To improve my seat, I would like to learn to ride my horse bridleless.

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Charliepony

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Now I know this is an immature and stupid goal :D

But why not? I definately don't use my seat enough, and I think it would be very good training for both myself and the horse. I used to ride my ponies without a bridle, but I'm not going to even pretend I had the slightest bit of control. This time I'm aiming to have some say over where we're going, and at what speed. In walk at the very least. There are people on youtube who can achieve immense collection with nothing on the horse's head at all, and we're talking teenagers here rather than professional riders... I would absolutely love to be able to do this with seat and legs alone.

Definately not going to try on Charlie (5 year old ginourmous and fairly sharp warmblood) because I can't see that ending well... I'm thinking more one of the ex racers. They're both essentially lazy horses and well schooled to seat, leg and voice commands, so even if we do end up racing round the arena, I imagine they will stop eventually...

So has anyone attempted this with their horse? And where would I start? Definately only going to try this in a securely fenced area!! I trust the boys not to do anything stupid, but I will be careful!
 
I can think of easier ways and safer too if you want to improve your seat. Have you thought about lunging? If you're on the lunge then effectively you can be without a bridle.
 
Why not!! as long as you do it safely - it's an incredible feeling, it really makes you realise how much we rely on our reins and I'm quite light-handed!!! I did this with my mare in an enclosed space, and by riding first in a headcollar, but with a neckstrap too. I didn't use the reins on the headcollar unless necessary but just had it there for safety in case she went crazy or something!! she didn't so eventually after a while I took off the headcollar and just used the neckstrap for direction and stopping. then took that off too. It is THE MOST amazing feeling when you achieve e.g. figures of eight, jumping (yes my horse is fantastic!) etc. Try it but be careful!!
 
Attach pelham rounding to D-rings on saddle, undo reins and thread through pelham rounding. Don't take hold of reins.

All the benefits of not using the reins to influence the horse and none of the embarrassment if you need to take them back for some reason.
 
I mean improving seat commands rather than just sticking on! As in asking the horse to collect/lengthen and move up and down paces with seat alone, as I feel if I have my hands on the reins I will use them, even without meaning to. I suppose I could just ride with knotted reins but that takes away from the sense of achievement somewhat :p Like I said, immature, but I have no transport for the forseeable future and too much time on my hands, I need a project!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHlhOvDojNw

This makes me envious! The rider is just 15, this is after working with the horse for 4 years!

Both the TBs can be ridden in headcollars, but that's only from the fields and back so they allready know where they're going.

Lunging's a really good idea, will see if I can rope someone into doing the holding onto the line part...
 
Maybe try riding bareback first, with a bridle but prehaps with a loose rein contact?

I decided once to be adventurous and ride my old horse with no bridle or saddle. Was going ok until I decided to ask for canter then discovered I couldn't actually stop! My horse really enjoys canter so was having a great time just doing laps round the school! Eventually he did decide to listen and slowed down but it was abit worrying. I agree that getting someone to lunge you would be good.
 
My husband jumped on the 5 yr old the other day, i took his bridle off and put his normal headcollar on ( had saddle on) and said go on see if its any different without a bit.... he took him across 2 x 30 acres fields and the brakes were absolutely no different , he slowed him from gallop and managed a stop and same with canter , trot etc, the horse didn't question it at all. Really wasn't a big deal, only thing was the steering wasn't as sharp lol x
 
My instructor has taught a horse to do this! Just using a neck strap, you definitely need something with the right temperament though!

I think she just started by having the bridle and a neck strap and using both for aids until she could gradually reduce the aids given by the bridle and then one day take it off entirely!
Im sure theres slightly more to it than that but thats all i know!
 
Id suggest keeping your bridle on and just knotting your reins so they are there if you need them. Them move on to head-collar and lead rope reins. You could also use a neckstrap as a steering devise, they are a lot more "effective" than people realise. I wouldn't advise just taking your bridle of and having a jolly, it isn't the safest of ideas.

If you want to improve your seat though I suggest riding with no stirrups to start with, gradually progressing to bareback. Lunge lessons with no reins and stirrups are also an excellent seat training exercise, you do need a friend/instructor to assist with this though.

Edited to add, I ride with no headgear or neckstraps on one of my horses. We can collect, extend and do half pass, figure of eight ect. I have also jumped upto 3'6" like it. I did however refine my seat whilst having a bridle/headcollar on his head. I didn't use it (reins were knotted over his neck) but it was there incase of emergencies, even the safest of horses can go for a jolly when the suddenly find themselves free of restraint!
 
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Yes! Well, not without bridle but without reins... I stopped at that point because that share ended but will try with the new share (one Arab, on TB so don't worry too much abt your ex racers.)

I started when I realised horse knew my halt aids well enough that he would (when the mood took him...) do it simply from my clenching my '6-pack'.

You can start by just knotting the reins on the neck then you still have emergency breaks available if necessary.

Possibly best to try as part of a warm-down after a schooling session where you have been thinking about your non-rein aids a lot. Then you are less likely to confuse them :-)

Steering (try bending poles and things for fun) and going up a gear should /relatively/ easy. I think slowing was a little harder when I first tried this as I was doing it bareback => slightly gripping with legs and feels different for horse anyway. It can be done though :-)
 
Ah, that's the thing! My old horse and ponies I rode bareback most of the time because I was too lazy to tack up! I found riding bareback easier than with a saddle as you can actually feel if the horse is responding instantly... Plus my old horses were all vaguely armchair shaped.

I would have continued doing so but the tbs have withers that would do irreparable damage to my bottom area :o

Don't worry guys, I wasn't going to just get on the horse with nothing on it's head, I was thinking how I would progress from bridle to no bridle, so good advice from all of you re headcollars and neckstraps and so on!! I will try with knotted reins tomorrow, and if at any stage I feel out of control I wouldn't progress to the next! The thoroughbreds, particularily G, are the sort of horses who if you take your leg off, they stop!! So I don't think I'll have too much trouble!
 
I have a couple of horses that i can ride bridleless, and it really is the nicest feeling of partnership with the horse. It really shows how much u can trust your horse, and how much he trusts you.
All i would say is be safe. I would start by using a string or rope around his neck, keeping the bridle on to begin with, and seeing how easily the horse responds to neck pressure. You want to make sure you can stop and turn easily with the string before ever taking off the bridle. And stay in a safe place ie arena that he cant get out of.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNzPYdrodtc

this is my youngster first time with the string and no rein contact at all. Hes not perfect so at this stage i wouldnt take of the bridle until hes much better. Good luck with it, have fun and stay safe.
 
The rider in the first video doesnt have a great seat tbh.
I wouldnt have thought bridleless would help the seat much- you shouldnt be reliant on the hands even with a bridle- lunge lessons, work without stirrups and bareback would be far more beneficial
 
I used to do it when I was younger on a very fiesty Arab I owned. Used to use a neckstrap and voice commands. This was a 14.1 jumping pony who'd do Grade B tracks with me. He was a handful at the best of times, but went really well unbridled. We spent a lot of time training though and he'd turn like a barrel racing pony in just the neckstrap. Brilliant boy. I really miss him. He was my Once In A Lifetime Horse for sure. :)
 
TheMule said:
The rider in the first video doesnt have a great seat tbh.
I wouldnt have thought bridleless would help the seat much- you shouldnt be reliant on the hands even with a bridle- lunge lessons, work without stirrups and bareback would be far more beneficial
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agree with this I am afraid.

if you want to do it for fun its a different matter, but imo there are much better ways of improving your seat.
 
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