Which bitless?

[Azrael]

I'd appreciate some suggestions on which type of bitless bridle might suit my horse..

Mia is 3 years old, hasn't been backed very long but enjoys being ridden. She's not yet been persuaded that bits aren't evil nasty things so I've been riding her in a headcollar (the headcollar part of a combination bridle but still basically a headcollar). I want to get on with hacking her out so need some kind of bitless bridle.

I have a Dr Cook that I've used on her for hacking on the road since it is at least technically a bridle but she finds it a bit too easy to ignore, I have more control in the headcollar. She listens to the Dr Cook on the ground and when she feels like doing as she's told but it's useless if we disagree over direction. The headcollar is okay but it moves around too much and doesn't really give very clear instructions so need something a bit better. She's recently figured out napping towards the gate in the school and is working out evasions though she's learning quickly that they aren't going to get her anywhere she's the kind of horse that always feels the need to test things. She listens better to a rope halter than normal headcollar when leading so might try riding in that but would rather have some kind of proper bridle. Brakes aren't too bad, it's the steering that needs most help.

Any suggestions?

[rhillahorse]

I've got one of these:

www.horseandharmony.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=401_396&products_id=1078&zenid=eb6a38d5aef6b74aca49cca11017de82

The coiled noseband supposedly reduces slip but I find you still have to have the noseband reasonably tight.

[Desperado]

I had my welsh d (backed for a few months) in a happywheel as she was quite strong when just backed (was backed in a rope nose sidepull), we are now back in a sidepull, but a leather type one (its actually a dr cook with the x straps taken off) and shes doing really well in it.

[sallyandruby]

i ride my 4 year old in either a bosal or a strawbrigg, she listens really well to the strawbrigg !

[naturalneddie]

How much does she listen to your body and weight aids for information as to which direction to go? Just wondering - sometimes it is instinctive to set up a turn from the front end, when its more effective to steer the whole body! But as I know, some youngsters know EXACTLY where you would like them to go - but just don't agree!!!!
Its possible to get into a battle where the harder you 'try' to put the horses nose where you would like it - the more your body conflicts the info. i.e., if your hand comes backwards towards your hip to turn the nose, this can set off a set of positional problems, hip dropping back, waist collapsing, weight sliding to opposite seat bone, inside shoulder dropping and coming backward ......etc etc...
anyway, it was just a thought!!!!

[Azrael]

She listens to seat aids for slowing down quite well and she's starting to get weight aids for turning, it's just when she doesn't agree about where we are going that there's problems. Like napping towards the gate or when she wants to head over to a field and try to adopt a sh*tland when I'd rather keep going up the road towards home But there is also a problem with the headcollar I'm using not really giving clear enough instructions and I do sometimes have to try too hard to persuade her to go the way I want, taking hand out to side rather than back though, which is why I'm looking for something better. Brakes are fine, even listened to me while friend's foalie, which she'd also like to adopt, was having a bouncy moment right in front of her and she'd have liked to join in.

[naturalneddie]

One of the simplest instuctions for help with turning (that really works!) is to image turning the saddle and pointing it in the direction you want to go. If you do this effectively, the horse will have to follow! Also think about steering the withers, rather than the nose, both these limit the amout of 'contortion' when turning isn't easy!
I've used a variety of different bitless brides in my time - all have limitations on the steering front, if you have tended to rely on the bit in the past for steering. I would think that the answer is probably just time and practice and schooling her to understand the weight/body aids more - but I realise this doesn't really help you when you are out hacking!!!!
Mind you, I still think you're better off without a bit, even if the direction you go in is a bit of a compromise! I hate to think back to when I had my first youngster, years ago, and pulled the snaffle straight through his face, more than once!!!!! OUch! Moved up to a fullmer ( cos thats what you did, then!) but still had problems as he could point his nose in one direction and move his body in a completely different one!!!! Took some serious learning with RWYM to point out the error of me ways! Heigh ho, we live and learn - I just wish I'd known then ( in my 20's) what I know now, since I'm too old and knackered to really use it!!! Thats life!

[Azrael]

I do use weight aids, I do them pretty automatically when I want to turn now because my coblet responds better to seat than to the bit, apart from when she's having a real hooves in ears opinionated coblet moment ;D I think I might have been a bit too subtle with my weight aids and gone for the kind of thing I'd do with responsive coblet rather than something a baby horse can understand while at the same time trying a bit too hard with the reins combined with using a headcollar which doesn't really give clear enough signals . Madam has already figured out that she doesn't have to follow her nose, quick learner that one , but being able to point her nose in the direction I want does help a lot.

She's having her teeth done this month, then she's going to start getting used to wearing a bit but it's likely to be quite a long time until most of my riding is done off a bit. I much prefer bitless for youngsters. My old pony was started that way and coblet was bitless for months after I got her which hugely improved all her issues which seemed to be partly from being ridden in a bit when she didn't have the feintest clue why people were pulling on her mouth . I have fatty's rope halter so will dig that out and try it, might be harder to ignore than a headcollar and will try again with the Dr Cook as well as making a sidepull out of it to try. Headcollar's noseband is a bit too loose so hopefully the Dr Cook's adjustable one will be better.