[RC] bitless bridle- late night musings about bridles and bits from a designer - Paddi
It is interesting on how fast the bitless bridles have caught
on. A riding instructor in our area has been using them for a number of years on
all horses. Jumping , balanced riding ect in her classes.
The concern most voiced is stopping power on a run away. Yes a
horse will go through a bitless bridle on a run away but they will also go
through a snaffle , hackamore , curb .....the list goes on. No piece of equipment can replace training.
Personally we have had about a 200% increase in sales of the
bitless bridles. They are fast catching up to the halter bridles.
I have made them from pony size to draft horse size.
Only one has been returned. The reason her riding instructor
did not like the bitless bridles and told her it would not
work.
Every horse is unique and reacts different to different
bridles and bits.
Every riding instructor and trainer has different ideas on
what to use.
I personally have quite the collection of bits and hackamores
ect. gathered up over the years. It is fascinating when you do the
research to see how every detail of a bit effects the bridle pressure. In the
past bit making was an art. Now most are made from factories and sold for under
$20 . Sad some of the great designs have dissappeared in the interest of saving
$$$ in production.
How many riders really understand the bit and the bridle and
the way they work together.
Endurance riders are one of the most educated group of riders
in the world.
I was out riding today watching how the halter bridles work.(
After 9 years of making them I thought I had them figured out) I was
riding in a western headstall and my friend was in a halter bridle combo. The
bit straps attached onto the Dee rings at the cheek seem to effect the way the
bridle works. It actually seemed to lessen the poll pressure on the bridle by
allowing the bit to move on the dee rings.
I notice I get a more collected headset faster in the western
headstall or English headstall then I do with a halter bridle. My young gelding
does not like the halter bridle combo preferring the more traditional bridle. I
think he is not used to the give and movement the halter bridle allows. I ride
him in a hand made loose ring sweet iron snaffle. Put him into an eggbut or dee
ring snaffle and you have problems. He sure knows what he likes.
Just food for thought. Once again I realized that the more I
learn the more I don't know.
The study of bridling and bitting horses is amazing. (or not
bitting them)
Happy Trails
I am off to work a ride this weekend so I will be pondering
this bridle thing as I watch what everyone is using.
