Bitless riding simply means riding without a bit in the horse's mouth. There are many different reasons and just as many ways to ride a horse without a bit. Of course, there are always disadvantages as well as advantages. Think about which bitless bridle suits you, your horse, and your riding style in advance. And finally, practice makes perfect.
When riding without a bit, the influence and aids are slightly different than when riding with a bit (see article on snaffle bits). Instead of the mouth, the rein aids have more of an effect on the bridge of the nose and the horse's neck. You also achieve less influence overall through the rein aids and more through weight and leg aids.
Bitless riding is used in the training of young horses. The aim is to keep the horse's mouth sensitive for as long as possible. Other reasons include temporary or permanent problems in the mouth, with the teeth, gums or tongue. There may also be too little space for a bit in the mouth. Another reason for bitless riding is contact problems, when the horse does not want to approach the bit or bites down on it. However, always check and think through your riding style first before trying to solve problems with alternative bridles. Riding bitless for a while gives you direct feedback on the quality of your aids and your horse's training.
Your horse has no foreign objects in its mouth that could exert pressure. Done correctly, this is a gentle way of riding.
As the weight and leg aids become more important, bitless riding trains the horse to become independent of the reins. This is the goal of riding, whether with or without a bit.
Even with a bitless bridle, you can exert too much pressure. This pressure is simply applied to different areas than with a bit, namely the nasal bone, lower jaw, and neck. In the worst case, too much pressure can even break the nasal bone. The mucous sac in the neck can become irritated, causing a neck lump (see corresponding article).
To ride without a bit, you must already be able to give your horse precise weight and leg aids. Even transitioning between gaits must be practiced safely with a gentler, bitless bridle to avoid accidents. In addition, bending, positioning, and collection are more difficult to achieve.
In competitive sport, bitless bridles are not permitted in dressage according to LPO (FN performance test regulations). You may only ride bitless in show jumping competitions from class M** onwards.
Also make sure that your horse liability insurance covers bitless riding.
The bosal is a very old type of bridle and is mainly used in Western riding. It consists of a noseband (=bosal), a neck strap (=bosalhanger) and the reins (=mecate). These are both attached below the lower jaw on the bosal, not on the sides. The effect is mainly on the bridge of the nose, but also via the lateral application of the reins on the neck.
With the sidepull (see photo), the reins are attached to rings that can be moved sideways, allowing for good steering. It is designed like a close-fitting halter and acts on the bridge of the nose. Sidepulls are used in Western and cross-country riding as well as in dressage.
The bitless bridle is similar to the sidepull. However, the throat straps cross under the horse's head. These are then passed through side rings and connected to the reins. This causes the pull on one rein to exert pressure on the other side of the horse's head. The bitless bridle thus acts on the chin or jaw, throat, bridge of the nose, and neck. It usually takes a while for the rider and horse to adjust to this crossed type of aid, which takes effect with a slight delay.
With the Glücksrad / LG bridle, the reins are buckled to rings on each side. These rings have spokes like a cartwheel and are also connected to the noseband, chin strap, and cheek piece. The pressure is therefore applied to the bridge of the nose and the neck. Depending on how far forward the reins are buckled, the leverage effect is greater when the reins are pulled.
The hackamore is similar in effect to the curb bit. The lever-like shanks exert pressure on the bridge of the nose, chin, and neck. The longer the shanks, the stronger the pressure. However, as even short shanks can exert a lot of pressure, a hackamore should only be used by experienced riders. Hackamores are mainly used in show jumping.
The cavesson is often used for lunging. However, you can also use it for riding. The rings attached to the sides of the noseband are usually not directly on the side, but slightly further forward. This makes it more difficult to give lateral aids than with a side pull, for example. Some cavesson models allow a bit to be attached, so they can be used with or without a bit.
With a neck ring, you can also ride completely without a head collar. Simply place it over the horse's head. When placed on the side, it acts as a guide, and when placed at the front of the neck, it acts as a brake.
Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor in dogs. This aggressive tumor develops in the bone, has a high metastasis rate (spread rate), and occurs mainly in large dogs and giant breeds. Bernese Mountain Dogs, Great Danes, Dobermans, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, and Greyhounds are at increased risk of developing osteosarcoma. In these breeds, the tumors mainly occur in the long bones of the limbs. Smaller dog breeds are significantly less affected. Here, the tumors are more likely to be found on the short, flat bones of the trunk.
During intraocular pressure measurement (=tonometry), a special pressure measuring device (=tonometer) is used to measure the physical pressure inside the eye.
Hematology is a branch of internal medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the blood, the blood-forming system, such as anemia or coagulation disorders, and autoimmune diseases.
Many eye surgeries that have long been common in humans are now also performed on animals. There are now a number of veterinary specialists in ophthalmology (=ophthalmologists).
Even after centuries of domestication and breeding, the horse remains a flight animal. Some behaviors are undesirable to us humans, but they are not behavioral disorders; rather, they are part of the horse's natural nature. These include, for example, shying, bucking, or bolting. A typical behavioral disorder, on the other hand, is cribbing.
Stomach ulcers have long been considered an "occupational disease" in racehorses and competition horses. It was thought that early training, the stress of the racetrack, or frequent transport to international competitions caused stomach ulcers. However, we now know that this condition can affect horses of all breeds and performance levels. Even your neighbor's pony, grazing peacefully in the meadow, could be suffering from a stomach ulcer. Although around 90% of all racehorses are still affected by stomach ulcers, the proportion of leisure horses with the condition now stands at 37%.
Summer eczema is a recurring allergic skin disease in horses that manifests itself in severe itching and hairless, open patches of skin. The disease can occur in horses of all breeds, although Icelandic horses, Norwegian horses, Shetland ponies, and Haflingers are significantly more commonly affected, while warmbloods tend to be affected less frequently.
Corneal ulcer, also known as corneal ulceration, is one of the most common eye diseases in horses. It is not a growth, but rather a tissue defect that does not heal chronically and can vary in severity. The treatment of a corneal ulcer can be very frustrating, and untreated or incorrectly treated corneal ulcers can lead to serious visual impairment or even loss of the eye.
Vaccinations for horses serve as preventive healthcare and protect against possible diseases and their spread. Depending on what you want to do with your horse, different vaccinations are recommended and even mandatory for competition horses. All vaccinations are correctly documented by your veterinarian in the equine passport.
As a general rule, every dog needs a certain amount of grooming, some more than others. For some dogs, it is even worth taking them to a professional groomer. As a dog owner, you can also do some grooming yourself at home.
Taking in a foal and choosing the long road to happiness on horseback is a real adventure! It is an opportunity to form a bond that can mature over many years and to watch a foal grow into a horse. But it also requires commitment on your part.
Doesn't every rider dream of an unforgettable ride on their four-legged favorite? Whether over hill and dale, along the coast, or simply from place to place. The feeling of sitting relaxed on your horse with the wind in your hair is amazing. Exploring nature together, perhaps racing neck and neck in a riding group or bravely riding into a lake to swim – you probably have all these images and stories of wonderful riding trips with happy horse-rider pairs in your head right now. We all know that it's not always sunshine and roses on four hooves and that some riders work up quite a sweat when riding through unfamiliar terrain. But with a little preparation and a few precautions, you can create the right conditions for returning from your ride full of enthusiasm and wonderful memories.
