dee wrote:
Is there a scientific study done on the various bitless brides and the pressure points ie. nerves, bone structure etc.
yes there is done by the same person Dr. R.W.Cook in his book you can read some things about it.
When you misuse any kind of bitless bridle you get problems.
I see it this way, when people who riding bitless get injurys on the horses nose or where ever on the head they pulling on the reins waaaay to hard.
They will do the same in the horses mouth but then they won't see the damage.
You have to ride bitless the same as with a bit, just a viberation in the reins is enough to make your command clear to the horse.
You dont have to pull...never....
i hear also often that there is no release when they ride with a crossed bridle such as a Cook or a chin crossed bridle.
Those people pull to much on the reins. They have often a constant rein contact which is to heavy.
It have to be light, you may not feel constantly that you have contact. The contact points are split seconds only when needed.
Just to give a signal when you wanna change a gait, or turn or collection.
And there is no tack which can give you savety. That is in your communication with the horse.
It is in our mind. As long you dont trust yourself, yourhorse outside during a trail ride. So dont do it. That will give problems.
Even if you should ride with a bit, when you dont trust it, dont do it.
Work on your relation with the horse before you going out. (or even sit on the horse)
oh and btw the horse does feel a bridle, it can feel even a fly land on his skin.
When you pull a bitless bridle hard yes the horse will certainly feel it, and it can be painfull, but way less then the same power in his mouth. People do forget that.
And when the horse show it, we use a extra strap around the mouth so the horse can not open his mouth anymore. So he had no pain because they dont see it anymore.
When you misuse a bitless bridle you can see it always at the skin of the horse. you can not hide it.