Bitless bridle

**Range** · 05-12-2008, 07:18 AM

Do you all think that a donkey would respond well to one of those Dr. Cook Bitless Bridles?

I'm thinking about seriously working on riding Jack the donkey and our main problem has always been steering and whoa and go. So, yeah, everything.

I usually have a little control with a rope halter side pull, but I want more than a little control now.

In the past, I've always just let him go where he wants as long as he doesn't buck me off.....

**Promise Ranch** · 05-12-2008, 03:48 PM

I just got this off e-bay for Princess. No steering and no brakes...

I sure don't know if it would work on a donk-donk, but they come in "pony" sizes as well. May fit his donk nose!

ETA: At just over $20, including shipping, it's not at all expensive to just 'try'...

Bonanza · 05-12-2008, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Promise Ranch

I just got this off e-bay for Princess. No steering and no brakes...

I sure don't know if it would work on a donk-donk, but they come in "pony" sizes as well. May fit his donk nose!

ETA: At just over $20, including shipping, it's not at all expensive to just 'try'...

I just bought one too for grins - something else to try one of these days. I don't mean to highjack the thread but did you try yours yet and what did you think?

**Promise Ranch** · 05-12-2008, 07:51 PM

Actually just purchased it today, and I can't try it out until next month...

I just wanted to add that I know nothing about training donks! Jack seems like a good fella, though.

**Range** · 05-12-2008, 08:22 PM

Hey, the Dr. Cook's at least comes with instructions! I saw that last night on e-bay and couldn't figure out how it would work! I know the Dr. Cook's applies pressure on the poll, underneath, on the nose, and "pushes" the cheek around. And...it LOOKS like a bridle. How in 'eck does that dojobber attach to the horse?

I like the pretty colors, though.

Jack is mainly stubborn. He's not really trained, just puts up with me. I'd like to actually TRAIN him to go forward when I want, stop when I want, and turn where I want to go. Within reason, of course, he is Jack and Jack DOES like things his own way!

boo_loves_kitty · 05-12-2008, 10:02 PM

I recently (last year...man, how time flies) bought an indian hackamore and have tried it on 3 different horses...one being just started. I found that you have very little control with it. My youngest that I just started did the best with it, but I wouldn't recommend riding out where your horse could run off with you. It looks like it would be simple for the horse to understand, but confused my youngest and the other too simply ran through it. You might try a stop and turn. I have had most of my horses like the stop and turn, but you need to have soft hands for it.

**Range** · 05-13-2008, 07:07 AM

I should say that I'm looking for bitless because Jack the Donk has a head that's hard to fit. Typical bridles don't really fit him. Plus, I would need a pony bit and we never did remove his wolf teeth.

So....

Valerie62 · 05-23-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Promise Ranch

I just got this off e-bay for Princess. No steering and no brakes...

I sure don't know if it would work on a donk-donk, but they come in "pony" sizes as well. May fit his donk nose!

ETA: At just over $20, including shipping, it's not at all expensive to just 'try'...

I bought one of these from ebay too ... I tried it on my mare last night and she did great! No more bit chewing and tossing her head around. Well worth trying for twenty bucks. I only walked and trotted in the indoor arena, but I'm hoping that she will continue to work well in it out on the trail.

GreyDot · 05-23-2008, 03:53 PM

Whatever else, it's pretty... I like that bright pink! Is it OK to ask on here who the eBay vendor is?

I'm still in mourning for that Stubben bitless...

yogilover11 · 05-23-2008, 07:32 PM

Looks nice

Bandit · 05-23-2008, 07:58 PM

I don't know about on a donkey - I haven't tried riding my donkey yet.

However, I do ride with that indian bosal with my haflinger - the same horse that has bolted with me in a snaffle and in a curb bit. We worked on giving to pressure, but still had fits with a bit in his mouth and would get really bracy. We tried a regular bosal which worked great until he got an injury on his nose right where the bosal sat so we needed something a bit lighter weight. Ordered that off e-bay and worked him about a week in the arena with it so he could get use to the cues. You can't just toss on a new contraption and expect them to *get* it immediately. Even Dr. Cook tells you to practice with his bridle. And now that is all we ride in out on the trails.

How it works is pretty simple if you look at it on the horse. The cues come from the side and under the jaw where a curb strap would lay. No pole pressure.

Overseas I think they call a similar contraption a "Scrawbrig"

**Range** · 05-24-2008, 09:39 AM

Problem with the donk man is...a typical headstall just won't fit him! I'm still plotting and planning.

**Promise Ranch** · 05-24-2008, 10:46 AM

Would a "cob" sized bridle fit him?

Bandit · 05-24-2008, 02:00 PM

What size donk do you have? My donkey, even though he is 13 hands needs an extra large horse halter. I think I might have to go with a warmblood or draft headstall to ride him.

**Range** · 05-24-2008, 09:21 PM

He's 46", I think. Can't remember for sure, but he's a large standard.

You really do have to use a draft sized on yours? Wow! I have to use a yearling nylon halter on Jack. I LOVE rope halters, so much easier to adjust.

I have a draftie Dr. Cook's, maybe I should try it. Though, draftie had a WAY bigger head!

Bandit · 05-25-2008, 12:44 PM

Well, I haven't tried an actual headstall yet. But his halter is an extra large - same size halter that my husband's draft cross wears (though JJ's head isn't as long, its as wide). Now I think his mouth is going to require a smaller bit because it just looks so small. I will have to measure that. We laught that he needs the big head to carry those ears.

Wow, a yearling halter? Not going to happen with JJ. Maybe the difference is JJ comes from Mammoth stock?

**Range** · 05-25-2008, 05:14 PM

Yeah, Jack has a smaller head and a much smaller nose. I think the problem is the width of the head in comparison to the length. Jack is wide in the head, but short on length and then add that very small nose in there...

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05-12-2008, 07:18 AM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,681	Bitless bridle Do you all think that a donkey would respond well to one of those Dr. Cook Bitless Bridles? I'm thinking about seriously working on riding Jack the donkey and our main problem has always been steering and whoa and go. So, yeah, everything. I usually have a little control with a rope halter side pull, but I want more than a little control now. In the past, I've always just let him go where he wants as long as he doesn't buck me off..... __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

05-12-2008, 03:48 PM
Promise Ranch Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North Texas Posts: 1,466	I just got this off e-bay for Princess. No steering and no brakes... I sure don't know if it would work on a donk-donk, but they come in "pony" sizes as well. May fit his donk nose! ETA: At just over $20, including shipping, it's not at all expensive to just 'try'... __________________ "Met a girl in a chair with wheels, but no one else would see her... Met a girl in a chair with wheels... Everyone was so afraid to even look down on her, And she just spread her little wings and flew away..." - Big & Rich Last edited by Promise Ranch : 05-12-2008 at 04:00 PM.

05-12-2008, 07:51 PM
Promise Ranch Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North Texas Posts: 1,466	Actually just purchased it today, and I can't try it out until next month... I just wanted to add that I know nothing about training donks! Jack seems like a good fella, though. __________________ "Met a girl in a chair with wheels, but no one else would see her... Met a girl in a chair with wheels... Everyone was so afraid to even look down on her, And she just spread her little wings and flew away..." - Big & Rich

05-12-2008, 08:22 PM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,681	Hey, the Dr. Cook's at least comes with instructions! I saw that last night on e-bay and couldn't figure out how it would work! I know the Dr. Cook's applies pressure on the poll, underneath, on the nose, and "pushes" the cheek around. And...it LOOKS like a bridle. How in 'eck does that dojobber attach to the horse? I like the pretty colors, though. Jack is mainly stubborn. He's not really trained, just puts up with me. I'd like to actually TRAIN him to go forward when I want, stop when I want, and turn where I want to go. Within reason, of course, he is Jack and Jack DOES like things his own way! __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

05-12-2008, 10:02 PM
boo_loves_kitty Halter broke Join Date: May 2007 Location: Eastern Oklahoma Posts: 59	I recently (last year...man, how time flies) bought an indian hackamore and have tried it on 3 different horses...one being just started. I found that you have very little control with it. My youngest that I just started did the best with it, but I wouldn't recommend riding out where your horse could run off with you. It looks like it would be simple for the horse to understand, but confused my youngest and the other too simply ran through it. You might try a stop and turn. I have had most of my horses like the stop and turn, but you need to have soft hands for it.

05-13-2008, 07:07 AM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,681	I should say that I'm looking for bitless because Jack the Donk has a head that's hard to fit. Typical bridles don't really fit him. Plus, I would need a pony bit and we never did remove his wolf teeth. So.... __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

05-23-2008, 03:53 PM
GreyDot Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Between AZ and OH Posts: 2,257	Whatever else, it's pretty... I like that bright pink! Is it OK to ask on here who the eBay vendor is? I'm still in mourning for that Stubben bitless... __________________ ...There is nothing to be done till a horse's head is settled. ~William Cavendish Stuipid CAN be fixed... you just have to hit it hard enough! ~A rare moment of inspiration

05-23-2008, 07:32 PM
yogilover11 Halter broke Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Milton,Florida Posts: 115	Looks nice

05-23-2008, 07:58 PM
Bandit Coming two Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 1,787	I don't know about on a donkey - I haven't tried riding my donkey yet. However, I do ride with that indian bosal with my haflinger - the same horse that has bolted with me in a snaffle and in a curb bit. We worked on giving to pressure, but still had fits with a bit in his mouth and would get really bracy. We tried a regular bosal which worked great until he got an injury on his nose right where the bosal sat so we needed something a bit lighter weight. Ordered that off e-bay and worked him about a week in the arena with it so he could get use to the cues. You can't just toss on a new contraption and expect them to get it immediately. Even Dr. Cook tells you to practice with his bridle. And now that is all we ride in out on the trails. How it works is pretty simple if you look at it on the horse. The cues come from the side and under the jaw where a curb strap would lay. No pole pressure. Overseas I think they call a similar contraption a "Scrawbrig" __________________

05-24-2008, 09:39 AM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,681	Problem with the donk man is...a typical headstall just won't fit him! I'm still plotting and planning. __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

05-24-2008, 10:46 AM
Promise Ranch Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North Texas Posts: 1,466	Would a "cob" sized bridle fit him? __________________ "Met a girl in a chair with wheels, but no one else would see her... Met a girl in a chair with wheels... Everyone was so afraid to even look down on her, And she just spread her little wings and flew away..." - Big & Rich

05-24-2008, 02:00 PM
Bandit Coming two Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 1,787	What size donk do you have? My donkey, even though he is 13 hands needs an extra large horse halter. I think I might have to go with a warmblood or draft headstall to ride him. __________________

05-24-2008, 09:21 PM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,681	He's 46", I think. Can't remember for sure, but he's a large standard. You really do have to use a draft sized on yours? Wow! I have to use a yearling nylon halter on Jack. I LOVE rope halters, so much easier to adjust. I have a draftie Dr. Cook's, maybe I should try it. Though, draftie had a WAY bigger head! __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

05-25-2008, 12:44 PM
Bandit Coming two Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 1,787	Well, I haven't tried an actual headstall yet. But his halter is an extra large - same size halter that my husband's draft cross wears (though JJ's head isn't as long, its as wide). Now I think his mouth is going to require a smaller bit because it just looks so small. I will have to measure that. We laught that he needs the big head to carry those ears. Wow, a yearling halter? Not going to happen with JJ. Maybe the difference is JJ comes from Mammoth stock? __________________

05-25-2008, 05:14 PM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,681	Yeah, Jack has a smaller head and a much smaller nose. I think the problem is the width of the head in comparison to the length. Jack is wide in the head, but short on length and then add that very small nose in there... __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.