Hi

Does anyone have experience of using a Dr Cook, a Lightrider, or any of the other 'new' bitless bridles? i.e not conventional hackamores (which I currently ride in) or bonsals etc.

I have been reading up on them on the web, and most reviews are good, but some are conflicting :huh: I was just wondering whether anyone on here had any experiences they could share.

Many thanks

I use a bitless bridle occasionally but it is a basic rope halter style from Australia. It works on the principle of poll pressure and a couple of knots above the nasal cavities. It's much kinder than a hackamore, which in some cases are harsher than a standard bit.
When I do use a bit I use a thin sweet iron snaffle and place it lower down in the mouth so my mare takes it up herself. I hate seeing crinkles in the corner of horses mouths, its a sure sign that the bit is too high up.

I use a bitless bridle occasionally but it is a basic rope halter style from Australia. It works on the principle of poll pressure and a couple of knots above the nasal cavities. It's much kinder than a hackamore, which in some cases are harsher than a standard bit.
When I do use a bit I use a thin sweet iron snaffle and place it lower down in the mouth so my mare takes it up herself. I hate seeing crinkles in the corner of horses mouths, its a sure sign that the bit is too high up.

The hackamores I use are pretty mild. Leather nose band, padded wth sheepskin, and a short shank. Also ridden with a v light contact. But I agree, some hackamores can be quite evil!

As with bits, it depends on the horse and the hands at the other end of the reins, there is no one perfect solution.

I've heard a lot of good reviews about the Dr Cooks Beta bridle with the straps that cross-under the head. If I had the money and needed to try one this would be the one I try first after using my English hackamore to establish how my horse took to bitless.

Try asking Yann on discussion group on www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk or www.newrider.com, I think he might use one and is based in Sheffield.

Henhugger - this is absolutely true. I ride with extremely light contact but that is because I have trained my horse to yeild in all directions without use of the bit. Its important when using a bitless bridle that you have taught your horse to respond to gentle pressure by practicing with a rope headcollar first.
I ride my mare with reins like washing lines and really only use them as a back up. I canter her on a loose rein and rarely have both hands on the reins at the same time. Some might see this as being too casual but I am always in control and having de-spooked her I don't have an issue with her taking flight over a carrier bag in a bush!

No worse than western ;) and no-one knows your horse better than you! :)

My old mare used to rear if anyone rode her with a tight rein, and on a gallop you could only bring her back by using your seat. Incidentally she used to prefer a straight bar pelham with two reins over anything else, because the signals from most other bits weren't refined enough for her. Fab little mare!

Yes thats true, I've had Maggie for 10 years now and she has been the most fabulous horse ever. We have such an infinity, I know I can trust her to take care of me.
TB's tend to dislike tight reins, taking up too much contact usually means go faster! My sister has just taken on a 6 yr old ex racer and she rides her in a loose rein too and it amazes me that we can canter along side by side on loose reins with no fear of the 2 tb's trying to outdo each other. We set the pace and it's like cruise control - all because we've spent a bit of time teaching them to slow down with the seat. No need for fancy gadgets!