Those First Bitless Rides!

By Kelly Howling for EyeOnEquine, Spring Edition

As we head into Spring, many riders are thinking about getting back in the saddle on a more regular basis. For some, this will mean having a go at riding bitless for the first time. As with anything to do with horses, we must make sure that we prepare our horses adequately for this new experience and think safety first!

If you have not already done so, please read the article on Groundwork Basics for Bitless Success (found in the last issue of EyeOnEquine). We will now begin building on those groundwork exercises, carrying our foundation work into the saddle. It is always a good idea to have a professional help you and your horse with the exercises to make sure you are doing them correctly – a foundation is no good if it is not done properly!

Is My Horse Ready to Ride?

You know your horse better than anyone else, and you must judge when you go out to the barn whether or not you are going to attempt your first bitless ride on that particular day. We all know horses have off days, or days when they are feeling particularly fresh or spooky – days like this are not going to be the best opportunity to try riding bitless for the first time. You will not get an award for saying “Well, my horse is pretty hyped up, but I'm going to try it anyways”. Make sure you set your horse up for success by choosing a day when both you and your horse feel good.

Your groundwork exercises are a helpful indicator for discovering where your horse's mind is at. Run through your exercises first thing, and observe how your horse does with them. Remember, these exercises carry over to riding, and if your horse doesn't understand them well from the ground you cannot expect him to comprehend your requests from the saddle. If your horse is stiff, bracing and/or resistant, take the time to work on the exercises on the ground until your horse is yielding correctly to your signals. For example; if I ask my horse to back up from halter pressure on the ground, and instead of backing up he throws his head up in the air violently, you can bet I am going to get that fixed and working for me on the ground before I get up and ride.

I typically run through the exercises first in a rope halter with 12' lead attached to it. The 12' lead gives me greater flexibility with the exercises, as well as the ability to move my horse around me in a circle, if needed. Provided that all goes well, I then finish tacking my horse up with whatever headgear I will be riding in that day (bitless bridle, bosal, hackamore, rope halter or other) and run through the basic exercises again, so that I am positive the horse understands the signals with that particular piece of equipment.

Safety First

When you think your horse is responding well enough to the equipment to mount up, please keep the following safety considerations in mind for your first bitless ride(s):

•  Wear your safety gear! This includes a helmet, appropriate footwear, and perhaps even a safety vest.

•  Have someone supervise you. There is no shame in asking someone to keep an eye on you, or have them pop in to check on you every once in awhile. When I put the first rides on a young horse, riding a horse known for dangerous behavior, or when I try out a new piece of equipment I will frequently ask someone to keep an eye on me.

•  Ride in an enclosed area, with no other horses present. This will minimize the chances of a wreck should anything go wrong. It also reduces the number of distractions for your horse so that the two of you can focus on getting used to the new equipment.

•  Have someone lead or walk beside you for the first few times around the arena. Use this time to check your brakes and your backup, do several halt/walk transitions, and do a few patterns to check your steering before you are “turned loose”.

•  Keep it short and simple, and only do things you know your horse can succeed at. Just because your horse is responding at the walk does not mean you need to take him out and try jumping around a 3' course or immediately hit the trails. You want your horse's first experiences with this new way of riding to be great ones – so end things on a good note, and don't keep pushing.

Transferring Your Groundwork to the Saddle

When you first mount up, you should immediately repeat the backing and flexions exercises from the saddle.

- Ask your horse to tuck his nose (vertical flexion) by picking up on the reins. This will test how well your horse is responding to the pressure of the noseband.

- Ask your horse to back up one or two steps, using your body first and then picking up on the reins. This again tests your horse's response to noseband pressure.

- Ask your horse to flex laterally to the left and right, the same way you did from the ground. This checks how well your horse understands pressure to the side of his face – for what will assist your steering (in addition to your weight/seat/leg aids).

(If you are struggling with the above, your groundwork may not be strong enough. Ask someone for help.)

When the above is working properly, you can encourage your horse to walk off. Ask your horse to halt after he has taken a few steps forwards, and again ensure you can get a nice soft halt, backup and flexions. Then continue on your way.

As you are riding, check to make sure you still have control over each part of your horse's body – can you still get turn on the forehand, turn on the haunches and lateral work? Do plenty of patterns to check and work on your steering, and incorporate lots of transitions. Do only what you and your horse are comfortable with, and make sure all of your basics are working well for you before you add speed to the mix. Remember – if it isn't going well for you at the walk, it is sure going to fall apart at the trot!

Again, keep those first rides short and simple and create success for you and your horse. From there you can increase both the amount of time you spend in the saddle and the difficulty of the things you ask of your horse. Ride safe, and enjoy your new bitless experience!

** Note: This article is not to replace training or instruction. Seek the help of a professional when attempting new methods.

Kelly Howling runs EquineAware Horsemanship out of Cambridge, Ontario. Her broad background in training, covering a wide range of disciplines, enables her to solve common groundwork and training issues with any horse/rider combination. As an avid bitless rider, Kelly has also demonstrated bitless riding in a variety of venues and enjoys helping others make the switch to bitless.

In addition to her training experience, Kelly has completed courses in equine nutrition and acupressure, and has received certification in equine bio-energy work. www.EquineAware.com