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[RC] [Guest] Bitless Bridle question - Ridecamp Guest

Bambi Forbes jbforbes@xxxxxxxxx

Mary,

For 8 years, my QH fiddled with his bit and he now loves the bitless bridle
I made for him.  He prefers an empty mouth and who could blame him.  He has
pink lips and sensitive corners of the mouth.  My 6 yr old Arab has never
had a bit in his mouth and works well and softly in his bitless as well.

Using the bitless bridle requires an understanding and communication with
your horse where you are not fighting with her to stop or turn - you can
teach her that you will ask and she can respond with good results for both
of you.  Any horse who will plow through a bitless bridle would probably be
able to plow through any bit (been there), or be willing to bleed :( with
any "stronger" bit (saw a horrifying "trainer" do that to a frightened
horse.) Your ability to ask softly will work great!

On lounging: Are you using a halter to lounge, and have the bit and bridle
on as well?  If you are attaching the line to the snaffle, the line, no
matter how light, will probably pull on her mouth in a confusing way.
(Also, sometimes reaching down with the head is a submissive thing.)  If you
were to lounge in a bitless bridle and attach to both straps coming off the
jaw, it would clamp down on both sides of the jaws with the whole strap that
is a continuous line over the poll, causing confusion.

I would use a halter for lounging. Then do some gentle ground work with the
bitless bridle by standing beside the left stirrup and gently asking her to
move her head toward you with the left rein, releasing immediatly when she
makes the tiniest move.  Then the other side.  It's just the old "ask and
release"  and she'll feel so proud of understanding your language.

Best of luck on using a bitless bridle!  I think they are great.
Bambi



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