"Bitless" Bridles Catching On Fast
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The purpose of a bridle is to communicate to a horse what the rider wants it to do. You don't need a bit for that, says Zoe Brooks who, with her husband Gerry Guy, developed a bitless bridle after she had problems with a horse accepting a traditional bit. First introduced in 2005, the new bridle is winning converts on everything from newly tamed mustangs to large draft horses and big jumper.
"I tried bitless bridle designs that existed at that time and didn't like them," says Brooks. "Ours uses pressure and release action all over the horse's head rather than just in one area like others do.
"Our bridle lets the horse be a willing and contributing partner, rather than forcing it to act," says Brooks. "People tell me it changes their horse's personality and makes it more wiling to do what they want."
Reins on the "Nurtural Bitless Bridle" attach near the mouth to a Circle-X design under the jaw. The Circle-X connects the reins to the noseband and prevents reinstraps from twisting and getting tangled. Tangled reinstraps can create pressure, which if unreleased, can result in a runaway, warns Brooks.
The reinstraps cross the fat parts of the horse's cheeks and travel to the poll and a solid crown piece. She explains the solid crown piece ensures that the reinstraps don't slip.
When the left rein is pulled, the Circle-X carries the pressure to the opposite side of the horse's face. Instead of pulling on the let side of the mouth as a bit would, it puts pressure on the noseband, under the jaw and on its right cheek. With an extreme pull, pressure is even applied to the poll.
This pressure on the head encourages the horse to turn its entire head to the left. once pressure on the rein is released, the head and the horse stop turning. Gentle pressure on both reins travels through the Circle-X and up the reinstraps to the solid crown piece, encouraging the horse to slow or stop.
"We just kept playing with the design until it worked for our horses," says Brooks. "People tell us they want a better relationship with their horse, and our bridle provides it. Horses that wouldn't back up under a bit will do so with ours."
The Nurtural Bitless Bridle is available in nylon, synthetic and three different types of leather. Prices range from $89.99 to $249.99 in English or Western styles. Sizes range from miniature horse to Pony, Arab, Horse, Warmblood and Draft sizes. Custom driving bridles are also available, as are custom sizing and brass hardware in some styles.
While bitless bridles have been allowed in some competitions, others refuse to allow anything but bit bridles. Brooks is frustrated that her bridles, which are kinder to a horse and let the rider communicate better, are not permitted across the board.
"I tell the young people who try and like our bitless bridle that it will be up to them to get the rules changed," she says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Nurtural Horse, 8070 Hwy 17 W, Worthington, Ont., Canada P0M 3H0 (ph 705 866-2285; toll free 877 877-5845; info@nurturalhorse.com; www.nurturalhorse.com); or Nurtural Horse, 5055 Enterprise Blvd., Toledo, Ohio 43612 (ph 419 913-1667; toll free 877 877-5845).
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Bitless Bridles Catching On Fast The purpose of a bridle is to communicate to a horse what the rider wants it to do You don t need a bit for that says Zoe Brooks who with her husband Gerry Guy developed a bitless bridle after she had problems with a horse accepting a traditional bit First introduced in 2005 the new bridle is winning converts on everything from newly tamed mustangs to large draft horses and big jumper
I tried bitless bridle designs that existed at that time and didn t like them says Brooks Ours uses pressure and release action all over the horse s head rather than just in one area like others do
Our bridle lets the horse be a willing and contributing partner rather than forcing it to act says Brooks People tell me it changes their horse s personality and makes it more wiling to do what they want
Reins on the Nurtural Bitless Bridle attach near the mouth to a Circle-X design under the jaw The Circle-X connects the reins to the noseband and prevents reinstraps from twisting and getting tangled Tangled reinstraps can create pressure which if unreleased can result in a runaway warns Brooks
The reinstraps cross the fat parts of the horse s cheeks and travel to the poll and a solid crown piece She explains the solid crown piece ensures that the reinstraps don t slip
When the left rein is pulled the Circle-X carries the pressure to the opposite side of the horse s face Instead of pulling on the let side of the mouth as a bit would it puts pressure on the noseband under the jaw and on its right cheek With an extreme pull pressure is even applied to the poll
This pressure on the head encourages the horse to turn its entire head to the left once pressure on the rein is released the head and the horse stop turning Gentle pressure on both reins travels through the Circle-X and up the reinstraps to the solid crown piece encouraging the horse to slow or stop
We just kept playing with the design until it worked for our horses says Brooks People tell us they want a better relationship with their horse and our bridle provides it Horses that wouldn t back up under a bit will do so with ours
The Nurtural Bitless Bridle is available in nylon synthetic and three different types of leather Prices range from $89 99 to $249 99 in English or Western styles Sizes range from miniature horse to Pony Arab Horse Warmblood and Draft sizes Custom driving bridles are also available as are custom sizing and brass hardware in some styles
While bitless bridles have been allowed in some competitions others refuse to allow anything but bit bridles Brooks is frustrated that her bridles which are kinder to a horse and let the rider communicate better are not permitted across the board
I tell the young people who try and like our bitless bridle that it will be up to them to get the rules changed she says
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Nurtural Horse 8070 Hwy 17 W Worthington Ont Canada P0M 3H0 ph 705 866-2285; toll free 877 877-5845; info@nurturalhorse com; www nurturalhorse com ; or Nurtural Horse 5055 Enterprise Blvd Toledo Ohio 43612 ph 419 913-1667; toll free 877 877-5845
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