When my daughter started endurance training with her horse, the first thing we did was to buy a bitless bridle for it.
Endurance training requires synthetic bitless bridles but you can also get them in other materials.
In fact; the variety available in bitless bridles can be confusing to first-time buyers.
To make matters easy, I'm sharing 10 of the best bitless bridle for strong horse based on my experience.
Let's start with a quick look at our top picks, then keep reading for all the glorious details.
Related: Best Comfort Bridles for Horses
Bitless Bridles Top Picks at a Glance
If you see the value in these products and choose to purchase via my referral links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
- Best Cross Under Bitless Bridle - HORZE Genuine Leather Cross-Under Bitless Bridle
- Best English Bitless Bridle: Equitem English Leather Bridle with Web Reins
Don't have time? Here is a quick comparison of our favorites!
Top 10 Best Bitless Bridle Reviews - 2021
Let's start with my absolute favorite and work our way down.
#1. Winner - Weaver Leather Justin Dunn Bitless Bridle
Compared to regular bridles, a bitless bridle can improve communication between you and your horse. That is the main reason why so many riders approve of the Justin Dunn Bitless bridle.
It is soft, well-oiled, and consists of several strategically placed knots on it. These enable you to control your horse using gentle pressure instead of painful force.
Justin Dunn and Weaver Leather are two well-known brand names in the equestrian industry. So you can expect the best hardware and materials from their products.
This bitless bridle does not disappoint: it uses hand-rubbed, soft well-oiled harness leather and its shiny buckles are rust-resistant. You can rest assured that this is a durable and long-lasting bitless bridle.
Here are some more features of the Justin Dunn Bitless Bridle:
Features
- Made with weather-resistant, hand-rubbed leather that gets better with age
- Available in three color options and 2 sizes
- Premium rope nose with strategic knot placement for better responses
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Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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Allows horses to graze and water comfortably |
A bit pricey |
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Attractive - your horse will look great in it! |
Some complaints about buckle placement |
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Nice spread-out leather straps that won’t float around your horse’s face. |
No "give" in the reins |
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Soft - does not cause rubbing or chafing |
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Silver buckles look attractive and are rust-resistant |
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Fits well for most horses and has enough ‘give’ to suit different head sizes |
Expert tips
The tack is a bit stiff in the beginning but you can soak it in Neatsfoot oil to soften it a bit.
How it compares to others
Justin Dunn himself used this bitless bridle at the 2016 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo in Denver. Weaver Leather™ and Justin have worked to give us this beautiful bitless bridle and boy are we glad!
Not only will your horse be better behaved, but it will also look great thanks to this bitless bridle. Granted, it is a bit on the higher side price-wise, but it is worth it due to the high-quality materials used.
#2. Best Budget Buy: CHALLENGER Horse Western Leather Tack Beaded Bitless Sidepull Bridle Reins Brown
If you want lighter control of your horse, then a sidepull bridle is just what you need. Use gentle hands though - else you might end up making your horse insensitive even to the bitless bridle.
Challenger Store horse tack is a reputed brand loved by equestrians. We are sure you will love these western leather beaded bitless sidepull and so will your horse.
Features
- Attractive and colorful
- Padded noseband for comfort
- Made with a soft harness well-oiled leather
- Double stitching for durability
- Reins included
- Available in full Horse size
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Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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Great quality, beautiful craftsmanship |
Limited size choices |
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Fits most horses well |
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Very comfortable for horses |
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Affordable and value for money. |
Expert tips
The reins are a mix of English and western and a bit long. You might have to fix it.
How it compares
These are well-made bitless options from a reputed brand. The price is great and you get quality and craftsmanship with it.
READ MORE: Bosal Vs Hackamore Differences
Check out this video to learn about the size of a cob bridle.
#3. Best Cross Under Bitless Bridle - HORZE Genuine Leather Cross-Under Bitless Bridle
Cross under bitless bridles is more humane as they apply even pressure on the side of the horse’s head and not on its fragile nose bones or mouth.
This gets better responses and can improve horse owner communication with their horses. HORZE is also a well-known brand for horse tack and this bridle won’t disappoint.
Features
- Made with genuine, supple leather
- Available in black and US horse size
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Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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Attractive and well-made |
Limited size and color choices |
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Easy to put together |
Bit stiff upon arrival. |
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Fits thoroughbreds and most horses 16 hh |
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Comes with beautiful web reins with superior grip |
Expert tips
- Needs breaking in to reduce its stiffness. A few applications of leather conditioner will have it supple and soft in no time.
How it compares
HORZE is a reliable brand name in horse tack. Most users are very happy with this bitless bridle for their older horses or those who hate bits.
The lack of sizes and color choices could be a hindrance for buyers. Price-wise, it is a great bridle under $100 and comparable to most entries here.
#4. Best Flower Hackamore - Lift Sports Hackamore Bitless Horse Bit English Western Adjustable Flower Padded Leather Bridle Equestrian
Flower hackamores give you a lot of versatility as you can adjust your reins higher or lower in the ‘petals’ to increase/decrease the pressure.
As with any bit, a hackamore can be gentle in gentle hands and rough in rough hands. With the Life Sports floral hackamore, you can train your horse faster and without pain.
Features
- Made with soft, genuine buffalo leather and the flower parts are made with stainless steel.
- Available for full-size horses: the noseband is 10-inches, belt length is 28-inches. Fully adjustable.
- Available in black color.
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Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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Very well-made |
The noseband is huge. |
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Decently priced |
Expert tips
- This floral hackamore from Life Sport needs adjustments - you might have to punch extra holes in the noseband.
How it compares
The flower hackamore from Life Sport is reasonably priced and very well made. There are a few size issues but most users were able to work around them.
#5. Best English Bitless Bridle: Equitem English Leather Bridle with Web Reins
English riding needs high-quality English bridles although you can interchange the tack used for western and English riding.
The difference is in comfort and it depends on your riding experience level too. If you need reliable and well-made English bridles and don’t mind spending a bit on them, then this one from Wonder Care is an excellent choice.
Features
- Made with soft, pliable, thick Chrome-free vegetable-tanned leather and soft leather pad
- Has straps with buckles for more adjustments
- Stainless steel buckles and rings are rust-resistant
- Available in two sizes and two colors.
- Comes with reins
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Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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Vegetable-tanned leather is better for the environment. It lasts long and gets better with age |
Returns are expensive and complicated |
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Adjustable |
Some sizes are a bit pricey |
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Excellent workmanship |
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Padded and comfortable for the horse |
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Value for money |
Expert tips
Some users recommend punching extra holes for better adjustment.
How it compares
Wonder Care English leather bridle is extremely well-made. The use of vegetable tanned leather is better for the environment.
The soft, padded leather is also comfortable for horses and can aid in training. The price is slightly on the higher side.
#6. Best Bitless Bridle for Sensitive Horses: Cooks Bitless Bridle
Dr. Robert Cook needs no introduction. This veterinarian has spoken and written about the hazards caused by curb bit bridles and the harm they cause in horses.
His Bitless Bridle™ system is famous and no wonder Cooks Bitless Bridle is very popular among the equestrian community as well.
Features
- Made from genuine English leather
- All hardware is rust-resistant stainless steel
- Multiple sizes available: pony, cob, full, and extra full
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Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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Reliable brand name. |
The size and color options on popular retail sites are limited. |
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Well-made and long-lasting |
How it compares
Slightly on the higher side but you get the experience of a popular veterinarian and high-quality materials.
#7. Best Competition Bridle: Rambo Micklem Competition Bridle
If you are in Europe, buy the Micklem bridle from Horseware Ireland and if you are located in the USA, then buy it from Dover Saddlery.
Rambo Micklem bridle is designed from the inside out to perfectly fit the horse’s skull. It is the most comfortable competition bridle.
Features
- Soft and well-made with high-quality leather
- Unique shape, ergonomically designed to prevent pressure on sensitive areas
- Padded for comfort
- Tongue protection clips
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Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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High-quality materials |
A few size-related issues |
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Versatile and adjustable |
How it compares
This is a one-of-a-kind bridle designed by an expert. It is designed to reduce pressure on sensitive areas.
The noseband won’t interfere with your horse’s breathing and its multi-purpose design also allows you to use it as a traditional bridle too. Totally worth the higher price!
#8. Best Bitless Leather Bridle with Reins: HILASON Western Leather Bitless Bitfree Bridle with Reins
Designed by a German expert, HILASON western leather bridle is bitless and lets the reins cross under the horse’s chin groove in form of an X.
This simplifies use for the rider and increases your horse’s comfort. The price is also very attractive.
Features
- Available in black and large size
- Made using high-quality soft bridle (top quality harness) leather version.
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Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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Very comfortable |
Not enough size options |
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Attractive price under $75 |
Limited customer feedback on Amazon |
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Comes with reins |
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Rubber padding on the head and noseband increases comfort |
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Durable and well-made |
How it compares
HILASON is a great brand for horse tack and their popularity comes due to their high-quality materials and German designs.
This bitless bridle is designed from both perspectives: that of the horse and the rider. The price is very attractive too. You won’t regret buying this bridle.
#9. Best Adjustable: Custom Nylon Braided Bitless Bridle
If you are looking for inexpensive, machine washable, and adjustable nylon bitless bridles, then this is a good choice.
Features
- Available in various colors
- The average full size has knots at the end.
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Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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The stretch and knots are well-placed |
Cheek, throat latch, and nose pieces are sightly long. You might have to knot them. |
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Comfortable for both rider and horse |
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Economical bridles under $30 |
How they compare
Most riders found these bridles oversized. Other than this one issue, this is an economical, washable, and colorful bitless bridle for those on a budget.
#10. Best Style/Colorful Bitless Bridles: Tiffany’s Braided Tack Bitless Side Pull Hackamore
If you are looking for a colorful bitless bridle under $100 for your kids’ horse, then Tiffany’s braided side pull hackamore headstall is the one to choose. It is well-made, attractive, and gives you complete value for money.
Features
- The nose lets out to 23-inches while the headstall lets out to 46-inches.
- It is hand-braided using 550 paracord Nylon over the soft leather
- Adjustable
- You can even add a bit to it by removing the side pulls
- Available in various colors. You also get pony sizes.
- The seller also sells reins in matching colors.
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Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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Great quality at an amazing price |
As with nylon rope halters and bridles, this one could hurt a horse’s eyes. |
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Versatile enough to use with existing headstall |
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The seller is very responsive and addresses questions from potential buyers. |
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Attractive colors. |
Expert tips
Adjust the knots so that they don’t hurt your horse in sensitive areas.
How it compares
Tiffany’s braided tack is a great brand in equestrian products - known for her halters, headstalls, etc. She provides quality stylish tack which is especially great for kids.
She is also very responsive to customer queries. This bridle is affordable and well-made. For most users, it also lasted for a long time.
Things To Consider When Buying Best Bitless Bridle
Here are some factors to consider when selecting a bitless bridle:
#1. Know the different types of bit-free bridles
Different types of bitless bridles include mechanical hackamores, leverage style hackamores, natural bitless bridles made of rope, cross under or cross over bitless bridles, and side pull.
When choosing from these, take into account the discipline or purpose of riding, the horse’s sensitivity, and its past history and level of education.
You may also want to take into account the activity you are using the bitless bridle for:
- Opt for a traditional bitless bridle if you are showing or ride in a club
- Endurance - go in for synthetic bitless bridles or as stated in the rules
- Go in for a flexible bridle if you plan to use the same one on multiple horses.
#2. Size properly
Different bitless bridles will exert pressure on different parts of the horse’s face, nose, mouth, or poll.
So, do ensure that the bridle you select does not exert too much pressure on the fragile nose bones and cause damage there.
As a general rule of thumb, select a bridle with a noseband that sits approximately 3-4 fingers below the cheekbones.
This will ensure that it does not interfere with the horse’s breathing. To measure your horse for bridle:
- For noseband - measure about 2” up from corners of horse’s mouth and also the circumference of horse’s nose. For a full-size horse, this measurement is 21″-23″, for a pony, it is 18″-20″, and for cob, 19"-21".
- For headstall- from the point obtained above, run the tape measure to the top of the poll. Double this number to get the headstall size. This measures 37" to 46" for full, 33" to 43" for cob, and 29"-37" for a pony.
#3. Choose the right material
Different bitless bridles are made with different materials. Some, like the mechanical hackamores and thin braided ropes, tend to exert pressure and mark the horse’s skin due to prolonged use.
To overcome this, you can always opt for padded nose bands but the downside to these is that they could interfere with training and lead to slower responses.
Remember that the bridle you select must allow your horse to chew, yawn, eat, and drink. So, always account for its comfort.
FAQs
Are bitless bridles better?
Bitless bridles are considered humane as they tend to exert minimal pressure on the horse’s mouth. They are especially beneficial in regaining confidence in horses that have suffered mouth injuries. When used with gentle hands, they can be a benevolent method of communication between the rider and their horse.
What is the difference between a hackamore and bitless bridles?
A hackamore can be considered as a western bitless bridle. However, when most riders talk about a hackamore, they are referring to a mechanical hackamore.
Mechanical hackamore works on leverage but it exerts nose pressure on the horse without the need to add any parts inside its mouth.
On the other hand, the bitless bridle is a term used for describing other kinds of bridles that do not include a bit.
Final Recommendations
A bitless bridle, when used correctly, can help improve communication between rider and their horse and also benefit horses having sensitive mouths or those that do not work well with bits.
We recommend the Weaver Leather Justin Dunn Bitless Bridle Oiled Canyon which is soft, well-oiled, and has helped improve responses in many horses. Do check out our other recommendations as well.
What are the best bitless bridles for your horse? Let us know in the comments below!