Cinch Magazine

Home | Contact | Site Map

The Great Nurtural Bitless Experiment: Made Horse

 

Pictures and video to come.

A year ago, I believed bitless riders divvied out a lot of false information and exaggerated their products benefits. I would never have said anything nice about bitless and absolutely never would have considered buying one. A year ago.

I have always been a bit-bridle traditionalist and didn’t expect much from this consumer report. I have to say now, after months of riding bitless, this has been the most humbling experience of my life. It was not the bitless riders, but the bit traditionalist like me that took bitless bridles out of proportion.

With everything in context, here is how bitless compares to bit: With a bit-bridle it is easy to “lean” on your hands for support. The moment I rode bitless I recognized the feel and control difference. Because of the lack of bit, the rider cannot balance on the reins like they might with a bit. For this reason, bitless makes riders more aware of their equitation.

My own riding has improved tenfold since I started bitless. I have strengthened my base and leg. The lack of a bit has not acted as a handicap but as a fine-tuner that makes me more aware of my riding and how I can improve it.

If my weight begins to work back into my hands when riding with a bit, the moment I ride bitless again, everything falls back into my seat. Bitless makes for a great ‘check’ for the rider whenever they become sloppy in the saddle. I still like the feel of a bit at the end of my reins and appreciate the ability for very subtle cues with the bit. Horses (varies between mounts) pull-up better from a gallop, respond to half-halts, and react to abrupt cues faster when in a bit. Having said that, 9-out-of-10, horses I have ridden balance better in bitless.

My horse, for example, maintains an even pace in bitless while she runs ahead and drops back in a bit. I find horses to be better balanced in turns, and balance better at all paces while in a bitless bridle. Instead of seesaw half-halts, I have learned to do a pressure-release with the bitless and am experimenting with the classical, and hunter hand positions to see which is more effective.

Although my horse has no grievances to the bit, she appreciated the breaks from the bit (as I’m sure many horses do). All of the horses I have ridden have adjusted to the bitless as if it were their old bridle and take no time to very little time to understand its cues. The bitless for these horses also acted as a tune-up and when returned to the bit the horses responded better than they ever have in a bit-bridle.

My own horse, when returned to the bit, was more focused and less stubborn about cues. Bitless can be used to polish your horse in training and refocus them since cues are transmitted differently. At the walk/trot, bitless has been the more effective halt/reverse bridle for me, while at the faster paces its effectiveness depends on the animal. Turning largely depends on the animal and the equitation of the rider but I have found, as mentioned before, better balance from the bitless and many times quicker and more efficient response times.

It is discouraging with bitless, that its effectiveness relies on an unanchored bridle piece. While the bit bridle is anchored at both the poll and in the mouth, the noseband of some bitless bridles do bear the possibility of riding up on the horse’s head.

A lot of “bit problems” can be solved with a properly fitted bit, or customized bit, regular floating, and basic training. On the other hand, bitless can be argued as the easier solution. It goes without saying that a bitless bridle needs to be properly adjusted for positive results, and if adjusted too low at the noseband (onto the cartilage), it can be hazardous.

There is nothing classier than a shiny bit in the mouth and many shows refuse the use of the bitless. For a competition stable, I see the bitless as an effective training tool to fine-tune the horses, and give them a change, using a bit in competition. Where allowed, bitless can be used in competition but for myself I prefer a well-fitted bit for style and quick cues.

For horses that place their tongue over the bit, are hard-mouthed, missing teeth, or have similar problems, bitless is the way to go. For public trail riders, where the majority of riders are amateur, I suggest bitless for the horse’s comfort. For pleasure trail riding, bitless saves you the hassle of carrying a halter for grazing.

Rotating from bitless to bit is effective for training and helps to keep the horse focused and interested as cue signals are frequently changing. If you want to avoid bit hunting and keep your horses for pleasure or for schooling, bitless is definitely a good choice. For lesson stables, I see bitless as a great tool to enhance the amateur rider’s legs and base but can be unsuitable if the rider is not familiar with the horse/bridle and the horse runs away on them.

There is no reason why an intermediate to advanced rider cannot ride bitless. Both bit and bitless have their place, benefits and drawbacks. Riding bitless is like taking a break from arena work … and how I feel about that is you should ride in the field more than you ride in the arena.

Brought to you by: