Bit or Bitless?

["Erin McCrary" <emac_hubbs@hotmail.com>]

My husband recently purchased a horse that had it's tongue cut off by a bit 
in a riding accident a year ago.  The people we bought the horse from said 
he was still ridable with a snaffle, however after a few rides we decided 
the horse deserved to be in something bitless for the rest of his life.  My 
husband rode him in a bosal and Bob was a completely different horse.  I 
think he may have originally been trained in a bosal because he preformed so 
well in it.  He went from having his head in the clouds and pulling on the 
bit to a perfect head set and light on the rein.
My mare has been in a loose ring fat snaffle all of her life  and she does 
just fine in it.  Once I tried a low port curb with the chin strap pretty 
loose, but the slightest  pressure caused her to toss her head.  After 
seeing my husband's horse in a bosal I am wondering how my horse would like 
one.
I have heard of endurance riders using hackamores, but I am afraid I will 
get the same response from Fancy in a hackamore as I did with the curb bit.  
I put Fancy in Bob's bosal and did some ground reining with  her.  She was 
quiet and responsive.  My only reason for wanting to switch her to something 
bitless is because I think it would be easier for her to graze and drink on 
a ride and just all around more pleasant when riding long distances.
Oh right, the question is:  Has anyone ever rode in a bosal on an endurance 
ride?  and Why or why not?
Erin
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