Hi All,
I've been lurking around here for the last month or so, waitin til I
had something to say..
My family and I have seven horses in Taiwan (The horses and I are
from nz but based here for the foreseeable future). We're causing a
bit of a stir, being out and about barefoot, bareback and rope
haltered in a very conservative climate.

Have no intentions of ever putting a bit in a horses mouth
again...back to my wild baling twine roots! I joined this group as
I'm investigating my options for moving on from rope halters.
Michael I like your plan - just throw it all away and retrain
ourselves. (Do you think you could send that DVD to me in Taiwan?)
I haven't yet decided to go with the Bitless Bridle. Aeron, I have
heard many reports of horses who objected strongly to the head hug,
and downward poll pressure. Particularly if a horse is panicing and
trying to bolt it has been known to make the situation worse. You
can't slow the horse by bending without "trapping" it. I've also
heard a ton of others say their horses love the BB. Sometime the
problem can be put down to inadequate training to the new aid, but
sometimes it just seems to be the horses personal preference that no
amount of training can competely remove. I can imagine that my OTTB
would go absolutely ballistic if I tried to slow her down in a BB.
She needs very gentle easing when she's worried, and any force or
containment is likely to bring on an explosion. She's good in a
sidepull. Training, yes hmmmmm we're working on it. But a couple of
the kids ponies are happy to relax and soften and I believe would
respond very well. I'm thinking I will probably try to start my
filly in a crossover style. She's super intelligent, calm and
responsive and I think she'll have no trouble giving to the pressure.
I quite like the adaptible bridle sold by Moss Rock Endurance which
can be converted from crossover to side pull to halter. Gives you
the option of trying out what best suits your horse, or using
different style for different riding situations. But I'm a bit old
fashioned and still prefer leather. Also like the idea I got from
the barefoothorsecare group to convert your old leather bridle with
noseband to a crossover using some rings and 8mm rope. (Yes, seven
horses keep us broke, and I'm very wary of buying yet another item by
mail, that doesn't quite work out.) Also got a link for making your
own rope sidepull - http://home.wanadoo.nl/pro-
dieren/bitloostouwhoofdstel/html/en/index_en.html I've just
converted the kids old bridles into sidepulls using some curtain
rings, a leather punch and some thonging. They look really nice, and
I think they'll work well. A little more gentle than the rope
halter, now that the ponies are well trained to these methods.I'm
really going to experiment with all these things and choose what's
right for each horse and each family member before I decide to spend
the money on something nice.

I've been meaning to ask..Is this group only for the
official "Bitless Bridle" or is it intended as a forum to discuss all
the forms of Bridles without Bits (What can we call these now that
this name is TM?)? Would love to see everyone add in any links they
can find that may be useful. I found a great site the other day that
compared a variety of "Bridles without Bits" Will try to find it
again and post it on the links if that's okay? Can also ask for
the "make your own crossover" photos

Please scuse all spelling mistakes, typos and ramblings...it's
midnite here ..just got back from taking my two ten year old girls
out for a nighttime ride along the bike track. Their first time. So
wide eyed and wonder-full. TAngo of course, ever the trooper, gives
me no worries and I know she always keeps Ella safe. (Which is a very
goodthing as Ella is a little excitable, and very unconventional
herself - gets bored and likes to ride backwards, standing up,
without a halter etc etc....despite not really having a clue but
luckly a great seat.) Brodie is still young at six, half arab and
very spirited. But now Claire's learnt to just relax and reassure
and let her go, she's a new horse! great to see her tonight, all
perked up with the moving shadows, but strolling along with one rein,
and doing trot walk transitions on Claires exhale. Quick, better get
that dvd to me!

Okay, so that's me. I really should be sleeping.ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Sue, and the seven, Taipei, Taiwan.