Why are bitless bridles so great?

Link to Why is THIS Bitless Bridle BETTER?

Bitless bridles are, quite literally, bridles that offer control of the horse's head without using a bit in the horse's mouth.  They have existed in various forms for centuries.

There are lots of sites that provide overviews of different types of bitless bridles, comparing a hackamore to a bosal to a sidepull.  I am going to assume that, since you are looking at this site, you already realize there are benefits to a bitless bridle that provides better control of the entire head of the horse without any of the pain associated with these other systems.  So I will tell you my experience below, and provide links to testimonials, customer comments and more detailed stories in horse tales.  I thought you might also enjoy seeing a  brief history of some of the bitless bridle designs patented in the last 100 years.

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Let's face it ... horses do not like bits.  Have you seen how they react the first time you stuff that hunk of steel in their mouth?  How would you like it?

Bits cause pain. 
Bits cause problems
- in some cases, physical problems that damage the horse's mouth,
- almost always, mental and emotional distraction or even trauma that interfere with the training and relationship building.

Oh sure, in the right hands on the right horse, the right bit can be used without pain.
In most hands on most horses, most bits cause pain. 
In novice hands on a green horse, any bit usually causes pain.
The pain and stress inflicted by the bit hinder the development of a trusting relationship.  Lack of trust impedes progress with training  and your overall enjoyment of your horse.

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Bitless Bridles help you ride better! Your horse (and you!) will concentrate on all of your aids, and not focus on the bit.

As a novice horse owner who has dealt only with green horses, it has been my experience that training and riding in a bitless bridle has helped me develop a mutual trust with my horses.  That was an epic change for me - being able to ride with trust - and it has moved my riding and my relationships to a new level.   Riding bitless, I no longer constantly fight for control with with Lady, my first horse, an Appaloosa mare that I have ridden for seven years.  I used to return from rides with my arms aching from fighting her and the bit.  I no longer need to apologize and feel guilty every time she steps into a hole on our rough trails.  (Hey, it's called Nurtural Horse for a reason!  I don't like to hurt them!)

It was Hazel, the six year old Canadian mare, who you will read and see more of throughout this site, that convinced me of the truly revolutionary value of bitless bridles.  Hazel progressed  amazingly well under my novice skills as a natural horse trainer - until it came time to ask her to ride in a bit.  After I spent weeks of natural training and could ride her well in a rope halter, my husband Gerry and son Eric got her to take a gentle snaffle bit.  She did not like it, but Eric rode her around the trails with only minor problems.  Eric is tall, strong, fearless and a naturally talented horseman.  Next it was my turn. 
We put the bit and bridle under the rope halter.  I put Hazel through warm-up exercises and rode her in the rope halter in the round pen.  Then I picked up the reins. That's it - I did not attempt to pull on the reins.  Hazel knew that I was not tall, strong, fearless or naturally talented.  The instant that I engaged the bit in her mouth, she began to back up and thrash her head from side to side, and became quite agitated.  My nice calm co-operative horse that was working so well with me without a bit, was now tense, agitated and working against me.  I never rode her in a bit.  I got off the horse and did not ride her on the trails until I received the first model of bitless bridle that I tested.  As you will read elsewhere, examination and experimentation with the strengths and weaknesses of pre-existing designs led me to design, patent and develop the Nurtural No-Bit Bridle. 

Link here if you would like to see why I believe that my patent-pending design is indeed a BETTER bitless bridle.

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Bitless bridles are used effectively to train beginners, re-train problem horses, enjoy a trail ride, condition competitive horses and excel in any discipline.

Enough of my stories and examples. Check out the examples in customer comments and more detailed stories in horse tales.  The success stories keep growing as more people try these amazing bridles and keep in touch with us.

If you like natural training, bitless bridles are a natural next step - and a natural first step.  They control the horse's head in a manner similar to a rope halter.  We use Nurtural No-Bit Bridles from first round pen training of a new/young horse through to all future rides.  We start handling and leading in the Nurtural Trainer, get them used to a saddle in slow steps during 'barn training' and then put the bridle on and head to the round pen.  By the third day, we are usually out on a trail ride.   Please see our 2006 2 hour DVD of four young horses trained from first round pen lesson to first ride(s) in only 2 days.

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Zoe Brooks
Designer