02/06/2026
What I saw at the weekend gives me so much hope for the future of our sport.
The first British bridleless competition saw riders competing in both dressage and showjumping completely without a bridle. I urge you to seek out the footage of these tests and rounds, but more importantly, sit down and really watch what these horses and riders are doing.
This is what our sport should be about.
True connection that cannot be masked, forced or falsified with two reins, a bigger bit or the latest piece of “magic” equipment.
Horses afforded the freedom to move their head, neck, jaw, tongue…unrestricted, and still performing. Not just performing, but performing comfortably and happily.
Every single one of these riders deserves our respect. Whilst so much attention is given to those who can only achieve these things with metal, leather and restriction, these riders are achieving harmony through nothing but training, patience and understanding.
Does everyone need to ride bridleless to prove that? No, of course not. But the amount to be learned from watching these horses, and how they respond is significant.
There is so much negativity in the equestrian world, and it isn’t unfounded. There is a lot not to like, a lot to be angry about, and a lot that needs to change.
But this felt like a breath of fresh air.
A clear sign that there are riders out there who can and will do it differently, even if they don’t get the same spotlight as the more “conventional” combinations.
These are the riders we need to champion, these are the riders we need to celebrate, because sometimes it’s hard to believe that performance sport and prioritising welfare can coexist.
But here it is, living proof and my goodness, is it magical.
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Photo of the wonderfully talented Georgie Wood Equestrian Performance, taken by Ella Dockery Photography.
