Comments on: Are You Sure You Want to Trail Ride in That Halter?

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 08:31:06 +0000

Oh my gosh,
You are so right on ! There are almost 100 horses where I board and maybe 3 of them are safe enough to ride with. They are completely unaware that they are riding 8,10 and 14 year old horses that are not really trained or broke to ride in every imaginable junk for bridles and no bits. They get hurt often and just think it’s part of the game plan. (shoot me )

By: samantha

samantha — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 09:51:31 +0000

I will say I’ve never done it like in the picture…i’ve always cliped the reins to the sides of the halter and only rode for a few minutes like that…and my horses do well with it…its gives them a break from the bridle and bit…Its sorta like a hackamore…but i only do it every great once in a while

By: Samantha

Samantha — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 13:47:38 +0000

I will take this into acount the next time I ride.

By: Brycie

Brycie — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:27:05 +0000

Cindy- Thank You – I am going to try a bitless bridle – we may ride off road but we also seem to have frequent low flying helicopters and always the occasional hot air balloon looking to land — not sure how effective anything would be if that happened – I would be dimounting in a hurry- So far she has always responded to my cues. BUT there is always that “one day”. Love your horsie tails. 🙂

By: CINDY HALE

CINDY HALE — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:15:30 +0000

BRYCIE, I HAVE NEVER PERSONALLY RIDDEN A HORSE IN ONE OF THOSE DR. COOK’S BITLESS BRIDLES… OR ANY OF THE OTHER VERSIONS OF A BITLESS BRIDLE. BUT I DO KNOW OF SEVERAL WORLD CLASS SHOWJUMPERS THAT COMPETE IN GRAND PRIX EVENTS IN BITLESS BRIDLES AND THEY ARE (OBVIOUSLY) UNDER COMPLETE CONTROL. PLUS YOU ALSO HAVE THE OPTION OF A BOSAL OR SOME SORT OF HACKAMORE. ALL OF THESE ALTERNATIVES WORK ON SPECIFIC PRESSURE POINTS THAT ARE REMARKABLY SENSITIVE TO THE HORSE. THE KEY, HOWEVER, IS THAT THE HORSE MUST BE WELL TRAINED AND SCHOOLED TO RESPECT THE RIDER AND ALSO RESPOND TO THE SLIGHTEST AID FROM THE RIDER… AND NATURALLY THE RIDER MUST ALSO KNOW HOW TO CORRECTLY APPLY THOSE CUES AND AIDS (WHICH I’M SURE YOU DO). 🙂
AS CINDY/LUNA POINTED OUT, ANY HORSE CAN STILL BOLT AND TAKE OFF IN ANY KIND OF BIT (OR BITLESS BRIDLE) TOO. SO AS RIDERS WE NEED TO MINIMIZE OUR RISKS. AND ANY SORT OF TRAIL RIDING DONE ‘OUT IN THE COUNTRY’ IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF RISK THAN RIDING ALONG STREETS, ASPHALT AND VEHICLES TRAVELING AT 35mph OR MORE.

By: Cindy and ~Luna~

Cindy and ~Luna~ — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 07:26:27 +0000

Cindy, your stories are always a delight to read! I come here every week to check it out (plus you have a great name lol).

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:18:24 +0000

lol, thats what show offs get! I ALWAYS ride with a bridle, ever halter. I honestly never even gave that much thought into doing that but now trust me, I won’t even try!

By: Brycie

Brycie — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:54:31 +0000

WOW – now you have me thinking – I ride one of my horses in a rope halter with reins attached underneath- we exclusively trailride. She has many issues with all types of bits and really does wonderfully hands free – I use the halter/ reins combo as I need the security of reins. She is a retired reining horse- who turns right if you look right — maybe I should check out Dr Cooks bitless bridle ??? any comments on these thanx

By: CINDY HALE

CINDY HALE — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:59:00 +0000

THANKS FOR THE COMMENTS. FEEL FREE TO ADD MORE. THEY’RE FUN TO READ! 🙂
I JUDGED A SHOW IN THE DESERT, NEAR PALM SPRINGS, THIS PAST WEEKEND AND WAS TOLD A SAD STORY ABOUT A HORSE THAT HAD RECENTLY BEEN HIT AND KILLED BY A CAR. IT WAS BEING PONIED IN A PLAIN ROPE HALTER BY ANOTHER RIDER. IT SPOOKED, BROKE FREE AND GALLOPED INTO TRAFFIC. THE HORSE DIED INSTANTLY AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLED.
SO TRUE, CINDY (AND “LUNA”— LOVE THAT NAME!), THAT A HORSE CAN BOLT AND RUN OFF IN A BIT, TOO. SEEN THAT HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES!
IT’S THE COMBINATION OF RELYING ON A PLAIN HALTER AND LEAD ROPE FOR CONTROL + BEING ON OR NEAR STREETS THAT CONCERNS ME.

By: Kygal

Kygal — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:15:45 +0000

like reading these stories