SNowY49 wrote:
That said, I do judge people who ride in bitless bridles. I know that some horses go better in them due to mouth conformation or general preference and I do know that it is possible to ride well and effectively in a bitless bridle (I've seen the videos online - very impressive)...BUT, in my experience, 9 out of 10 people who ride in a bitless bridle also own a horse that exhibits an extreme false ewe-neck and they trot around with zero contact (if riding English) and/or a giraffe head-set (English and western). The only conclusion I can draw from this observation is that there is a large population of people who purchase bitless bridles, not because it is best for their horse, but because they don't want to HURT their horse, and this desire is reflected not only in their choice of tack, but in their riding as well.

So, in general, when I see someone with a bitless bridle, especially if their horse has humongous muscles hanging off the underside of his neck, I think: weak and wussy rider/horse owner.

I'm a bitless bridle person b/c my horse's mouth is not designed to carry a bit. She came to me with the huge underneck muscles you're describing b/c she always threw her head up and braced against the bit. Took the bit away, no more head in the air and no more bracing.

I ride in contact in a sidepull or DC bridle, and I ride with a loose rein in a mechanical hack. My horse goes very well in all of these and is only strung-out and lazy when I'm strung-out and lazy. She's got decent topline and will work on the bridle when requested.

There are a lot of people who ride bitless who don't ride well, but there are also a lot of people who ride in a bit and don't ride well.


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