What are Bitless Bridles? 

Have you ever thought about using a bitless bridle? The mere thought can put the fear into us, will we have control, do they come with breaks. Well let’s dispense with some of the myths and find out how they really work and if it could be something that you could add to your tack room. 

A bitless bridle works by distributing the pressure around various points on a horse’s head rather than just on the mouth. It moves the pressure to the nose, chin, jaw, cheek and poll depending on what style of bridle you have, there are some designs that use only on the nose, cheek and jaw.   

Many consider a bitless bridle to be a milder way of controlling your horse, but as with any piece of equipment, especially a normal bridle, it depends on the user. A bitless bridle can be just as harsh if used in the wrong hands. The initial thought can be that because there is no bit you need to apply aids in a firmer way to maintain the same amount of control, but this is far from the case, it is still important to be light on the reins just as you would with a normal bridle.   

Benefits of a bitless bridle 

  • Reduced risk of damage or injury to mouth or tongue 
  • An alternative bridle option if your horse could has an injury that prevents a bit from being placed in their mouth 
  • Head shaking or nodding may be reduced if the bit is causing your horse any discomfort 
  • Reducing excessive salivation that can be caused when a bit is used 
  • May reduce negative reactions such as rearing, if being triggered by resentment of mouth pressure 
  • Horse may have freer movement  
  • May have improved balance as pressure is more evenly distributed 

Some types of bitless bridles work in a similar way to one with a bit, they are just moving the pressure to a different area. Whereas some do need a little more training and willingness for your horse to adjust particularly, on the turn. All aspects should be taken into consideration, with proper research before choosing any particular one. Some options for bitless bridles include 

  • Hackamore 
  • Bosal (similar to a noseband) 
  • Sidepull 
  • Crossunder 
  • Halter 

Choosing to use a bitless bridle is purely a personal decision and should be based solely on your horse as an individual. What works for someone else may not be right for you, every horse is different and should be treated as such. Have a meaningful discussion with someone who has experience using a bitless bridle, such as your coach or trainer, to see if it may be something worth trying.  

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