Many people have seen the so called “Miracle Bridles” and such promoted as cure all devices for almost everything, but few systems actually live up to the hype, fewer still are worth the astronomical cost, and even less of those are simple enough a normal human being can figure out how to use one. At long last there is a good bitless bit out there that will transfer to your existing tack and not cost you your first born child to do it. The bitless bridle is a much needed addition to this market, and in the wide array of options the product comes in there is sure to be something that fits every one. Affordable enough to be a practical horse gift for a good friend, and something that every horseman can enjoy for years, the sizing is so simple that only a basic understanding of the horse’s size is necessary to obtain a proper fit. Perfect for beginning horsemen and those with tricky to bit animals, these are so easy to use and put on that even those not involved in the equine world will be able to apply them. Say goodbye to the complicated, costly world of bitless bridles and hackamores, the bitless bridle will give you a whole different opinion on natural horsemanship and it’s application in the modern world.
Issues Related to the Traditional Metal Bit
Many horses have behavioral issues related to the metal bit, for a variety of reasons, a significant amount of horses require either extensive retraining in biting or a different system altogether. Many young horses learn to hate a bit young, as they are forced to wear larger equipment than they should be. Sizing is defiantly a consideration with all metal bits, and for trainers putting equipment on multiple horses throughout the day are bound to get tired of constantly changing tack between horses. Bitless bridles can help with all of these issues, saving both time and money for both professional horsemen as well as weekend trail riders.
Sores like the one shown here can easily be caused by a poorly fitted bit, and even a well fitted one on a particularly sensitive animal. Traditional metal bits are tough to get an exact fit on, as little as half an inch makes all the difference in the world. Some breeds which are particularly soft mouthed, such as Arabians and some Gaited horse breeds, will never appreciate the cold touch of steel in their mouths. Would you?
Regardless of whether you prefer English or Western riding styles, safe reliable tack is going to be a staple for any avid equestrian and having the right bit less bridle system can be a great asset to helping solve some of the rougher and more dangerous head tossing and bit fighting habits that many horses can develop over time, horses refusing to respond to the metal bit.
Bitless Bridles and the their Practical Applications
There are several good reasons why every horseman should own at least one simple bitless bridle:
- We all have at least one friend who has no horse experience but wants to try out a trail ride, these people can do serious damage to a horse’s gentle mouth with a hard metal bit and in many cases a high quality bitless headstall or bridle is just the thing to keep your horse from bearing the brunt of an inexperienced rider’s heavy hand.
- At some point most of us work with a young horse, and having one less thing to learn can be a huge step towards the animal’s success. By being able to lean on the natural intuitiveness of the bitless system, the green horse is free to focus on other aspects of it’s saddle training, and has the luxury of learning bit training at a later, more opportune time.
- We aren’t all lucky enough to own all of our horses from birth, and there are more than a few horses out there who have been poorly handled or just plain abused by rough hands. These systems are gentle training methods, and are easily accepted “release of pressure” tools that every horse will appreciate, especially horses with a less than ideal past.
- Many horse owners have more than one horse, and the bitless bridle is much more adjustable in terms of size flexibility than is the traditional metal bit. The same bitless system which fits the delicate muzzle of the Arabian will also fit the broader muzzle of the Quarter Horse, which in turn also adjusts to the long narrow head of the various Warmblood breeds. This eliminates the need for a whole boatload of tack and enables the rider to quickly switch bridles at will.
- Unlike the more costly leather headstalls and bridles, these nylon systems are resistant to rot, require very little cleaning, and are near impossible to break. They will last years and have far less potential to fail in the field due to catching, or weather damage, and will attach to almost any type of head gear a horse can wear, including a driving harness!
- In the event a horse should require emergency handling while on a ride, the bitless bridle can be held instantly in such a way as to act like a halter, with no risk of tearing at the horse’s mouth as it fights or tosses its head, minimizing injury to the horse but also quickly regaining control of the animal as well.
- As any horse owner will attest, tack gets expensive fast. The nylon and leather system is by far one of the more affordable systems, and as it adapts to the tack one currently owns, choosing this product saves a large amount, considering that the buyer doesn’t have to purchase the entire system, only the bit piece.
- The so called “Indian Hackamore” (the pattern on which our model is designed) has been around since the days of the cowboys, and is a time tested product of exquisitely simplistic design, so little on it to go wrong, with everything you need to maintain constant control and safe direction of the horse
Tags: bitless bridles, hackamore, Headstalls, indian hackamore