Learning About the Benefits to a Bitless Bridle

The bitless bridle movement has been all the rage for a little while now, but did you know that a metal bit can actually do severe harm to your horse? It’s true, when my own horse refuse to wear a bit any longer due to teeth complications, I went searching for information about other people who had similar issues to mine, and found a variety of frightening tales.  After having heard some of these stories I will never again feel the urge to cram a piece of cold steel into my horse’s mouths.

Melanie’s story depicts a fairly typical teenage equestrian day, after bathing her paint horse mare and applying a fairly generous amount of show sheen, she decides to take a quick bare back rid across the pasture.  After throwing on her mare’s bridle and snaffle, she takes off, but slips on the mare’s oily back and the mare becomes entangled in her equipment, the resulting force and panic cutting her tongue so deep it has to be re sewn back into place.  Needless to say, my friend’s mare is never the same again and was forced to wear a mechanical hackamore for the rest of her life.

My experience with the traditional bosel was almost as bad as my friend’s was with her metal bit. My father had purchased for me a very nice bosel, to show my Arabian horses in. I was thrilled at the fine horse gift, and immediately sought to try out my new prize on my favorite riding pet, who coincidentally, hates a metal bit. We had a great ride through the woods in our area, a nice four hour day on the trails, and when we came back I noticed her nose looked strange. When I removed the rawhide bosel, I saw her whole bridge of her nose was barked open and just raw. I felt awful, and that thing is still a wall ornament.

I have looked for years for a good bitless bridle that is affordable, works with my existing tack, and offers the control I need to feel safe on a wide range of animals.  The bitless bridle I ended up going with is the one offered by Saxon Tack Company, it fits all of the afore mentioned requirements and works on every one of my horses, from my oldest and wisest mares to my greenest young stallions.  All appreciate the system and how it is instant release, but as much control as you could ever ask.