| Author | Message | ||
     Stef Nuttall Member Username: Mordivock Post Number: 1 Registered: 02-2008 |
just read your post. yes i have a couple of friends who do bitless driving, and i do bitless riding. my friend has brought her horse on several rallies and cone events driving bitless with no problem whatsoever. she uses her normal dr cooks bitless bridle with the headpiece of a driving bridle so that she has blinkers on. We would rather have a horse that was happy to be driven without a bit, than force a bit into its mouth and create an accident because she wouldn`t accept the bit. Before anyone starts to critise and say over time the horse should learn to accept a bit, this one because of an existing problem within its jaw, cannot physically accomodate a bit. You would be most welcome to come and drive or take part at our events if you can get to Lathom in lancashire. We can be found in the BDS handbook as we are a assesment centre for the road safety and the preliminary level. Stephanie Nuttall. if i can be of further help please call me on 07523375009 withheld numbers will not be accepted | ||
| D Paffett Member Username: Dpaff Post Number: 4 Registered: 08-2010 |
The “Inharness” article shows a pony with cut-away blinkers and a “cross-over” bitless bridle. So the open bridle question is a separate issue from the bitless debate. In fact, I cannot see anywhere in the rules where an open bridle is banned. The FEI rule states:- “919.7 Bits Bitless bridles (hackamores) are not permitted when the Horse is harnessed to a vehicle.” This rule was clearly written for hackamores. In fact, if you go by the strict wording of the rule, any bitless bridle that is not a hackamore should be allowed. Hackamores have a metal elbow which can provide enough leverage to break a horse’s jaw if you pull too hard. I presume that is why they are banned. From the article, crossover bridles appear to reduce leverage, not increase it. So to summarise: 1) Open bridles are not banned. (Well, not in the rules , anyway.) 2) Hackamores are banned 3) There appears to be no moral or legal reason why this rule should be applied to cross-over bitless bridles. This rule can only legitimately be applied if the word “hackamores” is deleted. Of course, I am not trying to imply in any way that cross-over bridles are safe. Merely that they don't seem to hurt the horse and that the rules don't actually forbid their use. | ||
| Fiona Powell Member Username: Fionap Post Number: 29 Registered: 03-2007 |
Inharness magazine published an article about bitless driving from Jan Hopmans of Ideal Equestrian in issue 8 (2008) and you can read the pdf on the website, www.inharness.co.uk, under "Read this". My research (then) with the BDS, one driving insurer and the BHDTA was that bitless driving was not accepted at that time, however things may have moved on and I think it's always worth asking! I hope you might find this feature of interest. Please contact me if you wish? | ||
| Dot Ross Member Username: Dotr Post Number: 7 Registered: 08-2010 |
I ride bitless the majority of the time. I compete in endurance bitless and have never had a problem. I wanted to drive bitless too, but the horse had an issue in an open bridle, driven. I think it's all about individuals and what works for one, won't work for the other. I would eventually like to drive bitless, but I'm not in a rush. | ||
| D Paffett Member Username: Dpaff Post Number: 3 Registered: 08-2010 |
These group insurance policies have a clause which says that any other policies you have must pay first. So if you are covered by your household insurance policy (most recreation-only competitors are) then the NFU group policy is irrelevant. They may not want you to go out bit-less but it would be wrong to say it’s because of the insurance. On the other hand, you see all sorts of wacky turnouts turning up for picnic drives. It’s a job to know whether they are safe so we should probably not be too hard on the poor organisers! I think the Pony Club allows young riders to compete bit-less if they have a written letter of permission from the DC. So this could be a way forward. On the subject of open bridles, I picked this snippet off the US Trotting Association website ... ”10. Open bridle Allows the horse a full range of sight with no obstruction. Open bridles are useful to relax an otherwise tense or aggressive animal.” For obvious reasons the people who drive teams don’t use open bridles. I think they were the ones who drew up the original rules. We use blinkers because we are on single track lanes and you can never be sure what’s going to pop its head through the hedge at you. However, I haven’t seen a good argument for making them compulsory. I expect some horses like them and some don’t. Shame to exclude the pony that doesn’t mind visuals but spooks at noises he can’t see. I hope you manage to get driving safely and enjoy it. That’s the point. I'm sure your AC will tell you that! | ||
| Joe Hodgson Member Username: Joehodgson Post Number: 21 Registered: 07-2010 |
Look at the small print on your BDS Membership Insurance i can't find mine but i am certain it does say bitless driving is not allowed on BDS Drives, events ect. | ||
| JRB Member Username: Bernie77 Post Number: 3 Registered: 05-2011 |
I would ring the BDS direct and ask them. They will be able to give you a yes or no and a reason. Let us know how you get on. | ||
| Carol Sobucinska Member Username: Moominska Post Number: 1 Registered: 02-2011 |
Does anyone out there do bitless carriage driving or riding. I have just been informed after joining the BDS that I am not allowed to join in with fun drives via my local club as I would not be insured via the BDS and NFU. Ridiculous when accidents happen with bits and blinkers. So far I have driven for over a year and touch wood not had an accident. My cob mare trusts me and I respect her. So whats the problem. |