Dr Cook's Bitless Bridle?

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

Anyone out there with experience with one good or bad?

I've been considering one for years and I see a Beta one for sale on my local Craigslist for 80.

Thank you and great day,
Nancy

 

[Celtic Hill]

~*Sweet Cheeks*~ :

Anyone out there with experience with one good or bad?

I've been considering one for years and I see a Beta one for sale on my local Craigslist for 80.

Thank you and great day,
Nancy

Hummm. Why do you want one vrs a Hackamore or side pull? I am very bitless oriented and believe that you should beable to compete bitless or with a bit. Personally I am not very fond of Dr Cooks as I have not seen a horse in a dr cooks, on the bit, actively collected and in the correct frame for the lack of better words. Another that dosent quite work with me is when you pull the left rein you are also pulling the right side of their face also. I have talked to their reps, seen demos on a plastic horse, Still not impressed.

The only time *I* would use one was if I were training a difficult horse to bitless.

-Ian​

 

[patandchickens]

<shrug> If it's been gnawing at your soul for years, get it (or, ahem, you can make a clone yourself

) and see how you like it.

Much of the ad copy that is generally written about them (e.g. their website) is just poofery and demonstrably untrue. But, hey, that's commerce for ya.

I have seen horses going fine (in a flopping along trail horse way) in these type bitless bridles; I have also seen horses considerably dislike them and do very poorly. Like Celtic Hill I have yet to see a horse going 'connected to the bit' in one of them and am highly skeptical that it's possible, but then I do not know whether that is actually a goal of yours or whether you are happy to be just moseying along trailhorsewise. It has not been obvious to me, from seeing others use them, that they are overall superior to other bitless setups such as a bosal or leather-nosed sidepull or mechanical hackamore IF each is correctly fitted, chosen appropriately for the horse, and sensibly handled. Or for that matter two leadropes on the cheek rings of a well-fitted halter LOL (having done a fair amount of hacking around the field in that sort of setup myself...

)

So, <shrug>. They're not magic. They're a thing. Like most things, how well they work for you depends more on YOU than on the thing. If you like experimenting with equipment and have $80 to spare, sure, give it a whirl, just be reasonable in your expectations.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[backyardmenagerie]

In my experience, they're only as good as the horse is broke. I've worked with horses that tossed their heads and resisted a bit, and did the same with the bitless. My personal mare I broke to ride with a halter, or a rope around her neck, so when I do but a bridle on, it's a bitless.
I've started colts in a bitless, and I really like them, because it teaches them to give to pressure without potentially damaging their mouths. On the other hand, I find that when I give lessons, the bitless teaches heavy hands. It's a lot easier to put too much pressure on a bitless and drag your horse's head around than with a bit (usually. There are those that are way too heavy handed with a bit as well).
I do not like to use them for lessons, unless I feel my student is good with their hands. I would not use them on a hard mouthed or head tossing horse, unless I was using it as a training tool (I don't usually like to get on one of these horses either). If the horse is soft, respectful, and gives their head, they will be great in a Dr Cooks. The Dr Cooks is not a miracle bridle that teaches these things - they have to be taught, but there's no reason they can't be taught with a bitless.
The only other negative I can think of is that I have seen some horses run away in a bitless. How much of that was rider error and how much was the bridle, I don't know. I think that a horse is better able to stick his nose in the air and take off in a bitless, than in a bit with a well-executed one rein stop. But I think that for a well trained horse or a competent rider, what you put on their face shouldn't matter.
So there are definitely pros and cons. I personally love mine, and will only use the Dr Cooks on my horses (if I can be bothered to put tack on

) I have a filly that will be ready to break in another year, and she has already worn a Dr Cooks for training purposes.

 

[welsummerchicks]

My concern is that the Cook bridle is way, way too severe. I rode a horse in one once - never, ever again. Way too severe.

 

[babyblue]

A bitless bridle is not the cure to an untrained or ill behaved horse. Using it as such is an accident waiting to happen. Also using it may hide medical problems with your horses face, teeth, neck. If your horse is having persistent problems get it check out by both a good horse dentist and a good vet. I f you get all clear then its a training issue and you need help from an experienced trainer.


A bit is only as harsh or rough as the rider using it. I could put the nastiest long shanked wire mouth curb in my old geldings face and with me ridding he wouldn't care. Let my 9yo niece ride him in the same bit? NO WAY.


My sisters now deceased Tb actually had a medical problem, Tmj. 10 years of getting the hell ripped out of his face, beaten and the crap kicked out of him at the track are all probable causes. Forcing him to put his head down with a bit was agony, till some of the dental work (expensive and time consuming covering many visits by both vet and dentist) was done a hackmore was used to continue working him with causing him such pain. After the dental work was done he would always have arthritis and long term issues. But gentle training and soft hands and eventually you could work him comfortably in a bridle again.

 

[Bitless Rider]

Just came across this thread and thought I'd respond, even if it's a year old. Better late than never!

I use a Dr Cook bitless bridle for all horses I ride. I'm a trainer.
These horses have all been mishandled by well-intentioned owners with heavy hands.
The bit was way overused, the horses were overbitted (long shanks) for "control" that ended up turning the horses into hardcore resistant and dangerous rides.

They were basically taught to run through the bit and they did. Some of them would raise their heads SO amazingly high just to escape the massive pressure in their mouths.

I decided then that to restart them with a milder bit would be ok, but going with a bitless would be even better.
I was right on all counts with every single horse.

Most of them took the bitless bridle so well, they were licking and chewing the very first ride.
Some of them didn't like it at first...they'd sling their heads, because they found out that no matter how much they tried to evade it like they had evaded the bit (by raising their heads, etc)....they could not evade the bitless.

BUT...once they realized that the bitless did not hurt (someone here said it was severe? really? well, respectfully...that's just not true). I have not been able to use any form of pain with this bitless bridle and this is why all of the horses would come around to liking it.

There was just no pain. Not like there was with a bit (with bad handling of course! not saying bits are bad)

Once the horses who argued with the bitless at first...realized there was a release of pressure if they simply yielded (relaxed), they calmed down and would lick and chew, look soft-eyed and respond to what I asked (turn, stop, head drop, etc).

I can't say enough of this bridle. I feel safer and more in "control" knowing I can't cause pain, but I can communicate clearly...with this bridle, than with a bit.

So...yeah, to anyone who reads this, I can't recommend this bitless enough.

Oh, and yes, of course I have ridden on all kinds of trails with it, so not just in the arena.

p.s. I haven't gone back to using a bit since starting to use this bridle. And all of my clients have seen the difference in their horses...so they have all bought Bitless bridles.

(again, I have nothing against bits when they are used properly, but a bitless is great for novice hands. It's truly forgiving vs a bit.

 

[cam103]

I've been riding with Dr. Cook's bitless bridle, having never used a bitless in the past. There is no difference in control whatsoever. I highly recommend it. Horses are much happier without a bit. I would never use a bit again.