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  Discussion on Repaired Fractured Tooth- need Bitless Bridle recommendations.
Author Message
Member:
9193

Posted on Thursday, Nov 11, 2004 - 5:05 pm:

Hello,
This past Sunday, my daughter and I found our 15yr old TB Justin, standing in his paddock with a bloody mouth from a very displaced lower right third incisor.

We took him to UC Davis where the veterinary staff determined that he had not suffered any fracture of his jaw, only the tooth fractured deep into the jawbone.

The tooth was wired to the second lower incisor next to it and then a figure eight wire was placed from the canine on the right side to the second and third incisor on the lower right.

Post surgical instructions list no grazing for 6-8 weeks, but we can ride him after a week or two using a bitless bridle.

I read the posts from long ago regarding Dr Cooks bitless bridle and several people at our barn have suggested different tack such as hackamores and side pulls. I am clueless as to how these different bridles work.. My 13 yr old daughter has been in training with him at level 3 Training level and I am concerned for both his safety and hers. We use a Balkenhol loose ring snaffle and occasionally he has his moments where he needs to skitter to avoid some imaginary dragon. My daughter also loves to just jump on him bareback and ride him around twenty acres of bridle path and back pasture and come back to tell me how he spooked at the deer in the bushes or something that makes me feel less secure about sending them out of an arena without a bit in his mouth.

Suggestions on what to use, where to puchase, how to fit and how to teach both horse and rider the best way to ride with this new setup would be most appreciated.

We have no definite idea how he hurt himself.. I am theorizing that he scooted his head under the pipe corral gate to nibble at some new grass and somehow slid his head back against the bottom of the short gate post that was not capped and caught his tooth on the narrow sharp edge and pulled back therefore causing the avulsion type injury that fractured his tooth. He is not a cribber and the vets said that an impact type injury would have the tooth pushed back into the mouth. It may be a mystery forever..

Thank you for any suggestions anyone might have..
Smiles,
Debra Dove
Member:
Kcovell

Posted on Thursday, Nov 11, 2004 - 6:42 pm:

Debra

I have a Jim Warner hackamore. It has medium leverage for good control when your horse spooks. It has a rope nose band without any knots on the sides that can make the horse uncomfortable and the shanks swivel (so it can be used sort of like a sidepull).
I would not recommend anything with a chain noseband because of your daughters age and the damage it or for that matter just about any hackamore can do because most hackamores just use the nose piece as control.
As for how to fit it to the horse I think there are some web sites that give you some information as to exactly where the nose piece should sit. I can't remember the sites, but if you put hackamores in your search you should find one.
I ride western so I'm clueless when you talk about level 3 training, anyway hope this helps and your daughters horse gets well soon.

KC
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Thursday, Nov 11, 2004 - 7:02 pm:

Hi,
I recomend the bitless bridle. It works the same as with a bit. Same aids etc. Much more gentle than a hackamore. ( I have nothing against them) They push the horses head rather than pull so the horse responds eagerly and happly. I have much better stopping power in it also. Its also nice to know that you cant hurt your horse. I have recomended it to over 10 people now . Each one will never go back to a bit. It also teachs horses that lean on the bit to relax. They cant lean on you. You can still do dressage easily with this bridle. I think its one of the best inventions out there.
My 2 cents worth.
Katrina
Member:
9193

Posted on Friday, Nov 12, 2004 - 12:04 am:

Thank you KC and Katrina,

I am wondering Katrina, where you found the bitless bridle you recommend.. I have looked in Stateline Tack, Dover and Dressage Extensions catalogs and cannot find any bitless bridles. Is there a website or company that I could access to order one?

KC- there are bridles with chain nosebands?! I have used and seen curb chains, but never nosebands. Sounds powerful and kinda painful.. I appreciate your thoughts on hackamores. We have been offered the use of one and I will keep in mind your thoughts.. Thank you for your concern regarding Justin. He seems much more comfortable today and I have started putting his bute in his grain now that his appetite is better. Much prefer that method than the pasting with a syringe.

Smiles,
Debra

Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Friday, Nov 12, 2004 - 6:44 am:

Hi Debra,
You have to get it from the web site.
www.bitlessbridle.com
It will give you all the info you need . How to fit etc.
I recomend the mid priced one. It looks like real leather. The cheapest one looks like plastic.
My girlfriend just told me the other day that her horse just keeps getting better and better with this. Her horse is one of the worst horses I have seen for leaning on the bit.
I hope your horse is feeling Better.
Katrina
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Friday, Nov 12, 2004 - 6:49 am:

PS I have better brakes in this bridle than with a snaffle bit. Because he is so happy in it and listens better. My horse stops on a dime even at gallop, so you dont need to worry about spooks etc. I trust my stopping power in this much more than a snaffle no comparrison.
Katrina
Member:
9193

Posted on Friday, Nov 12, 2004 - 11:22 pm:

Katrina,

I ordered the bridle today.. I will let you know in a couple of weeks how it is going. My trainer is very dubious of the claims, but the alternative is to only lunge or lead the horse for excercise and I am open to trying something new that will keep him moving. He also has a tendency to lean on the bit, so maybe this will be a good chance for him to really see what it is like to hold up his own head!

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Debra
Member:
Gailking

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 16, 2004 - 4:08 pm:

Hi Debra,
I use a Vosal--not a bosal-- which is sold by Sportack. It has a solid nosepiece across the nose bridge and then a hinged part that hangs toward his chin with a single hole to attach both reins. I have been using this on my older horse for years and with my younger one too. They both like it and respond well, but they are pretty well trained too. I like the simplicity and ease of use and my horse can graze in it if we are out for a fun ride. I ride bareback all the time and don't really think of a bit as stopping or controlling a horse. In dressage you use your legs not your hands, so this arrangement works for me. I do ride in a snaffle sometimes because my younger horse likes a firm contact on the bridle to relax and feel secure, but my older guy loves his vosal. I hope you find something that works for you. Gail
Member:
9193

Posted on Saturday, Nov 20, 2004 - 8:13 pm:

Thank you all for your responses. We have been riding Justin in the bitless bridle for the last three days and I must say my anxiety has decreased to a comfortable level after watching my daughter and Justin get back to the riding that they enjoyed before his accident. He has been very accepting of the "pushing pressure" and even when he exhibited some hijinks my daughter never felt like he was trying to run thru the bridle and has felt very secure with him.. Today she even put him thru his paces on a trail obstacle course and a ride along the perimeter trail with some trotting and cantering.

If Katrina is reading this, we do have one question. Getting him to round his back and tuck in his nose is presenting a challenge. My daughter is not getting the same response when she "reminds" him by squeezing the outside rein and holding the inside rein steady. He has been obedient and willing, but keeps his nose alot more forward than he does with the bit in his mouth. Any suggestions?

There are now two other riders in our barn who have been interested in how this bridle works. We've offered to let them borrow the bridle to see how their horses respond to it.

Thank you,
Debra

Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Sunday, Nov 21, 2004 - 7:43 am:

Hi Debra,
I think give him time and he should start to round himself.
Or you could start with mini lessons as when teaching them to give to the bit.
Start at the halt. Give the same aids but hold untill he DrOps his head. Imediently DrOp the rein. Keep doing this many times. Then when he is great , do the walk, trot canter etc. Dont forget to use leg pressure.
Maybe do some shoulder fores to get him get straight and under himself and leg yeilds. The head will naturally be carried in the correct position if he brings his legs up under him.
I would not be that worried about it. it will happen. Espesially if he already knows how to carry himself.

Katrina
Member:
Fpony

Posted on Sunday, Nov 21, 2004 - 8:16 am:

Katrina,
Can you show in the bitless? I have one for my large pony who has melanomas in the corners of his lips. He loves it and can jump in it. The kids have wonderful control without heavy hands. He now will come thu his back into the bridle where when he had the bit he would be very resistant. I never tried it with my horse as I didn't know if i would have to go back to the bit for showing. Thanks, Kim
Member:
9193

Posted on Sunday, Nov 21, 2004 - 12:52 pm:

Thank you Katrina,

We will employ your suggestions. Just the short time we have ridden in the bridle has been a terrific example to both my daughter and I how responsive a horse can be to the leg, weight, and hand aids.

Thanks for the reassurance. We have probably been a bit tentative as we haven't wanted to do anything to impede the healing of the tooth. But on the other hand, we don't want him to think he is getting a two month vacation from the riding basics!(grin)

We will keep you updated as time goes on.. We hope you have an enjoyable and peaceful Thanksgiving holiday.

Debra
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Sunday, Nov 21, 2004 - 4:41 pm:

Hi Kim and Debra,
Kim unfortunatly dressage rules still requires a bit. They are trying to change the rule.
Your horse should be able to be ridden in the bitless at home and training and go to the bit for the show ring, without any change as long as he understands your aids.
cross country and jumping you can use the bridle.
Debra I am glad your daughter is able to ride and find out how wonderful this bridle is. I should get a commision on all the bridles this company has sold :-).
Katrina
Member:
9193

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 - 12:34 am:

I wanted to give an update on Justin and our bitless bridle experience. I hope Katrina sees this because I will be eternally grateful for her recommendation of this alternative to bridles with bits.
Justin's tooth has healed very well. I was concerned that his training would be delayed for a period of time, but if anything, using the bitless bridle got us over the hump of getting him to round his back and shift himself so that he was not locking his jaw and leaning on the bit. He is much more light in front and my daughter and her trainer have been delighted with the change in his head position and his movements during lessons and practice.
Another plus was how aware my daughter became of how to "feel" Justin moving differently because he is NOT leaning on the bit. Using her legs, wieght and balance are so much easier to emphasize and experience because she isn't having to hold his head up.

We put his regular bridle/bit in his mouth two days ago and he did not revert to his habit of leaning on the bit. Yesterday during his lesson, he was light, round and even a bit foamy at the bit. Today my daughter rode him in the bitless bridle and we plan to rotate the two methods as we go along. Too bad you can't show in the bitless bridle..

Anyway, Thank you again Katrina, for your recommendation. It was a silver lining in our cloud and I appreciate your taking the time to let us know of this helpful piece of tack.

Happy New Year,
Debra
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