F.R.A. bitless system 4: bitless bridles are not new! For centuries a bitless bridle was taken for granted, before it was ever thought of putting something in the horse's mouth, people simply put something around it. A rope as a halter was sufficient at the time and that is how the first bitless bridle was created. In combination with the supporting weight, leg and feeling aids, the rider's hand maintains contact via the reins, not with the mouth, but with the head of the horse.
Operating principle: Pressure on the nose and cheeks, chin crossed reining. System: In this system the noseband ends in a ring on either side to which the cheek pieces and both crossed straps are attached. These crossed straps are lead through a ring at the end of a short length of leather which in itself is attached to the rings of the nose band. The result is that the whole crossed part hangs a little lower than with the jaw crossed bridles (system 5). To the outer ends of the crossed straps the reins are attached. Furthermore this bridle is simple in design because of the lack of a brow band, throat latch and buckle which we normally find on a nose band. At the left hand side we find a buckle attachment in the cheek piece, it is the only buckle which is needed to measure the bridle to size. Once the bridle fits you just simply put a bridle of this system on the horse’s head and you don’t have to readjust it anymore. For the F.R.A.® cotton bridles of system 4 counts the same, of course there are no buckle attachments or other leather like descriptions in that system line.
Position: As it is with most bit less bridles it is also applicable to the system 4 bridles that the nose band must lie on the hard part of the nose, approximately there where the nose bone begins. The special design of these bridles cause a good and steady positioning on the horse’s head without having to attach or adjust anything.
Influence: The chin crossed straps will cause, when you want to go to the left or to the right, that the horse will feel the pressure on the opposite side of the nose and cheek and subsequently it will follow the rider’s hand, turns as a result of the pressure. Simultaneous halts on both reins close the nose band and give possibilities to halt and changes of pace. The above mentioned left or right turn of both reins will always have a certain dose, because of the indirect reining, it is this dose that determines the discriminating influence. This results that a desired change will always have a smooth effect. It stands to reason that the reining aids are supported by the other supporting aids. The little connecting latch that connects the rein leading ring to the nose band and the cheek piece causes a low positioning and a free running of the crossed curb bands which is very good for the release. Extra attention with this type of bridles must always be given to the maintenance of the crossed curb bands, the right maintenance will give the leather its suppleness to continuously experience the right release. The bridle may not be used for lunging with the single lunge and neither for the Pessoa lunge. For lunging with double lines you take off the reins and use the rings to attach the long lines.
Suitability: The bridle is used in combination with light rein contact and is very suitable for sensitive horses. Therefore the bridle is particularly suitable for riding young horses and fiery sensitive horses, in that category the bridle may also be used as a driving bridle. Apart from the fact that the bridle can be used as a halter it gives total freedom for the mouth which can be an advantage during country rides.