Nurtural Bitless Challenge - High-performance Percheron

[fantasyreflection]

Love to see this horse doing dressage. He has the pizzazz.

[bsdoweidt]

I give the rider props for vaulting on. I have a 14.2 hand mare and I look a little silly when I vault on.

[tipper042002]

I do not see any difference in this horses behavior he is a powerful energetic horse & I would not feel comfortable doing this without more control. The bitless bridle uses the same techniques a bit does. A bit hits a pressure point in the mouth to make him stop just like a bitless bridle does except that it is different pressure point that can hurt just as much as a bit. Now I'm not saying that a bit is better to use than this I'm just saying that on some horse a bit is safer to use.

[NurturalHorse]

It would be really interesting to see how "Big John" would do in a Nurtural Bitless! We are not claiming that any peice of equipment substitues for training, but every horse we have seen has gotten better, at whatever stage of training they are.

[Smrobs84]

Plus, I believe that the horse's issues are less bit related than they are training related. If that is one of the driven Priefert horses, then he is trained to be high strung and chargey so that is how he acts. I have a very powerful perch that is perfectly content in either his snaffle or a simple rope halter. I will try to post a video response but keep in mind that he is incredibly green broke (like 7 rides green broke) so he needs more training but he still doesn't look hurt or scared.

[Smrobs84]

It really depends on the horse. Some horses hate the feeling of the "whole head hug" that the bitless bridle creates because it triggers their natural claustrophobic tendencies. IMHO, a simple halter with lead is the best way to go bitless.

[Morikiba]

I agree that the nosebone of a horse is incredibly sensitive (you can ride horses with just a halter instead of a bridle with a bit aswel),thats why the band is supposed to go high enough not to cause a painful pressure on it. Then again,im not too happy to use a bit either. I've also read that you can ride your horse without -anything- on its head,using just a saddle,it seems to work out well too. I think mainly its about the connection between the rider and the horse.

[fleur4198]

But the band is just at the end of the nasal bone - it's too fragile!!!! With the sensitive nerve that is just under it and is constantly affected by this bridle's pulls!!!???:O .

[NurturalHorse]

Interesting comment - I have never heard that before.

Are you suggesting that the textured loose noseband is more painful than a bit and curb chain?

I am no expert on nerve anatomy, but I do not think so. I hope some experts will comment.

Certainly horses are far happier in this bitless bridle than they are in bits.

[fleur4198]

When you put any band too low/closer to the end of the head/to the nose, the stronger impact n the nerve you make by the bridle....

That nose bone is very fragile. It consists of the tow halfs connected by the weakest(unfortunately) connection, And this connection will always break after at least several minutes of pushing with force(like a normal pull of the bridle) letting both halfs to move freely after and by this seriously disturb the nerves.

[bloodstaindsilk]

What is this "nerve" you talk about? In the horses head the main branch of nerves is called the trigeminal nerve branch. The only nerve the noseband could effect would be the external nasal nerves that supply sensation to the nostrils. If the noseband is properly fitted as suggested there is no way any major nerves are being affected. There are very minor nerves that reach the surface of the skin where the noseband would be, much like the nerves on the bridge of your nose. Press them, pinch them

[bloodstaindsilk]

and they do not hurt, say as pinching the wing of your nostril, which is where the nasal nerve in the human head's trigeminal nerve branch is. Same with a horses.

[fleur4198]

In this position your bridle works almost the same as hackamore, which plus to all has levers which, in their turn, maximize the pressure of the band on the nose bones and those nerves. But hackamores also have the under-chin chain which blocks and presses another extremely sensitive nerve. All horses head, especially mouth and front part of the head are EXTREMELY sensitive in nerves

And, moreover, the skin on the nose is very-very thin and any friction causes discomfort and scratches....

[NurturalHorse]

Hmmm. It just seems odd that thousands of horses are so content and happy in this bitless bridle, while they look obviously uncomfortable in bits and hackamores. I have asked someone more knowledgeable than I about nerve structure to comment.

[NurturalHorse]

Please also remember that this is a very high strung and powerful horse who is not used to having anything at all across his nose. This is a very short demonstration. Nurtural bridle instructions call for the noseband on the 'hard part of the nose", higher than a hackamore. When using the Nurtural bridle, new users take more time and will raise the noseband if the horse shows signs of discomfort.

[bloodstaindsilk]

A hackamore (I am talking mechanical with a stiff nose and curb, not an english "jumping" hackamore or as it truely is, a sidepull) The reason a hackamore amplifies the pounds of pressure you pull by is because of the curb/curb chain. The curb sits behind the bottom lip on a nerve called the "mental nerve" It's an extremely sensitive nerve that gives a "leverage" bitless it's bite.

We have yet to witness this "discomfort" or "scratches" in any scientific tests.

[murfy6661]

omg his name is moose!! that is cool. and it definately made a difference to him, he seemed much more relaxed and comfortable.