Bridleless schooling my wild thoroughbred :)

Girlracer

Girlracer

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Having been trying to teach him this for a while now, (in the interest of variety of course) I was brave enough to go bridleless for the camera, and other than one slightly rodeoesque moment he was excellent (I swear he forgot I was there when I first asked for canter, so he cat leaped his way round for a lap....!).

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:)
 
Lovely pictures, it's very interesting to me how low they naturally carry their heads when the bridle is taken away. Different from when they are riderless.
 
Gorgeous, he looks like he's being a very good boy. I've been doing this with mine as well (with varying amounts of success!) I'm going to try to get some pictures of him tomorrow.
 
pistolpete said:
Lovely pictures, it's very interesting to me how low they naturally carry their heads when the bridle is taken away. Different from when they are riderless.
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I was thinking just the same, I have watched some video's lately of bridleless work and in all the horse has a much different carriage to 'normal' ridden work......
 
Thanks everyone, NM it's taken a lot of work to get him to this point, he's not the most straightforward and I did wonder what the heck I was thinking as he bronced and cat leapt his way round the school :D
 
Girlracer said:
Thanks everyone, NM it's taken a lot of work to get him to this point, he's not the most straightforward and I did wonder what the heck I was thinking as he bronced and cat leapt his way round the school :D
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Fig is fine if I drop my reins whilst schooling, but I don't think you'd see us again if I did so out in a field!!!

Bless him, well done for getting him to this stage of trust.
 
Lovely pictures you both look great, when I have backed horses in the past I always make good use of a neck strap and use it when I want them to stop, keeps a good soft mouth and a horse that reacts instantly (most times ;) keep up the good work just a great way to build trust
 
Well done! having not done bridleless stuff for a decade, myself and OH are getting the bug again- thanks to youtube 'free riding ' with Alycia Burton. Never going to jump that size however!
Cobsgalore - begin ,in an arena- riding on a halter , and have reins really loose, getting stopping/starting /turning etc cued into the horse from your legs and seat. pregress to halter and 1 loose rein . The day you take off that halter is marvellous - best of luck!
 
CobsGalore said:
Great photos! This is always something I've wanted to try but no idea where to start and how to teach my horse, any tips?
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I'm not sure how you're meant to do it, but I got him to the point under saddle where he turned, stopped and started from my seat without question. I did tons of ground work as well getting him to move away from pressure etc. And just built it up until i felt happy I would have control.

Found the ground work super important though. :)
 
Chan said:
Amazing!!

I'm desperate to try that with Neddy :) I'm working on voice commands and controlling him with my seat etc, so hopefully soon!!
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Two of ours are very trained to voice commands.. possibly over-trained, say 'whoa' in a very quiet voice and they will come to a full stop from any pace, including a gallop. It proved useful when my niece rode one of the girlies and things got a bit out of hand as she was used to RS ponies and used very strong aids... pony started to cart her and she would have been in trouble were it not for the 'whoa'.

That particular horse will go happily with dropped reins and seat aids but she has never had her bridle off..... yet. She is bitless in a Dr Cooks so it isn't a very big step to take. Hope she does as well as the OP's lovely horse.
 
I often rode in the arena with washing line reins and used voice and leg aids at all paces turns etc. I did on occasion use a head collar, put on loosely with reins attached to each side. Never quite had the nerve to go bare faced!

We'll done you.
 
A really inspirational post - I so want to do this with mine! I can control him at walk and trot off a headcollar and leadrope knotted onto it, but actually giong that step further would be amazing!
 
3bh said:
A really inspirational post - I so want to do this with mine! I can control him at walk and trot off a headcollar and leadrope knotted onto it, but actually giong that step further would be amazing!
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Thank you, it was quite a weird feeling, but something I've been aiming toward for a while so very rewarding :)
 
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