What is bitless riding?

What is bitless riding?

Bitless means that the training of your horse is without a bit in the horse’s mouth. Instead of a bit, you choose a bridle with or without leverage, with direct or indirect reining aids.

How do I start riding bitless?

How to train your horse to go bitless

1. Put on the bitless bridle or solution you’ve chosen without reins and let your horse walk off without you.
2. Add the reins and walk your horse around from the ground.
3. Show your horse what if feels like when the reins are used to go left and right.

Is it better to ride a horse bitless?

Distance and pleasure trail riders like bitless bridles because they allow the horse to eat and drink without removing the bridle. This makes the horse more comfortable and, when competing in long-distance riding events, may make the horse more likely to drink, which is very important for preventing dehydration.

How do I get my horse outline Bitless?

first make sure the horse actively stepping forward from the hind legs and then try to use your core muscles to ask the horse to go in an outline i.e. engage your stomach muscles in the same way you do when you cough – you then need to learn to breath whilst you’re doing it !

Does a horse need a bit?

You can ride your horse without a bit. Some work well bitless, and others perform better with a bit. But a bit typically gives a rider more control of their horse. Bits have critical differences, but how you use your hands to guide is a significant factor determining a bit’s harshness.

Why you should go Bitless?

The Bitless Bridle provides better steering than a bit or natural hackamore/rope halter, and more reliable brakes than a bit or sidepull. Freedom from pain results in calmness and obedience. A Bitless Bridle is also wonderful for starting young horses under saddle.

Does a bit hurt the horse?

Bits May Inflict Pain Most riders agree that bits can cause pain to horses. A too-severe bit in the wrong hands, or even a soft one in rough or inexperienced hands, is a well-known cause of rubs, cuts and soreness in a horse’s mouth. Dr. Horses experience pain in the mouth, but also in their face, eyes, and ears.

How does a bitless bridle work?

Bitless bridles work by exerting gentle pressure on the horse’s head, instead of the mouth. Cross-under designs have two straps that cross under the jaw and work by applying gentle pressure on the opposite side of the head as the rein aid, causing the horse to move away from the pressure.