Cross-Under Bitless Bridle
TYPES OF BITLESS BRIDLES
It can be confusing when first deciding to try bitless riding. The amount of different styles of bitless bridles on the market now is astonishing. This is great as it indicates a growing interest in the horse world, but it can also make it difficult. I will try and shed some light on the different styles, how they work and for which situations they are most likely to be appropriate.
Side-Pull Bitless Bridle
Basically all bitless bridles are a variation of either cross-under or side-pull. Cross-under bitless bridles have two straps that cross behind the jaw (hence the name) and apply pressure around the whole head while side-pulls have the reins attached to the sides of the bridle and apply pressure primarily to the nose.
Cross-Under Bitless Bridle
The cross-under bitless bridle distributes pressure all around the head in a ‘head-hug’, so when the rider applies pressure only a small amount is felt by the horse in each place. The same amount of rein pressure is used as with any other gear, but it's distributed. The horse feels the pressure behind the jaw, at the sides of the head, on the poll and the nose. This makes the bridle very humane as it’s virtually impossible to hurt a horse with this style, making it brilliant for novice and experienced riders alike. The other thing this does is make the bridle very effective. The horses’ whole head is in your hands as you ride, rather than just the nose or mouth. This distributed pressure also ensures the horse does not get a sore spot on the nose. The origional cross-under Bitless Bridle was developed by Dr Cook after many years of research and is still the best on the market. Once horses are transitioned to the cross-under, it is as strong as a bitted bridle, see Getting Started.
Side-Pull Bitless Bridle
The side-pull feels the same as a halter to the horse, as the pressure is on the nose. This means it's usually easier to transition a horse to, as they're used to that 'feel'. If you have a horse that can be ridden in a halter then this is a good choice. They are not as strong as the cross-under but are a good option for many horses. There are lots of different styles of side-pull on the market. There are straight side-pulls, where the reins attach to the bridle so the pressure is all on the nose, plus some with a sliding chin-strap. These have approximately 90% of the pressure on the nose, and 10% behind the jaw. The sliding chin-strap bridles can also be turned into straight side-pulls by clipping the reins onto both rings at the sides. There are also side-pulls that have mechanisms to increase the leverage on the nose (Hackamores and Bosals are both leverage bridles).
Whichever style of Bitless Bridle you choose it will be better for your horse, and you, than a bridle with a bit.
If you have any further questions relating to types of bitless bridles and which style may suit your horse, I am more than happy to help. suzy@happyhorsesbitless.com Ph. 0401 249 263