Why bitless is best

Using a bitless bridle removes the harsher controls most of us were taught when we first started riding. It encourages listening, offering more patience, in order to gain deeper trust. The bitless philosophy takes you to a place where understanding replaces gadgets and patience and confidence replace anxiety or fear. This allows you to build a trusting relationship and follow your heart, together with your horse.

Simplicity is the key

My bullfighting stallion, Delfin, revealed to me how body language and breath energy are key to a closer relationship, allowing riders to enjoy a more meaningful riding experience based on trust.

These learnings and my personal pursuit of lightness for the horse and rider and comfort for the horse inspired me to create the Gentil and Gentil Ultra bitless bridles. The design evolved as a result of experimenting with different horses to gain more knowledge of how a bitless bridle could function most efficiently. This included researching the sensitive facial nerves and the anatomy to ensure a more comfortable fitting.

The bitless philosophy will make your journey simpler. You can begin with the groundwork – at liberty, lungeing and working in hand.

As riders, we are looking to connect through our seat/core and centered body balance which we can support through our conscious breathing.

The Gentil anatomical design offers an optimal point of balanced connection with the reins.

If the reins are connected to the bridle, too far forward it places excess pressure on the nose. When the reins are placed further back the connection engages more release from the poll.

The Gentil bridle has the the cheek piece placed further back to allow the noseband to connect with the reins to gain a balance between nose and poll pressure.

Excess Poll pressure can cause over flexion. The balance of contact lies in between. The correct balance helps the rider to find a more yielding feel with the horse, akin to the relaxed ‘feeling’ with a bit, but without engaging with the very sensitive mouth.

The Gentil Bitless Bridle is handcrafted thus production is limited to ensure the highest quality is maintained. Every bridle is made to fit the individual horse with importance given to craftsmanship and detail.

The Gentil offers the option of the ring attachment on the noseband. You simply unclip the lunge line or rope and your horse is then ready to ride.

This fascinating interview with a cranial osteopath explains how anxiety creates a stressed mind, often labelled as ‘bad behaviour’ and the result can become an accelerating battle between horse and rider.