Bitless Bridle First Try

Well, I have to say I am impressed. I fitted Phantom with the new Dr. Cook's bitless bridle today. Normally, when a bridle with bit is placed in her mouth, she gets tense and makes a fuss if the same bridle has a brow band. I put her on the cross ties and after the dust and fluff, and unclipped her halter and slipped it over her head. I unbuckled the noseband of the new bitless and slipped it on. No fuss, no muss. She even accepted the fact that this was an English style headstall with brow band.

Then she quietly stood while I read the "User's Guide" and made the appropriate adjustments. I was amazed at how quiet and calm she was, especially since we haven't done any work in about six months. She also seemed to understand and work with the new bridle quicker than expected, but since I only worked with her from the ground today, I won't have a full evaluation until I actually sit in the saddle.

I ordered the Draft size as historically these are the only headstalls that seem to fit warmblood sized horses. I have all the straps to their highest holes and it still looks like I have an inch of play on each side. So I've asked for the Bitless bridle folks for some advice. Normally, I'd put some additional holes in the bridle, but it's a synthetic AND if it doesn't work, I have a 30 Day Money Back on it. So far the company has been VERY user friendly.

I'll keep ya posted.

Dr. Cook's Bitless Bridle

Over the past few years, it seems that getting just the right bit for Phantom has been a major challenge. No matter how many times I measure, have another experienced horse person measure, etc... I've always felt that whatever bit I ended up with was never "right". Phantom is not hard mouthed and I really want to keep it that way. So, one day while looking through the latest "Yankee Pedlar Horsemen's edition" publication, I came across an ad for Dr. Cook's bitless bridle and thought..."hmmm...I wonder if this might be a good solution." They had a web site, and I visited.

You'd be amazed at the number of people that have written about their success with this bridle. I've read the product material on the web site and read the hundreds of reviews from satisfied riders that have had similar feelings and issues with bits and their own riding experience. The testimonials made the difference for me. How can 374 pages (Dec 2000 - March 2008) of heartfelt testimonials be wrong? The people writing their stories range from professional dressage and eventers to the weekend horseman.

Now some might think that I might be hard on my horses mouth. Heavy handed or my hands aren't quiet.

Firstly, I am not a heavy handed rider, all of my instructors have said that I'm light and have quiet hands. I do my level best to use leg, seat, and voice over the bit. My friend and current instructor, always said that the "Horse's brakes are in their feet, not their mouth". C'est vrais.

Others might say that my horse is hard-mouthed or has dental issues, or is just a pill.

Secondly, Phantom does not have any issues with her mouth. Her teeth are perfect and she has no sores on her tongue, lips, or any other part of her mouth. She does have a lower palate, which is why I moved away from a snaffle all together. I ride in a meyler low-port mullen mouth which she seems to be fine with, but I always felt that it was hard on the bars of her mouth. I just feel that she is one of those horses that would do well without a bit.

A few years ago, someone had suggested going to a hackamore as there was a pony that had similar bit tolerances. Once the owner switched to a hackamore, the pony was a perfect gentleman and no longer tried to dump the kids. Phant's only intentionally tried to dump me twice, on the same day. That is due in large part to another rider letting her get away with stuff. But in regard to the hackamore, I never got around to that stage.

Since Phantom has had about six months off, I thought we'd start fresh this Spring. Lots of ground work and a new bitless bridle.

I contacted Bitlessbridle.com. Their staff was very swift to respond and answered my questions. within 2 hours of my hitting the send button. I ordered the bridle the same day. I ordered it the 15th it arrived on the 17th. It comes with a 30 Day money back guarantee. Also if you buy the synthetic and decide that you want to upgrade to a leather, just clean up the synth and send it back, they credit you the purchase price of the synth and you pay the difference.

I thought it was very nice that the bridle actually comes with a "User's Guide" to make sure that you have the proper fit for your horse and a trouble shooting guide if the rider should note that there are somethings that aren't going quite right with suggestions for tweaking.

I ordered the synthetic as it was an inexpensive option. It looks like leather when it comes out of the box. Mine is the English design as the Western doesn't come in warmblood/draft size. It is a nice simple design. I will be trying it out on my mare this weekend and will post more when I have something to report and will try to get photos of the experience.

My Second Side Saddle Lesson

February 18, 2007

Took my second lesson this weekend. One word...OUCH.

I was riding a different side saddle that dropped my left hip making me feel like I was sliding off to the left despite the fact that the saddle remained true. So, now my left back muscles are sore and my right leg kept stressing at the hip joint and in the last trot, my right calf cramped because I was compensating for the drop. That and my right leg was working really hard to keep me forward where I needed to be.

The saddle had a longer seat than the previous one I rode on. It apparently makes "A LOT" of difference, also the amount of padding under the right leg. So the riding lesson turned into a valuable "seat" lesson; having the proper saddle for the rider. Both the fitter and the instructor switched to the new saddle thinking it would be more comfortable for me, turned out that the previous one, despite the horn over my left leg being a little tight, and having a shorter seat, was more of an ideal fit.

Despite all this, I still had a blast. I'm still getting used to the "new normal" -- not having my right leg to aid. My grumpy little QH was not as grumpy, though he was still a bit of a pill at times.

I'm hoping to get the chance to try out two Circle R custom saddles (www.circlersaddles.com) in the 1.8 - 2.6K range) at my next lesson. I'll let you all know how it goes. In June I will have my mare fitted for a custom side saddle.

Side Saddle: A Novice's Journey

I had been thinking about riding aside for a few years, but various reasons, the chief amongst them being the lack of an instructor, brought the idea to an abrupt whoa. Then one day, I don't remember if it was just a moral imperative after looking at a XVe century French manuscript depicting ladies arrayed in damask finery and riding palfreys aside, or a conversation with a friend of mine in our living history crowd, that spurred me on again. Needless to say, I was bitten by the blue tail fly, but instead of being bucked and pitched, I began searching in earnest for an instructor. I had to learn this style of riding.

My introduction to this elegant art of horsemanship began in December of 2006. After various searches, I found the NEA (New England Aside) Association and sent an email to them in hopes that they would have a member who could help me achieve my goal. Within a day, I was contacted by the organization's secretary and a dialog began. The NEA was very helpful and soon, after the long and seemingly fruitless searches, I finally had the name of an accomplished horsewoman not too far from my home that taught ladies the art of riding aside and access to a side saddle technician who was well versed in the history of the saddles and would bring various types of side saddles to my first lesson to show me how to check the fit and introduce me to the parts of the saddle.

Now some of you might be thinking, 'why on earth would anyone want to ride that way, isn't it dangerous?'. Well, read on, because I found myself wondering the same thing...about the dangerous part, but now...let's take a look at the first part of the "why" question.

Why on earth would anyone want to ride that way?

Well, the simplest answer is another question...why not?

Firstly, I am a historical interpreter, when not performing my real job as a UI Designer. My area of interest is XVe century Burgundy and France, that's the 15th century (1400-1499). I normally portray three roles depending on the need of the group. The first is a mounted archer -- this is an archer much akin to how we think of mobile artillery. I ride to the battlefield, dismount and join up with other archers and armed personnel of a Burgundian Lance of the Ordinance Companies of Charles the Bold, Duke of Valois Burgundy (1467 -1477)-- I would normally ride my horse astride for this portrayal. My next role is that of a middle class Burgundian merchant. For this role, I wear a full dress and can ride my horse astride, though this is deemed to be not very ladylike, and unlike the English ladies of Richard II's reign and before, the ladies on the continent had been riding aside for a very long time, as early as 1192 if some of the extant seals of noble women are accurate. My third portrayal is that of a lady of the lower nobility, and it is for these latter two portrayals that I found it necessary to ride aside. In historical re-enactment of the Middle Ages, it is an under represented part of the woman's equestrian portrayal.

The second 'why' has to do with physical issues. I'm about 5'-4" and I ride a 16h mare, who I lovingly refer to as La Belle Dame sans Merci (The beautiful lady without mercy). She is a heavy hunter with a round, wide barrel. This tends to cause knee and back stress for me. During my first lesson (I'll get to that in a future post), one of my instructors told me that a side saddle is a good saddle for relieving some of these issues. By not having to ride with a leg on either side, I don't have to practically split myself in half to ride, thus alleviating the stress across my lower back. Also, since I don't have to wrap my legs around a wine cask (my mare's barrel), I don't cause stress on my knees. So a side saddle has made it possible for people with different levels of physical impairment to be able to pursue riding again or for the very first time. And I have to tell you, that it is a wonderful thing.

So, there you have the 'why' of riding aside and the beginning of my tale. Next, I'll tell you where not to begin.