Bitless Dressage

[Alex]

Isn't it exciting that there will now be graded classes at dressage shows for horses ridden in bitless bridles! I have ordered one and am going to do my best to give it a go. What do you all think about this and have any of you tried dressage in a bitless bridle?

[Enzo]

Nothing wrong with it BUT you need to prepare your horse for it, don’t think that you will just put it on and ride and it will work! It’s the same as taking a horse that has never been ridden before and you shove a bit in it’s mouth and think the horse will know what to do with the bit.

[Chelsea]

How is it going to work? Will there be a seperate class at shows for bitless and then if so, will there be enough people in it?? Does it mean that George and PE will be doing it too?? My friend has one and I have borrowed it on my horse and he goes really really nicely in it!! So glad that they allowing it into dressage shows now!!!

[Laura]

have a look at the Corbin Bitless bridle. It has a lovley concept and has a gradual change from a bitted bridle to a bitless or it can be easily changed from one to the other depending on the horse. I have only heard amazing things about this bridle and as soon as i have saved up enough i will be buying one.

www.corbin.co.za

[Laura]

so sorry its actually www.corbinsaddlery.co.za

[Chelsea]

Bitless bridles in competition
To date bitless bridles are allowed in the disciplines of: Showjumping, Cross Country, Equitation and Endurance.



NEWS FLASH : SANEF approves bitless dressage for a one year trial!


At the annual National Dressage Meeting in February, 2008, SANEF approved the introduction of bitless dressage classes at graded dressage shows on a year trial basis starting early 2009. This followed extensive representations to SANEF by a Bitless Dressage Committee over a long period of time. All aspects of bitless riding and dressage competitions were discussed and a proposal was then put up to the National Dressage Committee where it was debated at the February meeting. South Africa should be proud that their Equestrian Federation has been so forward-looking as to be one of the first countries to give bitless dressage an official forum. Final details of the rules governing bitless dressage and classes will be announced in due course – as well as the starting date. Over the years the art of horsemanship has developed and changed as new approaches to equipment and training have evolved. Recently these changes have become more profound as riders and owners of all sorts have embraced modern concepts of horsemanship less anchored in military roots. This has opened up a whole new curiosity as to how well dressage tests can be done bitless. Any riders who are inspired to do 'formal' bitless dressage – whether they currently ride bitted dressage or don't ride dressage but ride bitless and may be keen to enter dressage – are requested to express their interest by emailing their name, locality and experience to: [e-mail] so that a register of bitless dressage riders can be compiled. Please also state what bitless bridle you are currently using. To read the SANEF proposal go to: http://www.horsejunction.co.za

Thank you to SANEF for being the first federation in the world to give bitless riders an official forum !

3 Corbin

[Enzo]

Some interesting history about bitless riding. Bitless riding is as old as time itself, it was brought to Spain when the Moors invaded the country, this was a very very very long time ago. The Moors are also the ones that invented the saddles (tree less saddles stuffed with grass) and their designs are still very prevalent in today’s saddles. The cantle was the shape of the moon sickle and they decorated the saddles with silver sun’s, this all had to do with their gods or was that religion? Just think how a western saddle looks like with all the silver work on it (silver suns), then the English saddle still has the moon sickle cantle.