The BITLESS BRIDLE by Dr. Robert Cook
How do I determine which Bitless Bridle I need?
The Warmblood Tack Store offers synthetic Bitless Bridles in Horse, Warmblood and Draft sizes. Unless you have a warmblood or a draft, you need a "horse" size. Warmbloods take "warmblood" size and Drafts take "draft" size. All sizes are adjustable.
English leather Bitless Bridles come in "warmblood" or "horse" sizes.
The Western leather Bitless Bridle only comes in a "horse" size, with plenty of adjustment to fit average-size horses from Arabians through Throroughbreds.
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In general, the "horse" size beta and nylon headstall will fit all horses except large warmbloods and drafts. In English leather, average horses take a "horse" size. Western style headstalls are the same size as "horse" beta. If you have a horse that you are not sure about, here is how to measure.
How do I measure for a Bitless Bridle headstall? Measure 1 ½” to 2” up from the corner of the horse's mouth. From that point, measure the circumference of the horse's nose (for the Noseband measurement). From that same point (1 ½” – 2” up from the corner of the horse's mouth), run your tape measure up the side of the face, around the poll (behind the ears) to the same point on the other side of the face (this is the Headstall measurement). * If you find it too cumbersome to run your tape all the way around the head, measure up the side of the horse's face to the very top of the poll (to the point right between the ears) and double that measurement) Use these two measurements to determine what size headstall your horse needs.
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What is so special about The Bitless Bridle and how does it work?
view from the side, view from below.
The Bitless Bridle works on an entirely different concept from all other types of bridles. A bitted bridle enables the rider to communicate by applying pressure on the exquisitely sensitive mouth. The traditional bitless bridles (i.e., the Hackamores, bosals and sidepulls) work primarily through pressure on the nose. All these methods, the bit method and the traditional bitless methods, are potentially painful. The Bitless Bridle™, on the other hand, allows the rider to communicate by painless pressure that is distributed around the whole of the head. Whereas a bit often applies harsh pressure to the mouth, over a small area, The Bitless Bridle™ distributes its gentle pressure to far less sensitive tissues and distributes even this amount of pressure over a wide area. It does this through two loops, one over the poll and one over the nose. Essentially, it gives the rider an inoffensive and benevolent method of communication by applying a nudge to one half of the head (for steering) or a hug to the whole of the head (for stopping). Because The Bitless Bridle™ exerts minimal pressure and spreads this over a large and less critical area, it is more humane than a bit. It provides better communication, promotes a true partnership between horse and rider, and does not interfere with either breathing or striding. As a result, performance is improved.