> > Here's a picture that I really like. > > It's a lady rider. Her horse is really digging in for a sliding stop. > > Her hands are SO light and you can tell very easily that they are! > > She is "controlling" that horse, has some light contact, but the horse's > mouth is not bothered, and no noseband is necessary.
Nor is a curb bit--nice to see a snaffle on a reining horse. At the National Western Show every January in Denver, there's a top-level freestyle reining class. Every year, at least 3 competitors do it bridleless, either with a neck rope or (one guy rides) w/ a stick. In 2006, one guy did a routine to a country tune about rodeoing, so he rode bareback (!) and acted like he was on a bucking horse--it was really well done! The highlight of that year was that one of the bridleless riders won the class (and about $10K). It was such a joy to see these horses do sliding stops, spins, and perfect circles w/ no headgear at all. Very inspiring! Robyn
