> i have not tried bridleless on the trail yet at all.
just seems tho a horse wouldnt take to bridle-less too well if it gallops back to the barn just because you stopped to adjust a glove. I can drop reins and Tivar and Jaspar will walk over and start grazing. ButTivar headed back to the barn when my daughter rode him and I think it was because he was upset someone new was riding him. Whatever the reason, maybe she did something wrong, whatever, he was uncomfortable with it and wanted to go HOME. She said later she was afraid of him and no doubt he picked up on that... I have found also, my horses behave better on the trail than at home. If the paddock is in view they are sorta uninspired for lack of a better word! I just feel there is a similarity between riding bridle less and being able to let go of the reins a minute to fiddle with something, dont you? In both cases the horse is being cued with legs/seat and behaving without steering mechanisms. or misbehaving as the case may be. I have to direct rein my Stonewall for instance even tho he is perfectly fine tuned at neck reining and leg reining. I have to direct rein him tho because he waits til he has a couple of inches wiggle room and zeeeeee whirls or does something nutty. i think he needs ritalin. But i would no more try to ride bridle-less with him than try to parasail into an active volcano. I would not hesitate to ride Tivar or jaspar tho, in fact i woukdnt even worry about it. janice yipie tie yie yo
