H:: A bit less control, a lot more to learn

So we kicked off the shoes and were embarking on our barefoot journey. It was then when I started researching further into training and horsmenanship techniques. I went on a Horse Psychology course and learnt clicker training, and I wanted to subscribe to Parelli but it was just too expensive for a student! So I read books, of which Tao of Equus by Linda Kohanov and Dancing with horses by Klaus Hempfling were my top two.

Just hangin' around together

TofE made me really look into myself rather than always at Drifter, what signals might I have been giving off, and how much emotional congruence plays a role with horses as much as people. Horses know when we aren't feeling right, they know when we aren't ourselves. One of my teachers once told me, if you're already in a mood, don't even bother. This is an interesting concept, but one I don't completely agree with. I think it is a LK says; you have to be true to your emotions, the horse understands better if you accept you’re not happy, rather than if you're trying to be okay when you're not. Riding for me is a total stress release, and the challenge is whether Drift decides to bring me out of it, or join me in the bad mood!!!

So we decided the next part of our journey to liberty would be to ride without a bit. So I bought a Dr Cook off ebay, as these seemed to be a popular choice on the forums and we gave it a go. My first time riding him bitless I popped him over a tiny cross pole and he gave me this:

SOLD! The lack of a bit seemed to have sent Drift into orbit and I couldn't believe how different he jumped. And the best bit; excuse the pun; if I got it wrong and misjudged, Drifter was not pulled in the mouth. Since that day I've never bitted Drifter again because he doesn't need one. Nothing evangelical, just that he seemed happier which meant I was too.  He is now ridden in a side-pull for jumping and hacking and still his Dr cook for xc. I see it as part of my training process to work on his responsiveness and although it makes things more difficult at times, the reward to me is totally worth it.

It is tricky for dressage since we can't compete at all bitless. This is a huge sticking point and one I think BD really need to look at changing. I really don't see a bitless horse having any advantage so why not? Dressage at it's best, is the most beautiful display of horse/rider connection, the less the control, the more beautiful in my opinion. I've seen Grand Prix done with a cordeo, and it's utterly breath taking.

Attempting dressage HC. 

So. Which one?! I have tried so many bitless bridles to find the best connection and comfort for me and Drift. The side pull is my out and out favourite, which is literally two reins on the side of the noseband, but it is also the softest with no more pressure than a head collar. My plan is to get Drift going in this for xc next, but  he can still be partial to a good bronc for fun, so I need to make sure his responsiveness is perfect first.

'Mum, wasnt that an awesome jump?'
 Proceed to bronc for Britain forgetting Mum has yet to purchase her 'oh shit strap'!!

I love riding bitless and intend to break P using a side pull, if I can get her training and preparation right, there's no reason not to. Interestingly since I stopped riding using a bit in 2010, Drift's dentist appointments have been pretty much unnecessary, they have always commented on how fantastically soft his mouth is with no sharp teeth. And finally, riding bitless was definitely our precursor to riding at liberty, not that it has to be that way, it's just that for us, that was the natural progression.

Every rider has that one special horse that changes everything about them..