Last weekend, the first ever British Bridleless Competition was held in Merrist Wood, Guildford.
Created in response to the growing movement of riders who wish to compete without a bridle, this groundbreaking event offered something the UK - and perhaps, the world - has never seen before: a full competition dedicated entirely to bridleless riding.
Horses competed at multiple levels, from leadline without a lead all the way to Grand Prix.
In the afternoon, the focus shifted to jumping.
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| Lynne Macleod and Hermes |
Jump heights varied from itty bitty to 1.3 meters.
Multiple safety protocols were in place, and bridles were used in the warm-up arena. In the showring, however, only neck ropes were permitted.
Obviously, I was not in attendance, but I've watched lots of videos from the event. It is striking how relaxed and happy these horses look and how few conflict behaviors are present.
In recent years, I have fallen out of love with most equine competitions, but not this. I absolutely love this.
Congratulations to Mia Rodley, the founder of the British Bridleless Competition, and all the competitors who made its inaugural event such a rousing success.
This is the way forward for ethical horse sport.
Thank you, also, to Tarr Steps Services for allowing me to share their photos. These pictures are so inspiring. Thank you, everyone! Thank you!
Deeeeep sigh,.... As much as I am pleased to see a happy place like this for horses in the future, Damn! it's hard on tackmakers.
ReplyDeleteI’m taking this on a tangent, but I think your comment raises an interesting debate. On the whole, I think that most model horses artists avoid portraying unethical things like big lick TWHs with weighted chains now, but I still see artists who (possibly unknowingly) paint/sculpt fearful expressions or conflict behaviors. Do model horse artists have an obligation to think critically about what poses/emotions they choose to portray horses? Should they try to make art that promotes ethical horsemanship? Or is it art and is any subject potentially fair game?
DeleteOh this is cool. Riding bridleless was a goal back when I was riding, and this really makes me want to make it a goal for when I start riding again.
ReplyDeleteLove this! Also very excited about ELO here in the states!
ReplyDeleteVery cool indeed! All the horses look much more relaxed!
ReplyDeleteThe horses’ expressions say it all!
ReplyDeleteI love to see such an event!
I only wonder (stab me…!), how the training behind the scenes go and not without reason: I once saw a world famous dressage rider - Isabel Werth - riding one of her very successful horses in indoor arena bridleless. I definitely don’t like Mrs. Werth’s riding style (and her she’s very arrogant), because it is just a tiny bit away from the horrible “Rollkur” and guess what: The horse was so used to that style that it behaved in exactly the same way under the saddle bridleless!
But I think the horses on the photos here are very much used to be ridden bridleless, because they look much more relaxed & happy that Mrs. Werth’s horse did in the video I saw (he looked drilled!).