For many equestrians, a bit is a piece of tack that they utilize every time they saddle up and head out for a ride. However, some horse owners have taken the initiative to be a bit different and join the bitless movement. Keep reading to learn more about bitless bridles and hackamores and determine if your horse is a candidate to try these options.
Bitless Options
There are two main ways that equestrians choose to ride their horses without a bit: with a hackamore or with a bitless bridle. These products are similar in that they allow you to control and communicate with your horse without a mouthpiece, however the similarities end there.
A hackamore utilizes leverage to put pressure on your horse’s nose, poll, and chin. Due to the amount of pressure that they can produce, they may be able to limit your horse’s breathing, so it is generally recommended that hackamores are only used by experienced riders or under the guidance of a knowledgeable equestrian.
There are several different types of hackamores. Mechanical Hackamores are traditionally used by English and Western riders alike.They work on the same principles of a curb bit, but without the mouthpiece. They provide a large amount of control, depending on the length of the shanks and how heavy the rider’s hands are. Bosals are thick, rigid nosebands that are popular among Western riders for young prospects. They do not provide as much leverage as mechanical hackamores and work with the principles of direct pressure to control the horse. They are designed to be used with two hands and mecate reins; bosals encourage flexion and softness in a green horse.
A bitless bridle distributes pressure all over your horse’s head, much like a halter does. However, they are equipped with side pulls or rings which allow you to steer your horse and communicate with individual rein aids. According to Dr. Cook’s Bitless Bridles, their unique design “gives the rider an inoffensive and benevolent method of communication by applying a nudge to one half of the head (for steering) or a hug to the whole of the head (for stopping).”
Sidepulls are a combination of a bosal and bitless bridle, they are not considered a true hackamore but tend to fall under the same “bitless bridle” category. The reins attach directly to the noseband and allow the rider to influence the horse’s movements through direct rein aids. The thickness of the noseband determines the severity of the sidepull, in many cases they are popular options for young horses or beginner riders who are learning how to apply rein aids correctly. The Waldhausen Linda Tellington-Jones Lindell Bitless Bridle is a modified sidepull bridle that has been developed with the comfort of the horse and improved communication between horse and rider in mind.
Jumping Hackamores are a form of sidepull that allow the rider to softly communicate with their horse while navigating a course of fences. They respond to direct pressure and amplify the directional aids.
Typically, bitless bridles are considered more gentle than hackamores, but, like traditional bits, the severity of the hackamore or bitless bridle is determined by the rider and how gently or harshly the rein aids are used. Consider your horse’s disposition and level of training as well as your skills and ability level when selecting a bitless bridle, hackamore, or sidepull.
Reasons to Go Bitless
Many horses can benefit from using a bitless bridle or hackamore, and many equestrians find it to be an enjoyable option for their horses. There are some horses, however, who are prime candidates for bitless riding.
You may consider using a bitless bridle or hackamore if your horse shows signs of resistance or discomfort to the bit. This can be as a result of prior mouth trauma, your horse’s personal preference, or simply the shape of your horse’s mouth. Signs of bit resistance include opening the mouth (or gaping the mouth), tossing of the head, pulling the reins through your hands, or evading bit pressure by carrying their head overly high or low.
Other reasons to go bitless may not be as clear cut. Some equestrians choose to go bitless occasionally to give their horse’s mouth a break and prevent them from leaning on the bit or becoming dull to the bit. Hackamores and bitless bridles are also great options to use while your horse is healing from mouth or tongue injury. Many trail riders utilize bitless bridles because they allow the horse to eat and drink unencumbered over the course of their ride.
We have heard from many of our customers who have chosen to use bitless bridles and hackamores, either daily or just as a piece of their training program, that their communication with their horses has improved. Consider adding one of these bitless options to your tack arsenal to see the difference for yourself.
If you compete with your horse, it is important to note that bitless bridles and hackamores may be considered unconventional equipment and are not legal for competition. However, both options are gaining more acceptance in the equestrian world, and can be seen in some disciplines such as jumping, eventing, and gymkhana riding. We recommend that you refer to your association’s rulebook in regard to the legality of any new tack or equipment in the show ring. However, even if they are not legal for your particular division, bitless bridles and hackamores can still be a valuable addition to your training program when used during schooling rides.
Which One Is Right For You?
Just like when selecting the proper bit for your horse, there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to finding the right hackamore or bitless bridle for your horse, and similarly to bits, there are many bitless options and alternatives to bits on the market. However, you can make an educated guess as to which one you should begin your bitless journey with by taking your horse’s personality, training level, and attitude under saddle into account.
Typically, well-trained horses who have become dull to the bit appreciate hackamores when they are used by riders with soft hands. The length of the shank of the hackamore determines how much pressure it will put on your horse’s poll, nose, and chin. Mechanical hackamores with long, straight shanks, such as the Shires English Hackamore, are stronger than hackamores with “s” shaped shanks, like the Zilco S Hackamore, or adjustable “flower” shanks, such as the Zilco Flower Hackamore. When selecting a hackamore for your horse, we recommend beginning with a flower hackamore or S hackamore, and then transitioning to a traditional mechanical hackamore if you need additional control. Hackamores with curb chains will also give sharper aids than hackamores with leather or nylon curb straps.
The thickness and material of the bosal will be the main factors to consider when purchasing a bosal for your horse. Thin and rigid bosals are harsher than the bosals that are thicker and a bit more flexible. Because bosals are legal for many young horses in the Western divisions, some of them are colorful or carry adornments for a show ring ready look. The Weaver Complete Mecate Set with Bosal contains everything that you need to ride your horse with a bosal, including a rawhide bosal, leather headstall, and nylon mecate reins.
When shopping for a bitless bridle, a lot will come down to the personal preference of both you and your horse. Different bridles utilize various methods of communicating with your horse, some relying on nose pressure and chin pressure, while others apply pressure to your horse’s cheek and head. It may take a few tries before you find a bridle that both you and your horse are comfortable with.
Dr. Cook’s Bitless Bridles put pressure on the sides of your horse’s head to communicate with them. This allows your horse’s mouth to remain closed and comfortable throughout the duration of your ride while not hampering your horse’s jaw alignment or breathing. Many equestrians have found that the gentle yet effective Dr. Cooks Bitless Bridles improves their horse’s concentration and balance, while reducing headshaking which is caused by neuralgia (nerve pain) from a bit. These innovative bitless bridles are available in leather, beta, and nylon styles for both English and Western riders.
Many highly-reactive and sensitive horses do well in the Rambo Micklem Bitless Multibridle, which is designed to avoid the horse’s facial nerves, cheekbones, and upper jaw molars. This unique and versatile bridle can be used as a traditional bridle and a bitless bridle, as well as a lunging cavesson. It also has two different attachments for bitless bridle configurations, which allows you to adjust the strength of your bitless bridle from a traditional sidepull to a slightly stronger curb groove control.
No matter which bitless bridle or hackamore you choose, it is important to introduce it slowly and with a systematic approach.
Making the Switch
When introducing bitless bridles or hackamores to your horse, we recommend that you do so slowly and in an enclosed area. You may find that you have more or less control than you expect and need to finesse your riding style in order to keep both you and your horse comfortable and secure.
Many horses find the transition to bitless bridles very easy, since they have been taught similar commands during halter training as a foal. Becoming comfortable in a hackamore may take additional time, especially if they are not familiar with the feeling of a curb bit and poll pressure.
When making the switch to bitless bridles and hackamores, consider warming your horse up in a traditional bit and then transitioning to the new bridle for the duration of the ride. Gradually increase the amount of time you spend bitless, until both you and your horse are confident in the new tack. We recommend that beginner riders or anyone who has questions regarding the process should work under the direction of an experienced equestrian or professional riding instructor.
With some patience and the proper bitless setup, every horse can be a candidate to be ridden in a bitless bridle or hackamore.
In addition to our extensive selection of English and Western bits, we are proud to offer a complete inventory of hackamores and bitless bridles. Our experienced and knowledgeable sales staff is always available to answer your questions regarding these products and assist you in fitting the best bitless bridle or hackamore for your horse. We invite you to contact us today and begin your bitless riding journey.
My horse goes well in a doctor cook’s bridle but he can be quite strong and flighty and recently when he bolted/ran off with me he set his neck and I found that I didnt have steering to turn him and disengage his hindquarters – hence it was a very scary and has somewhat put me off hacking out bitless. I wondered what your views were on this?
Thank you for reaching out to us! That certainly sounds like a scary situation. When it comes to bitless bridles (or any bridle for that matter) making sure that your horse is responsive to your aids in an enclosed arena is suggested before you hack out on the trails. You may also want to experiment with different bitless options to determine which one works best for your horse. While the Dr. Cooks bridle is a wonderful bridle and popular with many equestrians, you may find that your horse does better in a bridle like the Rambo Micklem Bitless Multibridle which has multiple configurations and gives the rider slightly stronger curb groove control. Hackamores, such as the Zilco S Hackamore, give the rider stronger aids and are often popular for horses who need stronger aids. Like people, horses are individuals and you may find that your horse prefers one bitless bridle setup over another.
We also recommend working with an experienced horse trainer or instructor to ensure that no underlying issues are causing your horse to bolt and become anxious.
If they are trained with spur queues to do side flexion while going forward when a bolt happens they will quickly turn into the spur side as it is disengaging hind end. Small 8 toothed spur is all you need. Gentle but goosie enough to get there attention. This works for my mare when she starts to bolt which isnt often but she is new to trails and the experiences that come with it.
I made my 15 yr old retired standardbred a bitless bridle. I did alot resesrch and looked at alot of styles. I made mine with a so called bronco noseband from a halter i bought. I took it apart and used that noseband. Much thicker. My mare loves it. Ive seen horses with issues becuse of cavisons or race halerts having been so tight and narrow.. My idea has worked wonders for us.
I would like to add a bit of info on the subject of bosals. A rawhide bosal is the original hackamore (Spanish: jaquima). You start horses in a larger diameter (3/4 or 5/8 inch), move to the 1/2 inch for refinement, then use the 3/8 inch used under the bridle with a curb bit (though some riders, including me, choose to ride only in the bosal). A bosal is not designed to work on direct pressure, but on disruption of balance of the device. You use a “lift and release” motion which moves the heel knot (the bottom part) of the bosal. Correct use teaches the horse to lift at the withers and flex at the poll; combined with correct seat aids, it’s a very useful tool for teaching a horse to move through his body. Good bosals are also not rigid. They have plenty of flex, but still have enough body to spring back to their original shape. You actually shape them before use so they fit snugly (not tight!) with no gaps. I do not recommend cheap bosal sets, as the rawhide is usually rough and may scuff up your horse and create sore spots. I realize this was a brief article on bitless bridle basics, but I just wanted to comment with some more info on a subject I enjoy discussing!
Thank you very much, this has been very helpful. I am currently dealing with several of the problems that have been listed. I have a 3yr old mustang that I recently purchased and I love him but he hates the bit so I have been looking for something without a bit. The bosal was an option because that is what he was started in. This article and everyone advice has helped me a lot.
Thank you
Lyn
I am just starting to research bitless bridles for my 27 year old Percheron/Thourobred gelding who has been diagnosed with melanoma around his lips. of course he is a gray. The vet/dentist suggested that at some point I may need to go bitless to make him more comfortable. He was trained as a low level dressage horse but now we just do light work in the ring and occasionally go for a hack in the fields around the barn. He is basically very quiet and laid back..not to say that he may spook at something. I am thinking the Dr Cook bridle might be appropriate but could use some advise… already I see there are many options to look at and compare. I would appreciate any ideas or thoughts. Thanks so much…Jan
It’s definitely worth a try! Many of our customers have found success with Dr. Cook Bitless Bridles.
I’m not a big fan of the cross under. It has a tendency to not release pressure immediately which is definitely a cause for concern when you’re working with an animal whose reward for doing something correctly is release.
Many equestrians have personal preferences regarding tack and equipment; thank you for sharing your experience with us. Every bridle (traditional or bitless) has its advantages and disadvantages. Bitless bridles are a great way to communicate with your horse and are very popular with many of our customers.
What brand name would be an example of a cross-under? I may wish to avoid that type. I ride an older thorobred mare just diagnosed with multiple teeth issues. She is more relaxed under western tack, but can become quick, sometimes want to “ball up” when taken a hold of, or raise and toss her head…depending on how she feels.
An example of a brand that manufactures cross-under bitless bridles is Dr. Cook’s. Cross-under bitless bridles work on pressure points on the horse’s head to provide cues, eliminating the need for a bit. However, given your older Thoroughbred mare’s sensitive mouth condition and her specific behavioral responses, you might want to consider alternatives.
For a mare with dental issues and sensitivity, transitioning to a bitless option can indeed be beneficial. Consider exploring bitless options like the side-pull or bosal, which provide gentle cues without putting pressure on her mouth. It’s crucial to consult with a knowledgeable trainer or an equine dentist to find the best solution tailored to your mare’s comfort and responsiveness. Every horse is unique, so finding the right tack that ensures her relaxation and responsiveness under saddle is key to both her well-being and your riding experience.