Sidepull Bridle: The Gentlest Way to Ride Bitless

A sidepull bridle is one of the simplest and mildest forms of bitless horse bridle. Sidepull works by applying pressure on the nose and poll. Aids given by reins are transferred directly to the noseband, creating clear yet gentle communication with your horse. For many horses, this makes a sidepull bitless bridle one of the most comfortable options for everyday riding. When fitted correctly and used with educated hands, sidepull bridle can be one of the most important tool in your tack room.

Why Choose a Sidepull?

A sidepull is an excellent choice for horses with a sensitive mouth, dental problems or previous unpleasant experiences with bits. Horses that have wolf teeth, recovering dental treatments, mouth injuries or simply dislike carrying a bit often become more relaxed when ridden in a bitless bridle.

Many riders also choose a sidepull for young horses during their first ridden work. Without a bit to worry about, the horse can concentrate on understanding basic aids and developing confidence. A sidepull bitless bridle can also be a good option for riders who simply prefer gentle communication and want to reduce unnecessary pressure whenever possible.

Sidepull or Side Pull Bridle with Bit?

A common misconception is that riders must choose either a bit or a sidepull. In reality, both systems can work together. A side pull bridle with bit combines a traditional snaffle with a sidepull noseband, allowing the rider to use either the bit, the nose pressure, or a combination of both depending on the horse’s education and the situation.

This type of setup is especially useful when introducing a horse to bitless riding gradually. Models such as the Academic Cavesson Horse Bridle Lazypony and the Working Equitation Cavesson Bridle Lazypony allow riders to work with both systems while maintaining the same anatomical fit and high level of comfort.

Why Proper Fit Is Even More Important

Many riders search for how to fit a bitless bridle without realising that a sidepull often requires even greater attention than a traditional bitted bridle. Unlike a bit, which remains relatively stable inside the mouth, a sidepull naturally moves more around the horse’s head as rein pressure changes.

If the bridle is too large, the noseband can rotate, slide sideways or shift lower on the nose. If it is too small, unnecessary pressure points may develop around head. Both situations reduce the effectiveness of the aids and can create discomfort or rubbing. Moreover, if the problem with fitting is not resolved quickly, it can lead to damage to joints, nerves and soft tissues, as well as dental problems. Correct sizing therefore becomes essential for both communication and horse’s welfare.

How to Fit a Sidepull Bitless Bridle

When learning how to fit a sidepull bitless bridle, every part of the bridle deserves attention.

Headpiece can be anatomical or straight. The anatomical has a special shape that helps to avoid pressure to the ears and that type of headpieces is very popular now. They are really more comfortable than straight ones. However, horses are very different. You need to try several shapes or have one custom made to find the best option for your exact horse. Make sure the headpiece leaves room for the ears, not too wide and big, but also not too narrow. The wideness really depends on your horse anatomy. The crownpiece of the bridle rests directly across the poll and be as wide as the poll is. If it is too wide, it won’t stay in place, but will constantly “jumps” and pull the rest of the bridle up when the horse bends its poll. If it’s too narrow, it will create pressure points. The cutouts for the ears of the anatomical headpiece should end below the moving part of the auricle. Otherwise, the edge of the cutout will press when the horse turns her ear.

The browband should be loose enough that it does not pull the headpiece forward. Three fingers should fit under it freely. All browbands of unusual shapes, large decorations, etc. should be sufficiently loose.

The throatlash should remain comfortably loose and should never be used to hold the bridle in place. Make sure you leave it loose enough to allow horse to bend and move her jaw. A vertically placed fist should fit freely under the throatlash. If you choose a model where the throatlash is attached to the cheekpieces. This type of throatlash need to be tightened enough to keep cheekpieces parallel and do not too tight to pull cheekpieces down.

Cheekpieces length are very important. The buckles should be positioned so that they are approximately level with the corner of the eye and away from the temporomandibular joint. Pay special attention to this! Buckles that rub against or touch the joint will damage the joint. This is extremely painful and will persist and bother the horse even after you remove or replace the bridle. It’s crucial to ensure that your horse doesn’t wear a bridle that could damage its joints for even a single day.

The noseband is particularly important on a sidepull. It should sit approximately two fingers below the facial crest and should not be positioned too low on the softer part of the nasal bone. The noseband should also remain comfortably loose, allowing at least two vertical fingers underneath. A sidepull works through correct positioning and rein aids – not through excessive tightness.

Anatomical Design Makes a Difference

An anatomical sidepull bitless bridle distributes pressure over a larger surface area. A wide padded noseband helps spread rein pressure more evenly across the bridge of the nose, while an anatomical headpiece reduces pressure behind the ears and around the poll.

Both Classic Sidepull Lazypony and Sidepull with Patent Inserts Lazypony feature wide padded nosebands, soft padded anatomical headpieces and carefully balanced construction designed for comfort and clear communication. Sidepull with Patent Inserts has an additional stabilising strap beneath the jaw helps keep the noseband in position, reducing unwanted movement during riding. Classic Sidepull Lazypony has lighter, more relaxed design for more experienced in bitless riding riders and horses.

Custom Size for Better Comfort

Finding the correct size is especially important with bitless bridles because every horse has a unique head shape. One horse may need Cob cheekpieces with a Full noseband, while another may require an oversized browband or shorter throatlash. Standard sizes do not always provide the balanced fit needed for a sidepull to work correctly.

For this reason, every Lazypony sidepull can be made to your horse’s individual measurements at no additional cost. Different parts of the bridle can be produced in different sizes, ensuring the noseband, headpiece and cheekpieces all sit exactly where they should. A properly fitted anatomical sidepull bitless bridle improves communication and reduces rubbing, pressure points and unnecessary movement during every ride. All that your horse need for comfortable and healthy work! Lazypony Saddlery Workshop