Going bitless

kschmittendorf · Well Schooled

Going bitless

Jackie Cochran · Advanced

I have noticed this with videos I've seen of most horses in cross-unders and when I ride with a cross-under. I see horses on full contact with their noses out forward OR with their faces behind the vertical, I have yet to see a happy medium.

The cross-under straps go over the almost knife-edge bones of the lower jaws. If the reins are pulled the pushing forward of the head by the cross-under straps overcomes the restraining effect of the nose band over the flat nasal bone.

I do not think that cross-unders work well with constant full contact. I find that my fingers are a lot more active with a cross-under than with a bit, constantly giving and taking. ANYTHING but a straight pull with both reins at the same time.

I have gotten decent LIGHT contact with the Spirit Bridle with a running martingle. The Spirit bridle, because of the way the reins are sewn directly to the cross-under straps, is the only cross-under bridle with which it is safe to use a running martingle. Without the running martingle the Spirit feels like the other cross-under bridles to me.

I find that usually my hands HAVE TO BE LIGHTER with a cross-under than with a bit to get equivalent results.

spirithorse · Advanced

You cannot maintain pressure contact with this cross under design, you do not pull on the reins like a bitted bridle.

You must ride with LIGHT and consistent contact, using your fingers to give and take the contact.

Vibrate your reins and SOFTLY bring your hands toward your body....as he lowers his nose, release the pressure by letting you hands go forward. As he sticks his nose back up, repeat the vibration and bring your hands back again.........a lesson he must learn is not to stick out his nose. He is doing this to gain control of the reins..................

The Cook bridle has a contact problem with the rein connectors, but you can try what I have described.

-- Edited by spirithorse on Thursday 3rd of November 2011 12:26:38 PM

Figarocubed · Advanced

KS, do you know what kind of bitless rig your horse was ridden in? It could have been a Bosal, a side-pull, or a mechanical hackamore or any one of a number of patented bitless bridles, like the Cook or the Spirit. Even something as simple as a halter with rings on the sides.

The Cook might be too unlike what he's gone in before, and from the descriptions of the mechanics of crossunder bridles I've seen, they're not a good design. They get mixed reviews and are not for every horse. Every bitless bridle has to be handled differently, from what I've seen. One would NOT ride "on contact" with a mechanical hackamore or even a Bosal, for instance.

Marlene · Advanced

I agree with Figaro. I've ridden with a bosal, the most likely western "bitless", and it's nothing like a cross under bitless. Different horses are different of course, but my guy is very responsive to the crossunder, with featherlight "contact". If I used more than that he'd get persnickety, no contact and he thinks I'm asleep at the switch. You also want to be sure they actually give to the bridle, do a little flexing and one reign turns and stops, circle, figure 8's, in a controlled environment to be sure they understand and respect your aids before setting out on the trail. my guy switched pretty quickly and smoothly from a snaffle to a cross under when I got him. I haven't tried a bosal with him because it is so different, and right now I don't want to knock a good thing.

kschmittendorf · Well Schooled

Thanks for all the responses and I will certainly try again. I am assuming he was trained with a bosal since the previous owner had bred and trained him for competition. I rode him last night with his regular bitted bridle and he was very head strong again but he is a very smart boy and likes to see how much he can get away with. Never malicious or outright challenging, just little things. Just like any other child!

Marlene · Advanced

If he was trained in a bosal, and you want to go with that, you would probably need a few pointers from someone who knows how to use them, and he may need a "refresher course" or even back to square one for a while if he's been pushing it with a bit. If I were starting with a cross under,and thought he might be testy, I'd do neck flexes, very gently at first, just a little pressure, he gives a little, release pressure, *from the ground* using the crossunder bridle, not lunging. Then repeat exercises, very gently, calmly from the saddle, a llittle calm walking a turning. If he's a good boy, just knock off and quit while you are ahead. You want him to learn to be easy and responsive, not reactive and you end up in a battle. He'll start to think, bitless=easystreet. It doesn't take long for them to realize that losing the bit is a good thing. And it won't take long for you to trust that less is more as far as "controlling" with a bitless. This really can work with a slightly pushy type (my guy was) but you need to both get into a different attitude. It's ask, response, not forcing them as is the temptation with a bit.