{"id":38134,"date":"2026-02-16T13:50:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T12:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/balotade.com\/sidepull-cross-under-or-hackamore-bitless-bridle-review\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T19:26:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T17:26:08","slug":"sidepull-cross-under-or-hackamore-bitless-bridle-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/balotade.com\/en\/sidepull-cross-under-or-hackamore-bitless-bridle-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Sidepull, Cross-under or Hackamore? A Big Review of Bitless Bridles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The decision to take off the bridle<\/a> with a bit and switch to “bitless” riding is only the beginning of the journey. The market offers plenty of solutions that differ from each other as much as an egg-butt bit differs from a curb bit. Choosing the wrong model can end in a lack of control, the horse’s frustration or a dangerous situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Balotade range you will find three main systems: Sidepull<\/strong>, Cross-under<\/strong> and Hackamore<\/a><\/strong>. How do they differ and which will be best for your horse?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Sidepull \u2013 simplicity and directness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is the most popular and most intuitive type of bitless bridle<\/a>. As the name suggests (side<\/em> and pull<\/em>), it works through side rings at the noseband<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n