EC Bridleless Challenge Concludes With Enthusiastic Participation
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By Jillian Sinclair and Brittany Bevis
Sometimes, the best ride comes when there’s nothing getting in the way of the bond between you and your horse. This can be in the form of outside world distractions or even a bridle. When it’s just you and your horse, you’re forced to focus intently on the manner in which you’re riding–how you use your core, seat, and legs–because there isn’t a bit or reins to fall back on for steering support.
As evident from the enthusiastic participation by our EquineChronicle.com readers in our recent Bridleless Challenge, there is nothing that captures the imagination quite like a horse being ridden bridleless or bareback. Why do you suppose that is? Does the vision hearken to the days of the Nez Perce Indians astride the spotted rumps of their Appaloosas galloping across the plains, bareback and bridleless?
Whatever the draw may be, the image of a horse and rider performing bridleless serves as the ultimate example of true horsemanship. Not only does bridleless riding exhibit an enhanced horse and rider connection, it shows superior balance and core connection–on the part of the rider–and willingness to accept direction from the horse. The practice itself promotes a focus on subtle leg and verbal cues, as well as an increased sensitivity to seat and leg aids.
After all, when the bridle, or saddle, is removed, there are no manmade aids to hide behind.
Some of our readers decided to test out the bond they have with their horses by participating in the EC Bridleless Challenge on social media. Over a month-long time period, participants sent in videos and photos of themselves riding, jumping, or even changing leads while bridleless. We saw Jackie Moorefield with Chex Out My Invite and Kendra Shaw with Red Hot And Soxy show their stuff by doing Bridleless Showmanship. Sophie Schonauer with Gentle Invitation and Kyra Koester with A Certain Revolution put on a clinic in Bridleless Western Riding. Devyn Ritchey with Back Fleet Boy and Charlotte Green with Central Park West showed us how to do Trail while Bridleless.
We caught up with some of the challenge riders to find out more about their submissions, why they enjoy riding bridleless, and to see if they would like for more shows to include these types of fun classes.
