He has improved so much last couple of weeks. thanks for the replies

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I take it you don't plan on showing him? In that case, I would go for a Dr Cooks...or a basic side-pull bridle.

I ride Dandy in a standard snaffle, and barely have to touch it. It's amazing what a few weeks neck reining can do.

What kind of snaffle is he ridden in? loose ring, joint etc; I can't see how a bit would make a horse panic or rush unless it's being misused. I had a 20-odd year old who trotted as fast as he could to avoid cantering, it was just naughtyness because he'd gotten away with it with so many novices. I got on him, rode him properly, and his transitions were perfect. But it was nothing to do with the bit.

Do you have a trainer? Maybe seek some advice on getting him sharper to transitions, it's not always down to the bit.

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hi, yes i have a dr cooks bitless bridle for my mare, bought it about 3 years ago when she was 15, she took to it really quickly hacked out on the roads too, she was calm and relaxed and realy enjoyed her hacks, try it out in an enclosed school first so you and your horse gets the feel of it, sure u will both enjoy it

Thanks for replying Very good advice thank you, umm I think Leo is in just a standard snaffle, he used to be used for jumping when he was younger and from what i have heard think the people who last rode weren't very nice and used to get him stressed on purpose to make him rear then take pictures! grrrr poor boy, so i think he has alot of trust issues but he is improving Well he belongs to my previous trainer and I just exercise him, i don't compete, I ride him with a loose rein which he prefers and helps him relax, i think it is partly down to the bit and some psychological reasons too.

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I see.
Wow, can't say i've ever done that, wouldn't want to tbh lol. There's ways of teaching a horse to trick rear on command from the ground, but thats just plain ridiculous, I take it his last owners where idiot children?
Phycological is a lot harder to teach out. Have you considered riding him western? I ride both and I find some horses tend to enjoy western a lot more as it's relaxed for both horse and rider.

I wish you luck with him though ^^

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Think he would love Western, The kids i think loaned him from my instructer, they used to do it behind her back she only found out when another person told her. I think they were just immature, and probs did not think Leo to actually had feelings With my cob i do natural horsemanship stuff, which i might try with Leo, but im thinking Bitless bridle could be a start as his owners are quite traditional.

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Effy - bitless bridles are useful in certain circumstances especially where the horse's mouth has been ruined by careless or heavy hands.

Sometimes all that a horse needs to cure a bad mouth is a visit from the horse dentist.

Bitless bridles work off the nose and some bring pressure to the poll. If they are used incorrectly they bring more problems than they solve.

Before you buy one, ask around amongst your horsey friends and get the opinion of
an expert before you decide on any changes. A simple snaffle is usually enough bit for most horses - sometimes a French link works even better.

If the problem lies in your own hands, then no change of bit will help you.

Take some professional advice frfom someone whose advice you value.

Dont bother 'asking friends' Most people dont understand concepts like bitless bridles.


If you would like to take him into a bitless bridle, if you have a RI, have a chat with them. I switched a few of my horses to bitless. They were very responsive to the bridle, but even in a french link snaffle, i still felt that on a soft contact, i could rive their head about if i had wanted to. They all rode nicely in headcollars and bosals, so i put them into Dr Cooks bitless bridles. Worked a treat. I could get a soft contact without worrying about their mouth. Two of them were far more responsive.

As he isnt your horse, i'd be very careful if you went western. The saddles are a lot heavier, and to get the most of them, they need to be ridden as western saddles. Too many people ride 'english' in them and look very strange.

If it is a true psychological reason then putting him into a bitless bridle may help the issue, or make it worse. However if you can ride him in a natural halter, i think it could well be an option for you both. Either that, or try a natural bosal?

Thanks for replying, I asked friends and that exactly happened they didn't understand it. I will talk to his owner tomorrow see what she thinks. I would like to try him in a parelli halter but I don't think i would be able to maintain much control, so i thought maybe a bitless bridle have more control?

Scotston is it easy to stop your horses when using bitless bridle? Thats why im a bit worried about using one.

i don't think i will try western, toooo expensive,

But i think i may just try him in a parelli halter first and see how responds. may take a while for him to get used to it but im sure it will hopefully affect him positively.

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My sisinlaw used bitless bridles with her horses. She said you need a very experienced horse and rider!!

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