I replaced the rope part of my S-hack with
a soft beta nose piece. www.hought.com sells
them for only about $17 bucks, as I recall. They sell the whole set up too. That
rope nose piece always took hair off my horses' nose and I hate those fuzzies
you put over it instead. They get wet and dirty. The beta noseband is soft and
comfortable for the horse. Now I can throw the whole bridle in the dishwasher
and get it squeeky clean!
Sportack sells a Beta (softer, and looks more like leather than
Biothane) sidepull that is also a halter/bridle, so you can easily add a
bit when desired, and there is no need to change to a seperate halter when
tying up. Also, the poll straps are replacable if the horse pulls back when
tied and breaks it. Also, it can be ordered with free colored overlay on
brow and nosepieces. I have been using mine for more than four years
now.
Other halter/sidepull designs that work: Gwana PonyBoy bitless
bridle, which is a rope halter that crosses under the jowls and puts
pressure there as well as on the nose (but not on the poll, like the Dr.
Cook Bitless Bridle). This is also a halter, so there is no need to change
headstalls or wear a bulky halter with the headstall.
Note: Rope
halters with tied-in rings at the cheeks are too loose on the face, and
they slide up into the horses eye as the rein is pulled from the
opposite side when making turns.
Leather "English jumping
hackimores" are basically a sidepull, but do not have a built-in halter
feature.
>
BlankBarbara, > What a great story. I've followed all your RC
stories of you and Banner > working through various rough spots, and
unknown to you those stories have > encouraged and inspired me to keep
on keeping on with the various horses > I've had during the past few
years. . . long quest to find another good > endurance
horse. I've had some criticism at times for continuing to work >
with a horse that others believe should be passed on to another home.
But > as you know and are proving, it takes some time to gain the trust
of some > horses, those who have been frightened or hurt by others take
longer. > > I have such a horse who is very sensitive and has past
experiences with > insensitive people and in about 10 months with me she
has gained greatly in > her trust of me and her surroundings. We
have a way to go but we're making > good progress. She has also
had bitting troubles. Because of her past in > the show world I
would imagine that she was ridden only in snaffles but > until a couple
of days ago I hadn't found a snaffle or any bit that she was > happy
with. It appears now that the Myler big D ring snaffle is a good
one > for her. At least she no longer resists my hand and will
drop her nose when > asked to halt, but like Banner she doesn't have a
smooth trot under saddle. > At liberty she moves beautifully, very
light, and looks smooth. After > hearing about your success with a
side pull I'm wanting to try that on her. > Will have to scare up one
from somewhere since I've never used nor owned > one. > >
Keep the Banner stories coming. >
Betty > > >
