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  Discussion on Cheap and easy bitless bridle
Author Message
Member:
stek

Posted on Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 - 5:49 pm:

I have been meaning to post this for a while, below is a photo of a super cheap and easy to make noseband that can convert any regular bridle to an english style hackamore/bitless bridle.

All you need are two 2" stainless rings that you can get at any hardware store, a short length of sturdy soft 3/8" rope, and a regular curb strap. Attach the rope and curb strap to the rings, then attach the noseband to the bit hangers on any regular bridle and voila! a bitless bridle.

The benefit of this design is that it sits low and snug enough on the horse's nose to give you good lateral control (doesn't ride up the horse's head like a rope halter). The photo below shows it properly fitted on my horse. It could even be worn an inch or so lower, but the lower you go the more sensitive the nose.

I wonder if I shouldn't try to peddle these at the local tack store.. I'd need to come up with some clever natural horsemanship name for it though so I could charge $25 for it. Any ideas? :-) rope noseband
Member:
dove2

Posted on Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 - 9:05 pm:

This side looks great. How does the other side of the rope attach? I think you should call it a nice name like "gentling bridle or gentle-link bridle." Makes the humans feel good. Good for you and your creativity!
Member:
stek

Posted on Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 - 9:08 pm:

One more photo .. a closeup of the noseband itself.

noseband closeup
Member:
scooter

Posted on Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 - 10:06 pm:

Hi Shannon you are very inventive! That looks more like a sidepull than a bitless bridle, but I guess they are both bitless My friend and I actually made something like that once for her mare and it worked very well.
Member:
dres

Posted on Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 - 10:13 pm:

$25.00 no way .. if you are going NH bridle it has to be in the ball park of $50. or more..


On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
Member:
stek

Posted on Sunday, Aug 2, 2009 - 11:39 am:

Ha, good point Ann, but then I need a really creative name!!

The action is very much like a sidepull, but without the two extra leverage pieces they have. Also the noseband is a lot softer so I think more gentle. I've always had a problem with rubbing with off the shelf ones.

Dove2 the other side is knotted on the same way, and the rope ends are fused and sewn together with heavy carpet thread. I'd like to come up with a better way to join the ends, maybe one of those metal clamps you see on leaDrOpes if I could find one small enough. Thanks for the name suggestion!
Member:
lilo

Posted on Saturday, Aug 8, 2009 - 12:42 pm:

Shannon - I agree with Diane, it looks and probably acts more like a sidepull. The bitless bridle has a piece coming from the throatlatch and crossing over underneath the head to the rings on the opposite side. There might be a way to achieve that action also - that would be like a Dr. Cooks bitless bridle.
I am tempted to experiment with this, someone else printed a link to a cheaper bitless bridle made of nylon that I was tempted to experiment with. Here is a link to one I was looking at. The one thing I like about this concept for trail riding is that it is basically a rope halter. Taking along a lead rope, you could tie the horse as with a regular rope halter (while eating your lunch or whatever ...).
https://sunsethalters.com/dbbitless.php
As far as the noseband, I think a metal clamp would make it a lot less comfortable - if one knew how to splice the rope ends together it would be softer for the horse.
I am still debating on spending the 45 dollars on the "modified rope halter" as shown in the link.
Lilo
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