bitmore bridle

I ride in a "bitmore" bitless bridle, or more exactly - Loesdau's version of it. Is there anybody else who uses this type of bridle, do you have experiences or opinions to share?

My horse goes well in it, as far as my feeling goes. Here is he and his bitless bridle I will later introduce myself, but currently, please, share your opinions about this type of bridle

Unfortunately I can't make out how its constructed from that photo. Are you able to do more, like Rumba did, from underneath etc, etc?

lightertouch wrote:Unfortunately I can't make out how its constructed from that photo. Are you able to do more, like Rumba did, from underneath etc, etc?

I hope I'll get to the laptop that has all the pics of me&my horse, but for now - well, it is kind of a copy of the "original bitmore bridle" - almost all the information I have is from here http://stage-www.saddleworld.com.au/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=42&Itemid=41

the difference on this piece is that the connection between the noseband and the cheek pieces is in the "normal" sidepull type... I just saw this in the catalogue and decided it was the best to change my lungeing cavesson for - I'm using the "version number two" - the rein extensions attached to the rings, that create pressure on the poll via crownpiece. so, when pulling the reins, they apply pressure to both the nose, and the poll. I had to get them through the middle rings (that create the "sidepull" type of connection), because otherwise the cheekpieces went up dangerously close to the eyes...

one thing I discovered was that the manufacturers of this piece are oblivious to the sizes of a horses head... the throatlatch is almost too small, the cheekpieces are on the tightest hole to fit, the chiinstrap needed extra seven or so holes to be tightened enough so that the whole noseband wouldn't be pulled over horses ears on its neck. and the rein extensions are quite long - although probably really comfortable when in the cross-under position, in this position they are way too long... so I have some problems with that.

I haven't tried the sidepull version (seems like it could be very similar to the lungeing cavesson), or the cross-under one - just because, IMO, the pressure-on-nose&poll version works very well... since I'm really concentrating on my set&leg aids, I use the reins mainly to help him find a balance (he's only four and learning), relax, and normally try to hold them failry loose, since I'm learning as well to stop my bad habit of too much hand movement...

P.S. I would have found a way to purchase the "original" bridle, for I kind of like it better, but I first got this one, and then started searching for similiar ones, until after a long time I found that page...

Interesting bridle. It must be nice to have so many choices! I can see that the rein extenders are far too long for the set up you favour. My Dr. Cooks was a bit too big for Mart, and I had a similar problem of too much length on the crossunders. It can mean that the rein aid can take much longer to be felt by the horse, whcih isn't ideal! It may also be the reason I have issues with the release.

Good luck with it, and please do keep us posted

I've looked at the link you gave and it seems a fairly nice version of the crossunder bridle but I have to say I can't see how it produces poll pressure - not that I would want any pressure, but if a person did - as far as I can make it out when you put pressure on the reins in this setup the noseband would press upwards on the nose more than the headpiece would press on the head. Just because the noseband is done up tightly enough that it doesn't actually move doesn't mean that it doesn't try to. There is no leverage such as a German Hackamore or curb bit supplies because there is no fulcrum - simple physics - the pressure is on the point where the reins turn around the ring, not on the poll
How do you find it 'tries' to move when you apply pressure? Does anyone else agree with my science lesson? Or can prove me wrong here? ( I only did 'O' level)

I tried to do a schematic drawing of the two versions - sidepull (no poll pressure) and not-sure-how-to-call-it version with poll pressure. the power created by pulling equals on the ring towards the hands in both versions, but the power works also beyond the ring - in the sidepull version only on the nose, but in the other version on both. imagine having a rope, getiing it through a ring on the wall, and attaching something on the other end - if you pull the rope, the attached thing will move as well...

why not to have poll pressure? it is not constant, just when you pull the reins - and it is not that you are pulling on the reins all the time... it works very fine for asking him to relax and stretch his neck, instead of having his head up in the air...

oh, and the small scheme next to the sidepull - the black line is the nose, the green & red correspond to noseband and reins - the line is broken, but as pressure is applied (pulling the reins) the line wants to straighten itself (brown dashed) , thus it will be pulling the noseband up anyway, whatever the configuration of the bridle (assuming the horses nose/forehead is ~45degrees, and reins alomst parallel to the ground in a normal headset)... so the horse can evade the pressure by putting its nose on the vertical, thus straightening the line and, as there is constant distance, the pressure on the line is released... (don't look at this explanation from the "collection of horse" point of view, but the physics )

now I'm not sure why do you need poll pressure

now I'm looking at your diagram ( and I hate you so much you can do drawing on a photo and I can't even figure out how to upload a photo... ) and I think pressure on the reins will 'pull' (yuk! Hate that word) the horses head up and back like a gag bit. In fact doesn't a gag bridle have just this setup except with a bit?
Of course, you will answer, well, it works, when I put pressure on the reins he lowers his head. But is that because the bridle is pressing on his poll or because he has just learned that if he lowers his head when you make this signal (however it feels to him) then you release the pressure?
I don't have a problem with this bridle, if it works for you then use it, I'm the one who is always saying on this forum that what you have on the horses head is mostly irrelevant; but I often wonder if any bridle feels to the horse the way we think it does?

how to upload a photo...

I click the link that looks like a monitor with a floppy disk in front (when the mouse goes over the button it says "Host an image") - when clicking it it offers me to upload a picture & resize it, choose the pic from your PC, click "host it" and then copy, as far as I can remember, the middle "link" and paste it on your reply. sometimes it does something funny like dissapears, but then I just edit my reply afterwards...