Bitless Bridle for a youngster

I am going to start taking my youngster out more inhand with another horse ridden so she gets used to going out and about.

She hates any kind of pressure around her face, she is fine in a rope halter but anything that squeezes she doesn't like, she shakes her head and has tried to bite me (which is not like my girly at all)

I have rigged up an endurance bridle I have and taken the cheekpieces off so it is like a headcollar with a ring under the chin and a browband, would this be suitable for leading on the road with?

I know in the UK you need a bridle to lead on the road, would it class as a bridle?

I have lead her in a scawbrig attaching the rope to the ring under her chin, but because of teh design it was quie loose and may have come off fairly easily.

oops - I have been leading Trelawny out on the roads in just a headcollar for years!!!
The Lightrider might be just the job - I use one when I am offroading with Trelawny as sometimes he needs to be lead for a bit - its a combination of a rope halter and bitless bridle - I am very pleased with it! Wendy has them for sale if you are interested!

Thanks, just had a look at the lightrider but they look quite similar to a scawbrig design?

me too been leading in anything that comes to hand all my life! I think it's an urban myth that you need a bridle on the roads. In fact I RIDE bareback and in a halter and leading on the roads!
lead in whatever you both find comfortable and which transmits your signals weel. I like to use a Silvertip halter, similar to the Parelli ones but stiffer material and better tied - better shape.

Weel? I mean well

Not sure its a myth, think it's part of the highway code or insurance stipulations?

I looked at the highway code - doesn't say anything about leading a horse in a headcollar - Thankfully doesn't mention bits - it also says Never ride a horse without both a saddle and bridle.
Don't know about insurance stipulations though..............


49

Safety equipment. Children under the age of 14 MUST wear a helmet which complies with the Regulations. It MUST
be fastened securely. Other riders should also follow these
requirements. These requirements do not apply to a child who is a
follower of the Sikh religion while wearing a turban.
[Laws H(PHYR) Act 1990, sect 1 & H(PHYR) Regulations 1992, reg 3]50

Other clothing. You should wear

• boots or shoes with hard soles and heels
  
• light-coloured or fluorescent clothing in daylight
  
• reflective clothing if you have to ride at night or in poor visibility
  

51

At
night. It is safer not to ride on the road at night or in poor
visibility, but if you do, make sure you wear reflective clothing and
your horse has reflective bands above the fetlock joints. A light which
shows white to the front and red to the rear should be fitted, with a
band, to the rider’s right arm and/or leg/riding boot. If you are
leading a horse at night, carry a light in your right hand, showing
white to the front and red to the rear, and wear reflective clothing on
both you and your horse. It is strongly recommended that a
fluorescent/reflective tail guard is also worn by your horse.Riding

52

Before you take a horse on to a road, you should

• ensure all tack fits well and is in good condition
  
• make sure you can control the horse
  

Always
ride with other, less nervous horses if you think that your horse will
be nervous of traffic. Never ride a horse without both a saddle and
bridle.53

Before riding off or turning, look behind you to make sure it is safe, then give a clear arm signal.When riding on the road you should

• keep to the left
  
• keep both hands on the reins unless you are signalling
  
• keep both feet in the stirrups
  
• not carry another person
  
• not carry anything which might affect your balance or get tangled up with the reins
  
• keep a horse you are leading to your left
  
• move in the direction of the traffic flow in a one-way street
  
• never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends
  

54

You MUST NOT
take a horse onto a footpath or pavement, and you should not take a
horse onto a cycle track. Use a bridleway where possible. Equestrian
crossings may be provided for horse riders to cross the road and you
should use these where available (see Rule 27). You should dismount at
level crossings where a ‘horse rider dismount’ sign is displayed.
[Laws HA 1835 sect 72, R(S)A 1984, sect 129(5)]

• Rules for pedestrians (1-35)
  

55

Avoid roundabouts wherever possible. If you use them you should

• keep to the left and watch out for vehicles crossing your path to leave or join the roundabout
  
• signal right when riding across exits to show you are not leaving
  
• signal left just before you leave the roundabout
  

" make sure you can control the horse" well that lets out most of the people I know then, they for sure shouldn't be on the road!

And I'm in double trouble - "both hands on the reins" oops again. I've even been known to hold them in my teeth (no actually I don't do THAT on the road)
The Highway Code was written by people who know nothing about horses

Well hey - arent rules made to be broken??? I ride one handed, sometimes without a helmet (although since that poor actress died from a simple bang on the head whilst out skiing I do tend to shove one on these days) have been known to go out bareback and if I am leading from the ground I also lead on the wrong side of the road on one section of road - its the only safe way to do it - failing that the middle of the road is always pretty good for slowing down traffic!!

I think the 'you must lead with a bridle' is up there with the 'you won't be insured without a bit' rumour that gets repeated as fact when it isn't... Mind you, always best to check the small print on your insurance as some of them chuck in a cheeky term (mainly to try to get them out of paying when the time comes). Some also differentiate between a bitless bridle and a halter for riding (BB ok, halter not). But if in doubt, ring them and ask - much better to know exactly where you are.

Going back to the topic of what to use... I'd stick to the halter or if the insurance company insist, use the bridle you've modified. As long as it fits well and doesn't move around, that's going to be the main thing - remember if you are above her and the rope is under the chin you might pull the noseband round accidently.

Ponying is great though and it's really good for them- I did it with my boy when he was little, and now I'm doing it on him leading our pony so it's his turn to be the 'grown up'