THE BITLESS BRIDLE TREND

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Going bitless is becoming more and more of a trend as riders pull away from gadgets and focus more on natural horsemanship. The idea can be scary, especially for those of us who haven’t considered it as an option before or have ponies that would need re-schooling to understand bitless cues. In this article, we look at some of the bitless options to help you to feel a bit braver about giving it a go.

The side pull

A side pull is the simplest type of bitless bridle as it works with pure nose pressure, and is a great starting point to teach your pony to respond to bitless cues without any added leverage.

This bitless bridle works a bit like the pressure your pony is used to from being led in a halter. There is no lever action, and the reins attach to the noseband on the sides of his face. The benefit of using a side pull bridle or noseband rather than simply attaching a set of reins to the sides of your halter is that it will fit more snugly and be more stable on your pony’s face than the halter. Side pulls are generally made from leather, rope, or paracord and fit onto a standard English bridle’s cheekpieces. You can buy them from local tack manufacturers. A relief bridle can also be converted into a side pull by connecting the reins to the D rings on the noseband and removing the bit connector straps.

The bosal

Bosals are mostly a Western trend. They are made from a stiff braided rawhide noseband, which may have additional wrapping over the pony’s nose, and a rope rein (called the mecate) is tied to the chin of the bosal. The bosal works mainly off of nose pressure, but the turning cues are not as clear as they are with other bitless options, as the rein is attached to one point, not two, so you do not have two separate reins that work independently. For this bridle to be effective, you really have to focus on giving the pony aids with your body, as pulling won’t achieve anything!

The scrawbrig

A scrawbrig fits and works a lot like a side pull, but the chin strap slides through two rings on the side of the noseband. When you pick up one or both reins, the chin strap tightens, creating pressure on both the nose and chin of your pony. This gives you an added set of brakes without putting unnecessary pressure on your pony’s mouth.

Just remember, every action results in an equal yet opposite reaction, so don’t hang on to the bridle simply because you don’t have a bit. Your pony will just lean on your hands, and you’ll feel even more out of control.

The hackamore

Hackamores are the most popular type of bitless bridle, especially for competitive riders. Hackamores generally work using lever action, and a combination of nose, chin, and poll pressure – the ratio of which is specific to the type of hackamore used. A hackamore is often considered the strongest bitless option due to its mechanical lever action.

Riders that use hackamores can also select different types of nose pieces and curb/chin pieces, which can significantly impact the hackamore’s pressure. A padded leather nose piece or a sheepskin nose piece will be much softer than a narrow chain or rope nose piece, and a leather or sheepskin-covered chin piece will be gentler than a standard curb chain. You can also buy sheepskin covers to position over the existing nose and chin piece to make it more comfortable for your horse. Hackamore shanks come in various types, shapes, and sizes, each with varying actions and strengths. In general, the longer the shank of the hackamore, the more leverage it has.

The cross-under

Cross-under bitless bridles have two straps that cross underneath your pony’s jaw, so when you apply pressure to the reins, that pressure is spread across your horse’s whole head. To be precise, when you apply pressure to the right rein, it exerts pressure on the left side of your pony’s head, guiding them away from the pressure and to the right. Cross-under bridles or nosebands are made out of leather or rope, and you can buy them in tack stores and from small businesses. It is possible to buy the whole cross-under bridle or a cross-under attachment which will attach to the poll piece of your existing snaffle bridle. This type of bridle can be quite confusing to ponies, as the cues are not as clear as with many other bitless bridles, and the release of pressure does not tend to be as quick. However – every pony is an individual, and some may prefer this type of bridle over others.

How to start teaching your pony to work bitless

You must start your bitless schooling from the ground. Start in hand at the walk, giving your pony the cues for turning and stopping and rewarding them for any correct response, even if it is slight.

If your pony is used to working in a bit, this is a totally new concept to them, so you should approach it like you are starting a young pony for the first time. They do not immediately know what the different cues mean and what you are asking, so be patient.

Once you are sure your pony is comfortable with and understands the cues from the ground, you can start introducing bitless work under saddle. It is best to start slowly and at the walk, allowing your pony to figure out what you expect from them. Start in a closed area, like a lunge ring, if that makes you feel more confident.

If you prefer, you can consider riding with a bit and the bitless option at the same time (with two sets of reins), and slowly use the bit reins less and less until you are sure you do not need them as a safety net anymore, and then totally remove the bit.

If your pony seems confused about what you are asking at any stage, take one step back and build up their confidence and understanding again. It will take time to get this right, but the more you ride effectively from your seat and leg aids to help the pony understand the rein cues the quicker the process will be.

Note

It is important to remember that ‘bitless’ does not necessarily mean ‘softer’. Whilst a bitless bridle does not put pressure on the pony’s mouth it does still rely on pressure to give cues. Some bitless bridles use more pressure than others, and with the delicate faces of our ponies we need to be very careful that we don’t use bitless bridles in a heavy handed way, simply because they are ‘not in the mouth’. Ultimately, any piece of tack is only as good/kind as the person using it, so can be soft or hard depending on how you use it. Try to ride with soft hands whether you ride with a bit or without and you should find your pony enjoys his work and performs much better – force is never the answer!

Disciplines in South Africa that allow bitless bridles for competition

Bitless bridles are slowly becoming more accepted in the competitive equestrian world. You can currently compete in showjumping and equitation bitless and adults riding mares and geldings can compete bitless in certain showing classes (specified in the showing rules). Bitless bridles are also allowed in the showjumping and cross-country phases of eventing. However, in the cross-country phase of eventing, a hackamore cannot be used on its own and must be used in conjunction with a bit.

If going bitless is something you’d like to consider, we suggest you chat to your instructor first. They can help guide you through the schooling process and help you explore all the options until you find the perfect fit. There is a whole new freedom to be found in riding bitless — you no longer have to worry about damaging your pony’s mouth, and with time, you’re likely to find he is just as adjustable and responsive without the need for extra gadgets.