This is putting the ‘head down’ task to the purpose of bridling whilst sitting down. Bella has been learning to put her nose into the noseband with a bit of head down but her head has to be much lower when I sit down to do it SO this is the next stage of training for this with the goal to be a refined, good version…it is a work in progress 😉
I am training Bella for bitless riding and since backing her Sept last year (2019) I’ve started her in my normal rope halter with clip on reins. Recently I managed to get a 2nd hand Transcend Sidecue bitless bridle off ebay, it’s the same make as Stormy’s big black bridle so one day I hope to be riding in this. For now I like training in the rope halter as it gives quick, easy signals and I can use it to help lighten up the cues a lot quicker BUT I still need her to help me put it on as with big horses (or any horse really) they can be hard to bridle unless standing on a mounting block SO I choose to train my horses to bring their heads down and help me put the bridle on. This short video is the first of these sessions with Ms Bella today. With consistent work and rewards when right I know she’ll soon be putting her head down and into the bridle like Stormy does for me 😉
Just love how our 18.2hh Shire Stormy bridles himself…makes it SO much easier that he does this for us 😉