How to Use a Bitless Bridle

There is a growing trend towards the "less is more" mindset in the horse world, particularly in regard to horse tack. A bitless bridle has been developed--no, not a bosal or hackamore, but a bridle that works simply by putting gentle pressure on the horse's head. There are some tricks to using the bitless bridle effectively, though, so follow the steps below for more natural horsemanship.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Purchase a natural leather or synthetic bitless bridle in a size to fit your horse comfortably. For instructions on measuring, see the Resources section below.

2. Place the bridle on the horse and adjust it correctly. The nose band should sit just below where the nasal bone joins the cartilage of the nose and fit snugly. The brow band should fit snugly, but not too tightly.

3. Ensure the crossover straps are not twisted under the horse's head and are not tangled under the nose band.

4. Give the horse some time to get used to the new headstall. Put him in a round pen and lunge him with it, or do some ground driving to see how the horse reacts. Ground driving is putting a set of long reins on the bridle, then walking or jogging behind the horse, using the reins to steer and stop it.

5. Take your first ride with a bitless bridle in a safe, enclosed area, such as a round pen or arena, until you and your horse are accustomed to the new feeling of freedom and higher level of horsemanship.

Tips & Warnings

• Check to see if the nose band is too tight or too loose. You should be able to slide one finger between the nose band and the underside of the horse's jawbone. The nose band is too loose if it slides up and down on the horse's nose when pressure is applied to the reins.
• Use a light hand with a bitless bridle. This will take some adjustment if you are used to maintaining contact with your horse's mouth through a bit, but constant pressure on the bitless bridle can be confusing to the horse.
• Your horse may exhibit an exhilaration the first time he is ridden bitless because it feels so much better without a bit in the mouth. If he is a well-trained horse, he should settle down quickly and respond well.
• Ensure your horse is up to date on teeth floating. The bitless bridle can put pressure on the horse's cheeks from sharp points protruding from the teeth, causing great discomfort and poor performance.
• Be careful when ground driving your horse if he isn't used to it. Saddle the horse and run the long reins through the D rings on the saddle to keep them stable and don't get too near your horse's hind legs. Tie the stirrups together under the horse to keep them from flopping.