Bitless bridles - which is best?

Hi! How lovely that you want to ride more bitless. There are quite a few different versions and options, but here are examples and explanations of the most common ones:

Sidepull. A mild bitless option that works much like a headcollar, so horses usually find it easy to understand. It acts through pressure on the bridge of the nose and the sides of the face. A sidepull also lets you take a leading rein aid, which you cannot do on every bitless option.

Wheel hackamore. Also called a starwheel hackamore or LG bridle, this is a bitless option that offers different ways to attach the reins, and so a varying action. On a wheel hackamore you can set the cheekpieces, the noseband and the reins in different positions to fit the bridle and its action to the particular horse you are riding. There are usually two places to attach the reins: a rear one nearer the chin, and a front one set lower and further forward. Attach the reins in the rear hole and the effect is mild, like a sidepull. Attach them to the front option and you get a little leverage, which increases the rider's influence somewhat. As a rule, the wheel hackamore is a mild option.

Cross-under bridle. Also called a bitless bridle (not to be confused with the wider English use of "bitless bridle" for any bitless option), this has extended jaw straps that cross under the horse's jowl. They run to and through the rings where the cheekpiece meets the noseband, pull through a little way, and then attach to the reins. On some cross-under bridles this extended jaw strap also runs up over the horse's poll, which adds extra pressure at the poll.

Because the extended jaw straps carry on past the rings where you would attach the reins on other bitless options, the angle of the force changes when you take a rein aid. This can make the rider's rein aid stronger, since the straps tighten more easily under the horse's jaw. A cross-under bridle is harsher than a sidepull, but it can suit horses that do not like pressure on the bridge of the nose. One drawback of cross-under bridles is that they often release poorly.

Hackamore. Also called a pony hackamore, this is a harsh bitless option that should be used by experienced riders with soft hands. The shank looks roughly like a cross, with the lower part curved slightly back towards the rider. A hackamore has a strong leverage action, which means the direction of force on the rein aid changes, and that in turn makes the rider's rein aid stronger. On a rein aid, the lower part of the shank is drawn back towards the rider and the upper part rotates forward, putting pressure on the bridge of the nose, the poll and under the jaw. Because of the leverage, a hackamore can therefore squeeze the horse's jaws together to a degree. It is very important that a hackamore sits at a good height, and a common mistake is for it to sit too low.

The sidepull is my personal favourite among the bitless options, and if you want to ride more bitless this is definitely worth a try 🥰Hope that helps 💞