A New Era for Horses? Bridleless Competition in the UK

Mia Rodley’s Inspiring Bridleless Riding

This is exciting to see… a new era of working with horses outside the old boxes of pressure and dominance.

Some horses may not be great candidates for bridleless riding, of course. Every horse is an individual, and thoughtful training always matters more than spectacle. But if more horsepeople trained their horses well enough to ride bridleless, just imagine how different the sport could be.

Imagine how different the relationships could be ….imagine all sorts of positive outcomes!

When a horse is truly connected to the rider through understanding rather than force, the whole picture changes. It becomes less about control and more about relationship.

That is what makes the idea behind the new British Bridleless Competition so interesting. Riders will compete in dressage and show jumping without a bridle, relying on the depth of their training and partnership with their horses. The event will also include liberty work, Roman riding, and other demonstrations that highlight communication and trust between horse and human.

It is a fascinating step toward a different way of thinking about equestrian sport.

If you want to learn more about the event and see the original announcement from Mia Rodley, you can view the post here:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1HjPy2nLdg/

Go UK and Mia Rodley!

What do you think about bridleless riding in competition? Could it help shift the culture of horse training toward more communication and partnership?

Alexandra Mackenzie Doan

Positively Reinforcing good horse and dog behavior

Moose Ridge Farm is located in Lincolnville, Maine just 15 minutes from the coast. A small Dressage Barn where ground work and under saddle work come together to create deeper understanding between horse and rider through clicker training. The horses are able to move around 24/7 in paddocks adjoining their stalls and in the fields. There is a lovely sunny indoor arena, heated tack room and warm water in the wash stall. Horses are given hay 4x day and stalls are fluffy. Alexandra has been clicker training horses for 23 years - her personal horses, her boarders and her riding students. She loves putting the puzzle pieces of animal behavior and training of equines and canines together, not only worki.n with the animals but also coaching the humans. Dog classes, though new to the farm, are not new to her. She grew up with dogs and cats, has raised 3 dogs the past 25 years and is a true animal lover. Positive Reinforcement training is fun and encourages kind, clear communication within boundaries.

https://www.mooseridgefarm.com
Previous
Previous

Pioneer Camp 2026 at Moose Ridge Farm in Lincolnville, Maine!

Next
Next

Talking to Your Horse: A Positive Step for Dressage