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- Bitless Bridle Reviews
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- Outside Inside
- Ruth Sturley - Canadian
Endurance Team - Horse Tenders -
Mustang Trainers
"Will my horse stop?"
"Will my horse collect?"
"How long does it take to retrain a horse that's used to a bit ...English or Western?"
"Can you ride cross country?"
"What good is the Nurtural if I show?"
"Can you train young horses?"
"How about training young children?"
"Can you drive in the Nurtural?"
"What are people doing?"
"Is anyone racing in a Nurtural?"
"What makes the Nurtural Bitless different from other brands of bitless?"
On the list:
"Why did you develop this bitless bridle?"
"How is this different from a hackamore, bosal, sidepull, rope halter or just riding in a halter?
Lecture Handout Bitless Bridles; Flash in
the Pan or Paradigm Shift? Part 1 Part 2
Got a question? Ask zoe
"Will my horse stop?"
Three Examples of horses stopping in the Nurtural Bitless.
Tent-pegging at WEG 2010
A Thoroughbred at Canada's Outdoor Show
A Percheron at the Calgary Stampede
Samples of customer comments:
“To me she feels like a totally different horse, responsive, quiet
and attentive to the lightest of contact. She also went "on bit"
something she never does, much more balanced and doing
walk trot transitions smoothly and with gentle cues.
It also felt as if I had installed power brakes, requiring only a fraction of the pressure I usually need to get a balanced stop.”
“I just tried my new bridle!! :) My horse was so light and perfect! He is a TN Walker and gaited like he never has with a bit! He was so soft and responsive and stopped immediately!”
“I have a 21 year old Belgian Draft. Put him in this bitless now he stops on a dime and gives you a nickel change.”
The best safety brake for your horse is to consistently respond to a one rein stop. Need help? This article is written for using a bit, but the concepts are the same. Thanks to Equine Wellness Magazine for allowing us to share this with you. Page 1 Page 2 Page 3
"Will my horse collect?"
Five Examples of horses collecting in the Nurtural Bitless.
Check out interdressage.com for how to compete bitless online.
Talk with others on FaceBook!
Happy horse happy owner in Argentina, March 2011
I though you would be glad to hear of my first ten days of experience with the bridle.
I have tried it so far in my old horse, Shoot 17yo, who is trained in intermediate dressage and show jumping. I bought him 9 years ago when he was ruined by bad training habits (I was a beginner then). Shoot always told me how he appreciated soft and gentle hands, and to communicate with him I have the seat, the legs, breathing, voice and yes, hands as well.
Because of his early training he at times panicked between jumps (lines or corrals) and it was not possible to regulate his rhythm, a strong intervention in the mouth made only things worst. But now, with the nurture bridle, he listens and the communication is much simpler. He never collected as much as he is collecting now, his flying changes have benefited as well. Things are eitheer equal or better with the new bridle.
I had not a single problem. Being a kind of bridle not known around here, there was a lot of curiosity and the usual though "you are not going to be able to control him". But now, those that spoke that way are
saying: he seems happier and performs better than with the snafle. Yet, they cut their "loses" believing that this only happens to special horses like Shoot.
Next challenge: Lianus, a 7yo powerful warmblood stallion, that also indicates how terrible a bite is for him (opening his mouth, moving his tongue above the bit). He improved a lot in the 4mo with me as I have been relying on kind hands and communication, I am looking forward to another wonderful experience,
regards
Hernan
"And yes, for all those skeptics out there, you can round up a horse and be 'on the bit' with no bit!
Red still needs to properly develop the muscle along the topline of his neck, but he is now very easy to round up, working that hind end and carrying himself in a frame when asked. He no longer is pre-occupied with his mouth and can concentrate on what I am asking of him, giving me things I did not know he knew.
Now we are working on shoulder-ins, counter canter, and extended trot. We have even been schooling in an 11-acre field and jumping ditches for fun!
We had a little in-house dressage show at our barn earlier this summer that was judged by a Certified OEF Coach 2 who routinely judges all over Ontario. Over and over the judge commented on how she could not believe we did this with no bit.
Thanks again for your wonderful product,"
Angela Vuyk
"How long does it take to retrain a horse from a bit?"
Not long at all! We do public Nurtural Bitless Challenges saying "Bring us ANY horse. Whatever it does in a bit, you will do better in a Nurtural Bitless." We have 30 minutes to show what ht ye can do in a it, take horse and rider (or driver) bitless for the first time, and then repeat whatever they did in the bit. Every horse to date has done noticeably better!
See how quickly and easily these horses do better in the Nurtural Bitless.
When you get your new Nurtural, after carefully fitting the bridle to be sure you have room for pressure and release, we recommend you begin by showing your horse from the ground how the bridle works -- turn each way and back up. Do some yielding, lunging or whatever you normally do.
Then hop on and take a few steps at the walk, and stop.
Take a few steps at the walk, and turn a couple tight circles.
Then take a few steps at the walk, stop and back up.
Repeat this at the trot, then at the lope/canter.
Then just put the horse through his paces and watch how he/she relaxes.
If you have any trouble whatsoever -- contact us at Nurtural Horse. We can help!
"What are people doing in the Nurtural Bitless?"
Sample customer comments:
Cheryl Van Herk: “I start young horses, retrain older ones, trail ride, and do all my western and English performance stuff in my bitless bridles. I guess the question is, what can't I do?”
Emanuela Oldani: “In a Bitless Bridle you can do anything you like with your horse, English or Western. Horses are generally more confident and relaxed when working in a bitless rather than any kind of bit. At least horses I use for schooling. Personally I prefer to ride my own quarter horse (English or Western) in a bitless, even if according to the scope of work sometimes I ride her in a bit or halter. However: students learn riding better in a bitless bridle (more mistakes are allowed and "forgiven" by horses) also better learn "pressure principles“
Cherie Cornmesser: Anything you can do in a snaffle bit you can do in a bitless bridle.
"Can you ride cross country?"
Sure!
And the video will soon show you crosscountry rides at Slieve Aughty Centre in Western Ireland.
In line with their natural philosophy, when Merel discovered the Nurtural Bitless Bridle it seemed like the perfect fit for the riding centre. So Slieve Aughty Centre became the first riding centre in Europe to use and distribute Nurtural Bitless Bridles.
Contact them to hear more or book a bitless holiday!
Here's another story of a 2 hour cross country course with 24 twenty horses.
Hi there from Dublin, Ireland
Got my lovely Dales Pony Jack a red Nurtural Bitless bridle, must be nearly 3 years ago now. I was only just starting him and he has never had a bit in his mouth. We have progressed along great in your bridle and on Sunday took him off to the McKen Run which can get fairly fast and furious. It is a cross country course that goes on for over 2 hours and twenty horses all out together. Even a donkey would have gotten excited. He was so good.
I was asked twice if I would have any brakes in the bridle and Jack showed them just how good and responsive he was.
We were out for two and a half hours flying over the north County Dublin countryside in the sunshine. By the end of the day when we were all coming home we got some lovely comments about how good he was in his bitless bridle. So just to say thank you.
Liz and Jack
"Is the Nurtural good for training young horses?"
Many people, like Zoe and Gerry, do all their training in the Nurtural Bitless Bridle.
From teaching babies to lead to roundpen training to first ride … and every ride thereafter!
Enjoy the fun!
'Paxton' is a 2.5 year old breeding stallion – nurtured from 6 months age.
'Mina' is a 2.5 year old filly – who came to Guys’ Acres a few months earlier with the most negative attitude we have seen.
'Boy named' Sioux was trained by Kris Kokal for the Extreme Mustang Makeover. Have you ever seen a horse ridden bitless and blindfolded? This mustang was wild on the range 100 days earlier.
(Check out our friends at horsetenders.com)
Do horses jump well in the Nurtural?
Do they take a lot of retraining?
Nurtural bridles are great for jumping!
Your horse relaxes and is not worried about the bit when landing. It works for everyone from back yard kids to international showjumpers.
Competitive riders find that their horses do better when they at least train bitless.
Here’s what Kaylen Spooner said:
“I schooled Cristallo in his bitless bridle before the Nations Cup yesterday and the USA won. Today (Sept 12, 2010) we schooled bitless, and he was second in the CN international $1,000,000 class.
He is so much happier. It is amazing because he is such a strong horse, we were always trying stronger and stronger bits. When I school him bitless he relaxes and enjoys our work. Then when Richard uses the bit in the show ring he is much more responsive.
Thank you Zoe”
So while you are waiting for those rules to change - you and your horse can improve your relationship and performance by going Nurtural!
Can you drive bitless?
We make and customize bridles for 'mini's to mammoths'.
(Actually, the Mennonite craftsmen make them.)
Enjoy these videos and photos of:
• A Norwegian Fjord mare line-driven then in a cart, bitless for the first time,
• A Morgan stallion line-driven twice in the Nurtural
• Two minis in carts - no bits! No blinders! No checks! No problems!
Photos include cantering through cones at a competition, another mini, a custom made really big driving bridle and 2 racing standardbreds.
This article on Bitless Driving was written in Rural Heritage Magazine.
Is anyone racing bitless, or training race horses?
Some thoroughbreds and standardbreds are now trained, exercised and/or raced in the Nurtural.
We are looking for the right combination of trainers and jockeys to work with us to make the big breakthrough at the tracks! Interested?
See videos racing Standardbreds being trained in a Nurtural bitless bridle for the first time:
http://www.youtube.com.../watch?v=E0Cn84JYKzQ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjxVD9sv7P4&feature=related
Join Nadia on the Nurtural Bitless Facebook page.
"How about training young children?"
The Nurtural Bitless is wonderful for children! Many riding schools use this 'better bitless bridle'.
Kids learn to ride with all their aids and develop softer hands.
MORE INFORMATION:
Please email Zoe with links to online videos!
Let's show the world what can be done without a bit!
There IS a bright new bitless day ahead!
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