Sidepulls....who uses one?

[Remali]

I'm interested in learning more about sidepulls, and I'm thinking of eventually using one.

What are the pros and cons? Who out there uses one?

[cloedoll]

I have one and honestly, it's no different than a halter. That isn't necessarily bad, but I think you could achieve more and get more out of the horse with other types of bitless bridles. I think a con is your cues aren't so direct in one, the horse could easily get confused...even with a rope sidepull. Just my opinion. ;D

[Remali]

Good point!!!

[rocknK]

What I don't like about them is the pulling.

[AppyLady]

I've had really good luck starting colts in a sidepull. I like it better than my bitless bridle. Even my older horses like the sidepull! But I suppose they aren't for everyone.

[Palogal]

I also start the little ones in a "training bridle" which is essentially a sidepull. On an older horse they give the mouth a break from the bit for a day or so which is always apreciated :)

[mustangluver]

I started my girl in a Dr. Cooks in the lake... she is fiesty so falling off in water don't hurt :p . Anyways, i got her to bend and I mean BEND that fat neck. Then I went to a training bit CHEW CHEW CHEW, she is very oral everything goes in her mouth and sometimes she sits and plays with it.

So I got a bitless nose band and put that on my bridle.. eh, I did not like how it pulled under, here is a link to it http://cgi.ebay.com/Bitless-bridle-hackamore-bosal-full-size-NWOT_W0QQitemZ300268123016QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item 300268123016&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18
But the way its constructed it does not give her clear direction specially if I am a english rider.

Then a few days ago a friend brought over a sidepull and maggie was a pure gem!!! Next day I rode her in a english hack total brat.. side pull angle super light on cues.

Then I used a bosal from a friend LOVED it she does to. I got one I am waiting til I feel better to figure out the rope attachment good god.

So to me what works for one horse another is not gonna like. I am willing to find comfort for both of us. I can understand not wanting metal in the mouth and the response is not as good as I prefer.

[IrisGreen]

This is the same question I was wondering. I have never seen a sidepull in person. Do they act like a bitless bridle with the straps that go under the jaw? I will have to look up a picture of one so I know what they are.

Edit:
I have one of those Indian Bosels like in your link, Mustang. I used it on Muffin a few times but he was used to me ground driving him in just a halter so when I used the Indian bosel it took him a little getting used too. He did it used to it and it tends to keep there head down or turning to the side in a downward motion because it pulls from under the jaw. I only used it on him maybe twice and it did work and he got used to it. I found it better then a halter for giving less sloppy cues but it did take him a bit to get used to the different feeling of it.

[cloedoll]

This is the same question I was wondering. I have never seen a sidepull in person. Do they act like a bitless bridle with the straps that go under the jaw? I will have to look up a picture of one so I know what they are.A sidepull would not have the straps that go under the jaw. It's basically like a halter, I swear, lol.

http://www.sportack.com/images/133/typeclasses/products/97102_full.jpg

http://www.hippson.se/shop/product_thumb.php?img=images/z1051a.jpg&w=171&h=190

[FrogInABlender]

I tried one once out on the trail and had ABSOLUTELY NO brakes, so that was it for me and the sidepull. I found a mechanical hackamore worked better for that horse. But I'm sure if you did a lot of training with it first it would work out much better.

[Lynn_70]

I have a rope nose sidepull and have found it works well for starting to teach horses to give to pressure without pulling on their mouth so much. Mine does have brakes and a little bite. I had to wrap the nose piece with vet wrap to be softer and not dig in. The only thing I don't like is that it doesn't fit very snugly (without applying too much nose pressure) so it tends to pull a bit out of whack when the horse is resisting you. If I were to purchase another, it would be with a snaffle also attached.
It also works well for seasoned horses in the winter.
LC

[AppyLady]

Lynn, I did the same thing you did -- wrap the nose piece with Vetwrap. It does have more "bite" to it than a halter. I added an extra strap to mine to help keep it in position.

Renee, I started Harmony in a sidepull, and looked how good she turned out, LOL! I did switch her to a snaffle, but she doesn't like it as much as the sidepull. She needs to get used to it though, since I plan to put her in harness soon.

[ImaBronsonBear]

I started Bronson in a sidepull, and rode him trail, down the road, arena, the works. He's always had good brakes, so that was never a problem.:p After a couple of months, i transferred into a plastic snaffle, and we've been in it ever since. But i got a very soft sidepull (http://www.kvvet.com/KVVet/productr.asp?pf%5Fid=92530&gift=False&HSLB=False&mscssid=0BCB559D93A243D9BD683FFEDC3AF123), so i didn't have to wrap it in vetwrap. Although similar to a halter, i find that horses give laterally in it much better than they do in a halter, because the pressure point is lower down on their nose, so they can't pull as hard.;)

[Remali]

I think if the horse has "no brakes" then I would go back to groundwork and teach "whoa" all over again.
I had Kara trained on verbal commands and she stopped on a dime if I uttered anything that sounded like "whoa", so that is my plan this time too for training. I am still pondering the sidepull, but it sounds good, I'd go with the leather noseband tho, sounds as if the other ones are a bit abrasive.

[AppyLady]

I think if the horse has "no brakes" then I would go back to groundwork and teach "whoa" all over again.


Good for you. Taz had no brakes when I got him. He completely ignored a pull on the reins. Now I say whoa, and he buries his tail in the ground.

[Remali]

Kara was so good at listening to me when I said "whoa", that if I was having a conversation with someone I was out riding with and I said "no", Kara would slam on the brakes....lol!

[AppyLady]

Taz also stops when I...um...er...fart. I guess that's my emergency brake. :)

[rocknK]

Good thing you only do that every two or three years!!!!!:p

[Palogal]

Taz also stops when I...um...er...fart. I guess that's my emergency brake. :)

Oh my..I needed that!! LOL

[Remali]

Lol!!! :)

[AppyLady]

Hey, I'm just trying to control my blood pressure. :D

[painthorse72]

my daughters QH/Morgan mare uses a sidepull and is ridden by my 12yr old.

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=256&pictureid=2305

[jeezitsjacki]

this may be a stupid question.. I have never seen a sidepull really.. just heard of them, so I looked it up

are all sidepulls bitless? cause that is what is appears to be when I was looking up some pictures.. and is it like a bitless bridle or a hackelmore?

[Lynn_70]

No not all sidepulls are bitless. You can get a "half breed" with the sidepull features plus a snaffle bit. There is less contact on the bit and more on the nose piece. I think you can put the reins on with the nose piece or the bit though.
Lynn