Pacha - february 20, 2012

Silk-ribbon reins - hitherto, I considered those exploits performed by Rousselet, de la Bigne and other famous Masters as sheer proof of their superior riding skills. The work I am doing with Pacha with the 'lose draw-reins only' opens my eyes about a quite different, and much deeper understanding of a key principle that I would formulate as:'There is no limit to the lightness of the hand'. Even the lightest hand can be made even more light, for example when using a silk ribbon which has no self-weight, that the hand must treat with extreme care not to break it. Similarly, the lose draw reins seems to leave you without any means of action - and yet, it works so well with Pacha! I am convinced that in both cases, this ultra light and fragile contact with the mouth forces the rider to substitute the seat/weight actions to the hands aid. The contact with the mouth is reduced to carry the messages from the horse to the hand, while there is alomost no reverse messages (or so tiny that they are restricted to fingers pressure on the 'rein'. The horse is then finding a comfort and a tranquillity commensurate with the extreme sensitivity of his mouth which is no longer affected by the hand actions.
It strikes me that such a process produces each and every time a relaxation on Pacha, at the three gaits and even at the beginning of the session , when his hot temper could generate a legitimate apprehension to the rider.
Going further in this line of thought, I now can understand the value of the bitless riding and even utimately the bridleless riding (with a neck collar only). Of course, measure and balance should be kept in envisaging these ideas. These processes should only be applied as a means of relaxation, on an educated horse that you know intimately (hence with which reciprocal confidence has been built over a long time), and as simply one of the exercises in a working session. I do not believe that those who claim that it could become a permanent way of riding, and schooling horses are neither realistic, nor achieving real dressage.I would go even further in dismissing the (weird) critics who would say that bitless riding is not deserving the attention of 'real horsemen' as long as it is practised together with conventional bridle/snaffle riding.
To conclude, I suggest to learn from the example of outstanding ecuyeres such as Emilie Haillot  or Alizée Froment  who tactfully and cleverly incorporate this approach in the wonderful dressage of their respective horses. Here are two delightful video clips about each of them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoZ31XXvzcw&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwyHqmsAXRs