The Comfort Factor & Bridle-less Riding

How do you define the comfort level with your horse? How does it affect training, and why should it be addressed? I question myself with this almost daily. How do I create a comfortable enviornment for my horses to work in, but at the same time condition them to unusual stimuli and unusual events?

Maybe what I am really describing as comfort, is not physical, it is mental. Create a comfortable mental picture between horse and I, where they trust and are confident in listening to my requests. So much so, that even in strange places, they have the connection there to just trust, without a doubt.

I rode Andie outside in the paddock with the herd today. She has been so nervous in the riding arena, that I feel as though every ride is just the same repeat of getting from nervous beginning to slightly less nervous end. There is no training in between, just coping. That isn’t the kind of riding I want my horses to become used to - coping.

The bridle-less riding came about with interest and a reminder, after watching a La Garotcha film clip earlier this afternoon. I have ridden Scout bridle-less before, but it has been almost two years. So with this inspiration, I quickly made up a workable neck rope, saddled him and away we went. He remembered pretty well. His stopping has gotten a little rusty, but it wasn’t a big issue. His turns were almost spot on from where we left off. He isn’t fully trained, but it was so much fun to play with him like this. I think he truly enjoys it as well. So, now onto putting some polish on the bridle-less work!