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  Discussion on Use of Side Pull
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 28, 2000 - 8:37 pm:

I'm presently (and constantly)training my almost 8 year old mustang.

He was started in a snaffle (hollow) training bit and has never really had a problem with a bit. The last trainer that helped me with him put him in a side-pull and I have continued using one. He is very sensitive and seems to respond well and I am wondering if it is necessary to go back to a snaffle, or any bit, for that matter. Although he accepts the bit willingly, he tends to be more distracted by it than the simple pressure on his nose. I have no plan to show and am interested only in pleasure riding. Any rule that a horse needs to graduate to a bit of any sort?

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 28, 2000 - 10:25 pm:

No rules that I know of--many people ride in a mechanical hackamore (scarey in the wrong hands) forever. Be aware that you have next to no brakes with a sidepull, but if he responds to your seat (and you practice a zillion times), you should do ok. I think most people believe that a bit causes a horse to be more responsive to sophisticated cues, but if you're not going to expect that of him, why bother? Just by the way, are you using an English sidepull or one of those rope numbers? If you're using the stiff scratchy rope, I take back what I said about brakes. Good luck.

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 28, 2000 - 10:39 pm:

A horse is simply not finished out till he is bit broke. The constant pressure of a bosal or a side pull will eventually desensitise the nerves in the nose to where you will have no control except the strength of your arms. In an arena or enclosed area this may not be a problem but sometime and somewhere you are going to need to take hold of him for your and his own welfare.

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 29, 2000 - 12:00 am:

I can see no reason why you should not continue riding him in a side pull if he is happier with that - not sure what a side pull is, mind you, but presume it is a bitless bridle.

He has been trained to accept the bit, so that is not a problem.

A friend of mine always rode her 17hh TB in an English-style bitless bridle which is much, much gentler than a hackamore, and the noseband was lined with sheepskin so was extremely soft and could never abrade the skin or desensitise anywhere. He did very well in this, as he just refused to be ridden in a bit due to rough treatment on the racecourse. She controlled him basically with her back and legs, as one should, and didn't have to resort to strong hands.

It must be much nicer for a horse than a bit.

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 29, 2000 - 6:04 pm:

I agree that since the horse accepts the bit and you are happy using a side pull, why change unless there is a problem. I ride my 14 yr old Arabian mare with no bridle (trail riding, jumping, just about anywhere). The less you have on their head/mouth, the more they learn to listen to your body. (BTW she loves being ridden without a bridle as she can balance herself better if I stay out of her face) I don't recommend that everyone ride bridle-less, because it can be dangerous; just as a side pull could be dangerous when used on a horse "with no brakes", but then the brakes aren't in his mouth as far as I can see.
Kathleen

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 29, 2000 - 8:02 pm:

There is a bridle called the "half-breed" that combines both the sidepull and a snaffle bit. I've used one as a transion from the side pull to a snapple. You can also simply attach a curb chain to a snapple and run it across the nose. You can then adjust it so that the snapple only take over after pressure to the curb chain has reached its limit.
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