Riding bitless

[mrbsmum]

My mare is having a few problems with her mouth currently - she's prone to a dry muzzle anyway, but is currently going through a bout of cracked scabby lips which split if I use her bit. I'm attempting to heal her up and get to the bottom of it and the simplest thing to do would be just to give her a bit of time off until the scabs heal properly (which they are on their way to doing), but we're just over a week off a cross country ride and then are due to be heading off for a specialist Icelandic riding clinic with a group of friends, which I've been looking forward to all year, so I thought I would try a bitless bridle for schooling up until we go to give her the best chance of healing, but allow me to keep up her fitness and training until that point.

A friend lent me a Dr Cook's style cross over bridle to try out, so we had our first go with it this morning. I'm not sure what I think. The brakes were good, and she showed no objection to the bridle itself - but I felt like I'd lost all the subtlety out of my hand aids. She halts well from the seat, so that is fine, but I felt like I was having to pull her around quite a bit for steering (she's ok off the leg, but not brilliant for bending ) and she had no idea at all what I was asking when we attempted to rein back.  I sort of felt like I was communicating to her through a fog. Things just weren't getting through as clearly as they normally would.

I've never ridden bitless before - so I don't know if it requires some adjustment of aids from the rider to communicate the same messages, or if its something we both just need to stick at to re-develop the understanding she has in a bit, or if I just need to try a different style of bitless bridle to see if that suits her more?

I don't plan on riding bitless long term, but this is the second bout of cracked mouth she's had in the 8 months I've had her (I put the first down to a sudden buttercup bloom - but no buttercups left now) - so it might be that this becomes a recurring problem for us.

Also as an aside to the main topic- if it is a plant that's bugging her and I don't manage to identify it, is there a barrier cream I should use daily to prevent irritation?

[koda]

Hi
I have riden bitless for about 25 years now, and apart from the psychological side of riding without a bit there is little difference. Having said that i do now steer by neck reining which was achieved by yielding to pressure on the ground and then up top, I get better flexion neck reining but everything I do is achieved through different types of communication. I suspect you dont really steer by pulling your horses head round with the bit and no other aid. It will take practice like anything new and if your are not happy to do that riding out then it's back to the basics in an environment you feel happy. I hope that helps. X

[mrbsmum]

Thanks! We had a second go yesterday and I adjusted the noseband which made thing a bit easier. No, I don't normally steer by hauling her head round with the bit in - normally I can get her to bend just by twitching my inside rein and using leg - I was having to do all sorts of exaggerated strangeness to her to understand - I think she'll get there eventually though.

We did manage to get rein back yesterday too - but Oh My! The tantrums while she insisted she had no idea what was happening and that she couldn't/wouldn't etc - then after about 5 minutes of protest she suddenly went 'Ah! This one?' and we were back to normal She does get very upset when you ask for something new and strange, so I think some of it may just be a bit of protest at this stage.

We'll see how her mouth goes and if I think this might be something we come back to a lot, I'll maybe get a nicer quality bridle that fits her better to help too. Every day is a school day!

[marsayy]

HI Well done to you, so many people are scarred of trying bitless. I have ridden bitless for years it does take time to change over and for the horse to understand what you are asking. I won't go into the pros and cons as it as it is a hot topic that people seem to get very uptight about. Take it slow and build up, rein back is quite different feel for them so not surprised it took time. Dr Cooks bridle wasn't for my horses, I did use it to begin with but it can give quite a squeeze and poll pressure which both my wilfull highlands didn't really like, there are a lot of web sites on bitless where you will get a host of info. I now used a indian bosal that crosses over under the chin with Metal rings (they run free easier especially when wet) and have great success with this. I also added in a bit of neck reining (I ride western)with some success. If you feel you haven't got brakes move one hand up and one hand down on the other side and gently pull the head to the up side towards their hip (Usual leg aid) breath out sharply sit in saddle and this should force a turn and a stop or at least a circle which you are in control with. You probably know this but most people are scarred they won't stop bitless. I always say if you can stop in a bit you can stop without one just as easily. Good luck.