Photo Challenge: 9 Readers Going Bridleless

Look ma, no bridle!

Want to test how well your seat and legs are working in concert? Want to see how over-reliant you might be on your hands? Remove your bridle! My riding coach in college used to do that to me all the time, and over the course of four years, I definitely learned how to use the rest of my aids. These readers appeared to have no trouble at all!

Kelly Burns: Photo by Jen Cleere

Megan Gilker: Half Arabian JAG Lady Pegasus+/ “Peggy.” Photo by Julie Sutherland

My son Gavin and his first pony, Paisley (Arabian/POA), back in 2014. Photo by Erin Kavanaugh

Ashley Moniz: Me and my mare, Lokelani.
Photo credit: Marsha Latham

My daughter Maren Hanson and her pony Drake Photo Credit Christie Hanson

Lynn Howland: Photo credit Syd Howland

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Next goal-Derby cross bridleless

A post shared by Tracy Venier (@tracyvenier) on Dec 12, 2018 at 12:48pm PST

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That one time I went (almost) completely naked! Someone’s a wimp and needed a cushy bareback pad. #goriding #arabiansofinstagram #halfarabian #dressage #hunterjumper #horsetricks #arabiansporthorse ? cred: Dorann LaPerch

A post shared by EC Quo Vadis (@quovadisthehorse) on Jan 9, 2019 at 4:33pm PST

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As much as I love putting in serious work, I need to get a little bit of this back in my life! April 2017, only seven months after my abdominal laparotomy and I was teaching my horse, and kind of myself, how to ride bareback and bridleless to gain some strength back. That’s the ultimate trust exercise in my opinion. He’s a good soul ❤️ #thoroughbred #horse #bridleless #barebackriding #goriding #tuesdaymotivation #harderthanitlookspeople

A post shared by @ carlykosar on Jan 8, 2019 at 8:42am PST

Keep an eye out for next week’s 24-hour photo challenge! We announce challenge subjects on Monday afternoon on both Instagram and Facebook.

Go riding!