Bitless Resources

Most insurance companies have no exclusion for bitless bridles and hackamores.

As bitless riding and driving are becoming more accepted, this page will keep you up to date with who allows bitless bridles around the world.

Insurance companies who cover bitless riding:

These companies will cover the use of bitless bridles, provided the organisation that uses their cover allows bitless bridles in their rules.

  • Petplan Australasia
  • Logan Livestock Insurance Co.
  • AON Risk Services Ltd insures EFA and EA (but their rules must be abided by) + Australian Endurance Riders Assoc. as well as ATHRA who allow bitless riding.
  • IRT Insurance
  • Affinity Insurance
  • American Equine Insurance Group
  • insurance services for Natural Horsemanship participants in the UK.

Instructors and clubs who allow Bitless Bridles:

If you would like to be included on this list, please use the contact form on this page to send Cynthia your details.

AUSTRALIA WIDE:

  • Pony Club Australia – see the National Gear Rules page for the latest info.
  • Australian Equine Behaviour Centre – AEBC clinics are held in Hobart, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast Qld, Perth, and Sydney.
  • Carlos Tabernaberri – Whispering Acres
  • Fran Griffen – Hunter Natural Horsemanship
  • Mel Fleming – www.melfleming.com.au

TASMANIA:

  • Nan Catmur – Nan’s Riding School – Longford
  • Lee Davis Horsemanship – North Motton Ph. 0419 829 777
  • Samantha Goss – Devonport Ph. 0414 486493
  • Horsehaven Farmstay 179 Judd Creek Rd Judbury. Ph: (03)62 660343 Email: bookings@horsehavenfarmstay.com
  • Tasmanian Trail Riders Inc. ‘Devils On Horseback’ – Raylene Garwood, on 0418167382.
  • Huon Hoofbeats
  • Cygnet Riding Club

VICTORIA:

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

NEW SOUTH WALES

QUEENSLAND

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

  • Geraldton Hoof Sports Club
  • Lisa Croft – Myalup. Ph. 0404 141 970 www.equineawareness.com.au
  • Sam and Sascha Watson – www.horsesandhorsemen.com

INTERNATIONAL

The World Bitless Association lists Endorsed Instructors, Associates and Riding Centres approved for their high standards of welfare in training.

USA

  • Kathy Boettcher, Meadowsweet Ranch, Spring Grove, IL
  • Farah DeJohnette Horsemanship – www.fdhorsemanship.com
  • Chris Forte – Orangevale, CA Equine Behavioural Health Resource Center
  • Yvonne Welz – Wishing Welz Riding, Queen Creek, Arizona.
  • Nina Heller – Summerwood Stables, California. Facebook page Bitless and Beautiful for Dressage.
  • Patricia Mayer – Greenmayer Farms, LLC. Birch Run, MI USA 
  • Mary Ann Brewer – Company of Horses Inc. in NJ USA
  • Sandra Beaulieu – Begin the Dance Cell Ph. (207) 343-0790

UK

Bitless bridles are becoming more accepted at lessons and clinics.

BELGIUM

CANADA

SOUTH AFRICA

SPAIN

NEW ZEALAND

Corrine and Bright Rex in South Africa.

Online Events & Competitions

Associations and Breed Societies

Thanks to Grace Heather who compiled this list below.

Equestrian Associations/Societies that do permit Bitless Bridles (Ridden)-

  • Australian Equine Endurance Riders Association
  • Australian Trail Horse Riders Association
  • Australian Campdraft Association
  • Australian Tentpegging Association
  • Australian Barrel Horse Association
  • Australian Working Equitation
  • Australian Mounted Archery
  • The Baroque Equestrian Games & Institute – USA https://baroquegames.net/
  • Bitless Inc. www.bitlessinc.org 
  • Bitless Friendly Dressage venues in the UK
  • Equestrian Federation Australia (Jumping and Cross Country allow Bitless Bridles)
  • Horse Safety Australia
  • Mid North Coast Team Penning Association (NSW)
  • National Pleasure Horse Association of Australia
  • National Cutting Horse Association
  • American Competitive Trail Horse Association
  • American Endurance Riding Conference
  • California State Horsemen’s Association trail trials and gymkhana
  • The United States Equestrian Drill Association
  • Netherlands (KNHS) in TREC, Endurance, Jumping and the first levels of dressage (B – L2)
  • Federatie van Nederlandse Ruitersportcentra (a federation for riding schools)
  • International Horse Agility Association
  • SASA (Showing Assoc. of South Africa) will allow bitless bridles in Training, Newcomer and SASA Riding horse classes for mares and geldings, ridden by adults, from Jan. 2016.
  • TREC Events UK
  • TREC USA 
  • Western Dressage Association 

Breed societies that do permit Bitless Bridles in Ridden Classes

  • Australia Quarter Horse Association (Rope, Leather or Rawhide Bosal)
  • Paint Horse Association of Australia (Western 2yo-5yo & Ridden Paint Classes that run under AQHA rules- Bosal)
  • Morgan Horse Association of Australia
  • Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society of Australia
  • Australian Appaloosa Association (Ridden Horse under 5yo in Standard Braided or Rawhide Hackamore)
  • American Saddlebred and Sporthorse Registry of Australasia (unless stallion- Bit required)
  • Horse Show Association Australia (5yo and under in a Hackamore)
  • WA Branch of the Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society (Australia)

Breed societies that may permit Bitless Bridles (depends on each show)-

  • Lipizzaner Association Australasia
  • Roan Horse and Pony Association of Australia
  • Percheron Horse Breeders Association of Australia
  • Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society of Australia
  • Australian Friesian Warmblood Society (not Stallion or Colt)

* This information is as correct as possible at the time of publication, however, cannot be held responsible for any incorrect info should the named change their status with regard to bitless bridles.

3 thoughts on “Bitless Resources”

  1. Jackie Ladhams

    Hi I have just been looking at places that allow bitless. Apparently stockmans challenges and team penning you can’t but campdrafting is ok with it. How do you get them to change the rules? Thanks

    Reply
    1. Cynthia

      Thanks for letting us know – I have heard some associations allow bitless in team penning so I guess it depends on the relevant club’s rules.
      To instigate rule changes, it’s best to start the conversation by writing to the club or organisation to first of all clarify their rules on bitless bridles, and then to nicely suggest that as many other organisations now allow bitless bridles (and most insurance companies don’t have a bitless bridle exclusion – in case they try the old ‘our insurance won’t cover them’ trick) that in all fairness and for the welfare of horses, could they table this for discusison?
      You could look up the resources on the https://worldbitlessassociation.org/ for scientific evidence that bitless is the better welface choice, and now many equestrian sports are opting to allow bitless bridles on a ‘social license’ basis.
      I hope that helps, Cynthia.

      Reply
  2. Karen butt

    Hi. All TREC GB competitions are open to people riding bitless. It’s probably true for TREC clubs in other countries too. A great sport encompassing orienteering, agility, cross country and control of paces
    Thanks for listing TREC

    Reply

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