually it's leaps & plunges and that's OK, I can even cope with a half rear, but when she's vertical it's just terrifying, if she comes down on me that's my pelvis gone (she's a 17.2hh warmblood).

Tbh I wouldn't send her away because I don't trust people not to use force/violence. She doesn't take kindly to men full-stop and unfortunately in the horsey world there are way too many people who use brute force to get a result. :(

I'm going to try the bitless anyway because so many of these boxes can be ticked - although I'm sure many can be ticked for many other horses.

www.bitlessbridle.co.uk/problems-solved.php

Right now she's got a full on attitude problem.

www.bitlessbridle.co.uk/problems-solved.php

Which bitless have you ordered? Hackamore, (traditional curb type,) scawbrig, ( strap in chin groove) or dr Cooks,( cross under head)??
We have used them all with different horses and ponies. I like all of them if used properly. Brakes shouldn't be an issue, steering can sometimes be a bit vague, but for head shakers or leaners they are very helpful. I would also have had the dentist out, she could always be sedated, and I'd probably try some global herbs supplements too. Super Calm and Frisky Mare spring to mind. Try the bitless, but please try it out in a safe area first!

Hi Alpine - sorry to hear about the problems you are having. No experience of bitless bridles myself but had a friend who used them regularly as her mare cut her mouth and she never really went back to bits.

The rearing sounds very scary. Is she like this when ridden out in company as well?

How long have you had her?

Saggy, its the doctor cook. I also considered the English hackamore.

Kitten I usually ride out on my own because she gets very frustrated with 'dawdlers', but I was in confident company during her worst episode recently. I've had her nearly 7 years now.

Anyway I get to try it tomorrow, yard is quiet as most have gone away for weekend, so less distraction and I'm just going to go in the arena.

IMO dr Cooks are middle of the bunch. Better than a scawbrig, less extreme than a hackamore. Worth a try anyway. Good luck.

My daughter's mare is often in a bitless bridle. She needs very light hands, and, as she's a working livery sometimes sadly doesn't get them. And if she doesn't, she head shakes. The bitless bridle has almost completly stopped the headshaking. Dd fancies herself as a natural horeswoman, and gets a real kick out of going bitless! There's never been a problem with brakes either. However, I do know a lot of people who don't like the cross under type (that's the one dd has) because they say it puts too much pressure on the poll. But as you say you are very light handed that shouldn't be a proble,.

you can find somewhere to send her away though that won't use violence - i haven't been on the forum in years but kelly marks (of the monty roberts school) had an intelligent horsemanship forum, and there were folk trained in her (and his) methodology who were professional problem sorters.

Loshad - you're right actually, and I've used a Kelly Marks RA in the past for a problem with one of my other horses and was duly impressed! However, I don't believe current problems require sending her away - that seems a bit of a knee-jerk reaction! If I need help, I'll get an RA in - it's important after all that we solve any problems as a team imo.

OK quick update. Rode fairly briefly yesterday but wanted to give it a whirl. Mounted and normally she's fidgeting or trying to be off whilst I'm doing up the girth then fights rein contact for a few seconds. She stood still like a rock. Very fluid walking, hocks well under her. Trot initially a bit choppy with head in the air but soon calmed down and again, good use of hindquarters. Not such a great day for a trial as it was windy and the horse-walker was going backwards - this is a verrrrry scary thing obviously. The other horses were galloping around the fields too and there was a cat in.the.bushes!

Very responsive to aids, e.g., walk to canter on the asked step. No problem with the brakes whatsoever and when I did ask her to halt, again, she stood completely still (and square!) with no fussing or fidgeting.

It wasn't perfect yesterday but she was safe & calm enough for my boyfriend to have a quick ride and also my baby (pic on profile).

The bridle is still very stiff and because it's on a 30-day trial I don't want to get the oil on it until I'm 100% convinced it's for us.

Sounds great. Lol at cat in the bushes! My mare is just the same. Ignores things I would think she would be scared off, and shies like crazy at tigers lurking in discarded crisp packets.