Did you know that it is likely that the first domesticated horses were ridden with some type of bitless bridle, either made of sinew, leather, or rope? There are many different styles of bitless bridles, originating from both bitted bridles and halter designs. Zoe Brooks, creator of Nurtural Bitless Bridles, has produced yet another design...perhaps the perfect one for you and your horsie friend!

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Bitless Bridles to "Nurture" your Horse

Do you remember when your first horse was a brand new dream-come true…or is that first horse still only a dream? My dream of owning a horse started as early in my childhood as I can remember, and became a reality over forty years later when my husband and I bought a 500-acre farm just west of Sudbury, Ontario in 1997. Like so many first-time horse owners, we listened to everyone’s wise advice to get older horses and professional help…and then went out and bought beautiful young horses to grow up with and love. I named my appaloosa Lady Louise for the poet Louise Driscole who wrote the poem “Hold Fast Your Dreams.” Lady was my dream-come true, and holding fast was very good advice.

After several broken bones and concussions, I realized ‘holding fast’ was not the answer. The true wisdom lies within reaching the magical state, “where doubt and fear are not.” The childhood dream was of a relationship of trust and partnership, deep mutual respect and even love. This comes only when you can let go of fear and doubt ‘naturally.’

Over the years, my husband, son and I became enthused with an assortment of natural training methods.

Meanwhile, we had decided to begin raising Canadian horses. I was thrilled when Hazel, a big, opinionated untrained six-year-old Canadian mare would join and follow me in the round pen. I could even ride her around our farm with only a rope halter. We began to develop the loving, trusting relationship from the little girl’s dreams.

Our patented bitless bridle Design is different from other bitted and no-bit designs. The reins cross under the horses chin and pass through rings at the crease of the mouth. Rein straps are held at the side of the horse’s cheek to guide its head in the direction you wish to turn. When you pull on the left rein you ask you horse to turn left, instead of creating a “pull” on the left side of the mouth, the reins pull through the ring at the left side at the crease of the mouth to the Circle-X under the jaw. This causes pressures on the rein strap on the right cheek. Instead of pulling the head to the left, it’s more like placing your hand on the right side of the horse’s face and “pushing” it to the left. When the head turns left, the horse follows.

Pressure on the nose and the poll signals the horse to slow or stop. You can use these bridles to train beginners, re-train problem or older horses, just go on trail rides, condition competitive horses…all the things horse people do. To both horse and rider, it feels essentially the same as using a bit. My experience is the same as we frequently hear from new users: “It helps me ride better, and my horse just loves it!”

Our No-Bit design is different from every other bitless bridle. It gives you control without the pain. We have designs for every riding discipline - riding, driving, and even Standardbred racing. We hope to develop a full line of products and training material to nurture both horse and rider.

Reprinted from Canadian Horse International Magazine, July 2006

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