Feedback - 2004

We received the news that Milly was tragically killed in a storm this week. She was a much loved friend to Allie and our thoughts are with her during this very sad time.

Hi Nicole,

About 4 months ago, I purchased a flouro pink NoBit bridle from you, and I felt like I just had to give you an update (and a pic - don't laugh at Milly's floopy bottom lip!).

Milly, my 11 year old stockhorse x riding pony mare, is like a new horse. Right from the first time I used the NoBit, she has been SO much more relaxed, calm and happy. She's enjoying being ridden, and we are already accomplishing things that I never dreamed we'd do together.

Not only am I absolutely thrilled with the bridle, and with how happy it's made my horse, but I'm also converting ALOT of people at my stables, who truly believed that a horse NEEDED a bit in it's mouth to be ridden. Agistees and the public (whom I escort on trail rides) are continually amazed that I have excellent control when necessary, and that my horse is so much happier and easier to ride. We both enjoy our riding time now.

I think the bridle has also improved Milly's mood generally. Whenever she was tied up waiting to be saddled, she would often bite anyone who came near her (except me). I really think she just didn't look forward to being ridden, and she was always extremely tense. Now, she stands there happily, and puts her head down to accept the bridle. She is friendlier, and alot more enthusiastic.

I had tried so many bits with Milly, as well as countless other ways of trying to find the key to unlocking her moody-ness and tension - no mare could be THIS moody ALL the time, right? But it wasn't a bit that solved the problem - it was a NoBit! :)

Thank you ever so much for giving Milly and I such a wonderful riding experience. We've always had such a strong bond on the ground, but now our time in the saddle is so special too. We both enjoy it, and Milly is extremely content.

Thanks again,

Kind regards,
Allie

Email from Grada in TAS:

Hi Nicole

Just a note to let you know how pleased (ecstatic) I am with my new bridle. My appaloosa Freckles (!) has always been a headstrong horse even though he does have a good mouth. He restrains himself but he is always fighting the bit and will never stand still, even to wait for my partner to catch up on his slower horse.

WELL - NOT NOW!!! I really was amazed at the transformation with your bridle. I am now riding this horse on a LOOSE REIN! I can now stop Freckles completely, no arguments and wait for my partner to catch up. That was almost impossible before. It seems that it was the bit that was stressing him out. The test was when I went trail riding and we turned around to go home. We rode home on a loose rein when normally he would pull and jog all the way.

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it (which is why I am raving so much!!!) I'm sorry this sounds like one of those tv shopping ads but it was amazing!

I rode him once in the paddock to get him used to the bridle and the next day I took him out on my own on a trail ride. We walked, trotted and cantered - stopping with no problems. He is more relaxed and walks along with his head down low now. I really can't explain how much this horse's behaviour changed.

Thanks heaps for the bridle and for giving me a new horse at the same time !!!

Sorry for raving!

Regards
Grada

Email from Allie in NSW:

Hi Nicole!

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you - I had an unplanned hospital stay.

I just want to thank you SO much for the gorgeous flouro pink NoBit bridle that was made for me! It not only looks fabulous on my mare, but it has also been such a brilliant success! Milly is so much happier in her new bridle - no more head tossing - and everyone has commented on how relaxed Milly now is. Many people can't believe how content Milly is - the people where I agist are stunned at the improvement.

I was also amazed at how quickly Milly understood what I was asking her with the NoBit. Retraining time was about 15 minutes, and within the first 2 days I was jumping, galloping and taking her out on trails confidently.

She has not put a foot (hoof?) wrong since we started using the NoBit bridle, and I am absolutely thrilled! I can't thank you enough for making my horse so much happier.

Thanks again - please find attached some pics of Milly in her new bridle. As you can see, she is very focused on me and on what I'm asking of her. Thank you thank you thank you!

Kindest regards,
Allie

Email from Joan in QLD:

Hi there, I've been converted. The bridle is fantastic. My mare now canters with her head in an even position and she doesn't fight me anymore.

I have used the bridle twice and the 2nd time she was even better. Becky (my horse) stands still when asked, doesn't start tossing her head, out on the trail and we're both so much more relaxed. I'm so glad I accidentally came across your website. I will be telling others about your great bridle.

Also thank you very much for the garlic, I'm now giving her 1tbsp. everyday in her feed and also the elecampagne you suggested. Out of all the horses Becky seems to recovering the quickest from the flu and since giving her the elecampagne she only coughed once today and that's only the 3rd day of giving it to her.

As for her girth gall I was doing the girth up too tight.

Many thanks, I love going riding now, and when it comes time for my daughter to get a pony I won't hesitate in buying another.

Kind regards

Joan

Email from Kirby:

Hi! Bought a nobit bridle for my Horse Shae a few months ago, and i can't say how impressed i am with it! Shae is a different horse to ride, she was always fidgetty about her bridle, and after trying several bits, i saw your product advertised in a magazine and figured it couldn't hurt. She is now much easier to control and steer, and most importantly, she is alot a happier and not fussy about her head anymore. So thank you so much for making my horse's job that little bit more comfortable for her. I have no hesitations in recomending Nobit Bridles to all my friends!Attached is a picture of Shae in her bridle!

Kind Regards,
Kirby

Letter from Lynne in VIC:

Just a note to let you know how wonderful I have found the bridle to be, which I purchased back in March.

I rode in a marathon relay, the Blue Rock Classic 2 weeks later. Ive ridden in the Blue Rock 8 times now (it's an annual fundraiser for RDA) and this was the 4th time I've ridden my arab gelding, Sinbad. It was the first time i've ridden him in the race and not had sore arms for a week after! He normally pulls like mad in the Blue Rock Classic; this time I was in control and we both had a much better ride!

When he tries (as he has been known to do) to drop his head and throw in a buck (he has tantrums when he doesn't get his own way, sometimes) it's so easy to pull his head up - much easier than on a bit. So he no longer pulls or bucks and I am really thrilled with the bridle! Thanks also for the saddle dressing you sent.

Regards
Lynne.

Email from Georgia in NSW:

My saviour just arrived in the post. Just on a week of ordering the NoBit Bridle, I have it in my hot little hands and finally can see that my daughter's pony is not just a little so and so but can be a beautifully behaved, well mannered wonderful little friend to Lexi my 5 year old daughter.

Since getting Bella, an aged shetland pony, there has been nothing but fights and tug of wars between the two of them. Bella slips her tongue over the bit, even with a drop nose band on, she walks and rubs her head on the ground all the time, her biting was getting to be a real problem, and her stubborn disobedience was getting myself and my daughter at our wits end.

For the first time today, she rode her in her NoBit Bridle, for the first 10 minutes Bella seemed a little disorientated and confused, then she got it, to our amazement Bella became the quiet, well behaved, beautiful little pony I knew she could be, but just wasn't getting.

So for the first time since getting the pony, my daughter had to be nearly dragged off her horse so she could do her chores, whereas before all I heard was "I think I have had enough and so has Bella".

Bella's teeth do need to be seen to, and that was most definently part of the problem before, but with being a considerably aged pony, my dentist feels it unsafe to drug her enough for him to be able to re balance and do the extent of work she really needs on her mouth, so I would of still been in the same predicament.

So in looking back to two months ago when my mother told me about the NoBit Bridle, I thought that is a substantial amount of money for something I don't think will work, then talking to Nicole at NoBit Bridles, and knowing that there is a 30 day money back guarantee if not satisfied, I ordered one, it took just over a week to arrive, and now no looking back. If anyone ever asks me for advice on bits or bridles, there will only be three words that come out of my mouth, NoBit Bridle.

I myself will not be asking for my money back, as I am more than satisfied with the quality, the ingenuity of the bridle, and I am over the moon that finally I have bought something that really does work, and works fabulously.

Thank you ever so much.

Email from Ellie in the UK:
(Ellie's horse is our first Icelandic horse!!)

Hi Nicole,

The new noseband and adapters arrived two days ago, and they fit perfectly

on Björk - the cheekstrpas are now well away from her eyes, and the cross-over straps still work just as well with the 'O' rings further back. The rein adapter length is much better too. Thanks for making those up for me. I really love the bridle and it looks very smart - the black colour puts my black leather reins to shame!

I left it until today to email you because the first night I went out I was with somebody else and I wanted to make sure the steering was just as good when I was on my own, which it is. So I am very pleased.

I will be using it at my riding course over the weekend, and I'm hoping to get a few converts. I couldn't go back to using a bit now - it seems so medieval somehow. And I'm delighted that I now have a smart bridle rather than the nylon one I had been using. I'm hoping it'll get noticed this weekend and people will be interested enough to think about trying it out themselves. I'll take your leaflets along just in case!

Thanks again - I'm going to have no hesitation recommending you to others.

Ellie

Email from Genevieve in NSW:

Hi,

Just wanted to let you know how the bridle worked for me. I received it last Wednesday, just before the easter long weekend.

I have a quarter horse named Dartanian, he has been a bit of a challenge. Throwing his head around, refusing to move (getting from walk to trot or trot to canter could at times be extremely trying), fighting he bit. When he didn't want to go in a certain direction we would walk backwards across paddocks, reverse into creeks and dams.

I first wanted to try this bridle because it doesn't have a bit and I thought it would be much kinder, I know I wouldn't want to work all day with a metal bar in my mouth. Other than that I had no great expectations.

First I was expecting to spend some time retraining, but this didn't happen, On the first ride when I pulled to the right he went right (with a bit of head shaking) and left when I pulled to the left (but no head shaking). After a little while (I'm sure after his realisation that this isn't too bad) we actually did a lot of work without fighting, and there is no problem whatsoever going through the different gaits, he is actually willing to try different things, and the reversing has stopped. The only thing I have noticed is his turning is a little wider, but I'm sure this will improve with time.

If someone had said to me before I had tried this bridle that I would have a different horse, I would have said they were mad, nothing that simple would make such a drastic change. But it has, and I am so glad I tried it. And without hesitation will recommend it to anyone.

Thanks for the opportunity to make Dartanian a happy horse and willing partner.

Genevieve

Email from Lisa in Vic:

Hi,

I got my new Nobit bridle from you a few months ago and last Monday try it out for the first time. I had my horse semi leased out to a lady but found out a few weeks ago that she hadn't ridden him in 6 months. He is a purebred arab gelding and I thought I'm going to have fun with him as he is young and not been ridden in all that time, so I thought bugger it, straight on with my new NoBit bridle and see what happens. Well he was just FANTASTIC and took to the bridle right away. I even put my 15 y.o. daughter (she's a beginner) on him and he was great, then my younger two children rode him for the very first time, so after not being ridden for all that time he was great. So now the next big step will be the first time out on the trails as I haven't ridden him out at this agistment yet as he was on semi lease and then finding out all this time he wasn't even being ridden, so I'll let you know how we go, but he seems a lot happier in the NoBit, and was nice and calm.

Cheers Lisa.

Email from Anna in WA (update from previous email below):

Hi Nicole,

Just to give you an update on Neatly. We had another lesson today and we have finally mastered a decent controlled trot followed by a decent canter in a circle. My instructor mentioned once again today about how she use to be and how she has progressed. We were pretty excited because being a standard bred a canter in a circle is usually a very difficult feat but she has performed it quite impressively.

I also took her out in the cart about a week ago. Pictures are attached. This was the first time in the nobit bridle and she went exceptionally well. She hadn't been out in harness with the cart for about 12 months or more. I did long reign her the week before in the bridle just to make sure she would be alright. It took her about 30 seconds to figure it out and I think that was more for the fact that there was no cart behind her and I wasn't on her back so she wasn't sure what was going on at first. My husband came out with me in the cart for his very first time and it was great. We do not have any more head shaking, half rearing or sweating. She takes things so much better in her stride now and I truly believe she is a much happier horse. Bridling is now a breeze as there is no more fights with that. She is very accepting of the bridle. I am now confident that I can use the bridle in any situation and have complete control. At no time in the last few months have I felt that the bridle does not give me the same control as a bridle with a bit. In fact, because she is happy in it, I feel I have her attention more and therefore more control. Can I say here, that in no way do I have the perfect horse, she still plays up in her way occasionally, especially since she was bred to race, but I can always control her and in fact have found training her much easier as she has nothing to resist. She was in fact really a greenbroke horse when I started with the bridle with her so to achieve the canter circle in a couple of months when I don't ride more than two times a week due to my family etc., I believe is quite a good achievement. We are now even trying to get her more rounded up and I am finding her response to this aid is probably much better than if she had a bit in her mouth and wanted to fight it. So can I take this opportunity to thank you for your product. It has given me a so much more enjoyment with my horse and probably given her a much brighter future too. The Bridle definitely is easy to maintain and I will say that the "O" rings are definitely a much better option for us.

Thanks again, I do hope I can convince other riders to give the nobit bridle a go as I think horses everywhere will be much happier for it.

Regards

Anna

Email from Kirby:

Dear Nicole,

The bridle is going fantastic! Shae LOVES it! She took to it so well and seems so much more happier and comfortable in it. She's also been going alot better, really working forwards into the bridle and getting her back end up under her nicely, i am very very impressed and plan to order another one as a gift for a friend soon! Thank you so much!

Kirby & Shae

Email from Vanessa in VIC:

Hi my name is vanessa, I"m 23 years old and from victoria. I just brought a horse and have only had him for a week he's an 11 year old thoroughbred gelding and is 16.1hh. When I took him to the agistment place the first thing I did was get the farrier and just spent lots of time building up trust and letting him know me. 3 days later I fitted him with a saddle and got a new bridle for him finding the best possible and comfortable bit for a horse with a sensitive mouth. When he was younger he did Bush Racing which made his mouth tender.

I tacked him up with the new gear and all he did was stand there and relax until I mounted him and began to ride him. He was ok with me being on him it was the fact there was a bit in his mouth. He wouldn't stop walking around and I could feel him trembling under me. I eventually got him to stop so I could get off him.

The next day I took the bridle and bit back to the saddlery and they refunded it. One of the staff told me she had a no bit bridle and asked if I wanted to try Toby with it. I tried him with it and couldn't believe my eyes! He was totally different and obeyed every thing I asked of him. I could just see it that he was alot happier than the day before. If it wasn't for the no bit bridle I probably wouldn't be riding my new best friend. I didn't feel comfortable with the thought of not having a bit as it was my security of controlling the horse but after using the no bit bridle I'm alot happier knowing my horse is much happier. We still have alot to learn but at least we have a chance of being able to enjoy a great ride!

ALL THE BEST
VANESSA AND TOBY

Email from Jess (our Eques On-Line Magazine & Forum March Prize Winner):

Hello, I received the package yesterday and was thrilled with it. It is such a wonderful pack you have put together. Both the bridle and the halter look fantastic. I was also pleasantly surprised with the chamomile from country park herbs. It's exactly what my horse needs at the moment!

I will be sure to get back to you after I have used the bridle a couple of times and let you know how we are going. I used it last night with mixed results. In the arena Eli was fantastic. She tested it out, being a very head strong horse and always wants to go where SHE wants. With the NoBit there were no tug of war games, just a bit of pressure to remind her to keep on straight. Her cantering was beautiful, very balanced and steady, even in tight circles. That is something I had not been able to achieve in the halter - I normally only ride in a halter and lead rope (one rein) - or even in a bridle which she tends to fight a lot.

However she wasn't nearly so well behaved walking down the road. Last week we had an incident riding down the road where Eli got upset and started rearing. I was getting this under control when a simple thing like a branch snapping sent her right off. She lost her head and bolted like a bat out of hell home. I managed to stay on but could not bring her head around to stop her nor was she listening to my voice. I had to stick it out and eventually she came to a crashing halt at home. This was VERY uncharacteristic behaviour for her but now she has big issues walking down the road. Next day I tried again in the halter, she kept turning around for home but I just kept circling her and facing her up again. Eventually we made some progress but when I came to untack I saw the halter had been digging into her nose causing an indent.

Of course I did not want to ride in the halter for a while so the next day I stuck the bridle on. Same again, avoidance behaviour trying to turn home but with the bridle I got tough and would not let her turn away. It worked, we went right down to the end of the road with little dramas. Next day, even better. Still, I do not like tugging at her mouth like that, even if it did solve a lot of problems. I don't want to harden her mouth further.

Anyway, I tried last night with the NoBit but we took a big backward step. To begin with, she tried her avoidance behaviour but the NoBit was great, I was able to SOFTLY straighten her up. However to the end of the road, she started really acting up, would dead halt, not walk forward, her "i'm gonna rear" headshaking and lots of attempts at bolting home. The bridle was great in preventing any rearing. I would simply tighten up the reins when ever she threatened and this stopped her in her tracks. NoBit was also great for bringing a bolting horse to a stop. She had a real go at one time but I was able to pull her head around in a one rein stop. Although her behaviour had gone backwards, with the NoBit I was able to bring her under control better than either the halter or normal bridle. I love the fact that I can be quite firm with her without causing harm to sensitive mouth or nose areas.

I have to admit, it was a very windy, cool night so i'm sure this had a lot to do with things as well. I think wednesday when she is riddden again things will go a lot better.

I really cannot thank all of you at NoBit bridles enough for this wonderful gift, i'm going to get so much use out of it and my horse will really love it. I will be getting a pair of rein adaptors as soon as I can find a nice pair of rope reins (although I was nicely surprised with the reins it comes with, lovely and long and quite comfortable).

Ah, I'm sorry for such a long email :) I'm just so grateful for the prizes.

Thanks so much

Jessica
(& Eli)

Email from Joanne in NZ:

Thanks very much for the speedy delivery of the "Nobit bridle". The horse I have been riding has a tendency to pull my arms off at the start of a ride for about 5-7km and believe me that is no fun at all. (Endurance riding is the sport). On the weekend of 10/11 Janurary I was riding in a 80km event and tried the bridle out for the first time. Starting from the back I took my time and went out steady. Not one time did the horse leen or attempt to pull for the whole 80km. For that I thank you for designing something that really does live up to your claims. May look at getting a halter in the same colour to keep everything in check.

Once again thanks to you and your team for an excellent product.