Click here to read all the latest bitless news. 

Topics include: 
Equitana Sydney Report. 
Product News - New Western leather bridle, Special Offer on Bitless Riding Basics DVD, Supplier now in New Zealand. 
Training Tips - How do you use the reins?
The Straw Experiment. 
Fantastic feedback from LightRider bridle owners. 
Bitless, bareback high level dressage. 

This month's news features the video competition winners, Bitless Riding Basics DVD coming soon, Bridle Tips, Stockhorse bridles on sale, Damage caused by the bit Proven and recent feedback from customers. 
You can read it all here. 

I will be at Equitana Sydney from November 10-13 selling the LightRider Bitless Bridles from booth 361 in the Riverina pavilion, and doing two presentations with bitless instructor, Suzanne Bellete. 
These will be on Thursday and Saturday so be sure to book your tickets for those days if you want to learn more about bitless riding and driving. 
Come and see the great range of LightRider Bridles - its a chance to view them 'in the flesh' and to speak to us about your transition to bitless riding. 

You have a very good chance of winning if you send in a video! So get someone behind a camera and have your horse filmed being ridden/driven bitless! 

For your chance to Win a LightRider Bitless Bridle and accessories of your choice to the value of $200 send me a video of riding or driving with a LightRider Bitless Bridle.

It must be less than 4 minutes and uploaded to Youtube for viewing if possible (send me the unlisted viewing link before publishing live) or post it on a DVD to the address below. Entry into the competiton means you also agree that your video may be selected for future promotion of LightRider Bitless Bridles.

Please send in your videos before September 30th – winners will be announced in the October News Blog.

Contact Details for emailing/posting videos here.

On July the 2nd and 3rd at Albury Showgrounds in Victoria. 

I have been invited to teach at two one day Bitless Riding Clinics where riders can try a bitless bridle and learn how to have better control and communication than they currently have with a bit. These workshops will be limited to 10 riders each day with no limit on observers. Each rider ticket for $150 entitles them to bring an observer for free and to be an observer on the alternate day (= to $250 in value). Observer tickets are $50 per day or $80 for both days. The clinics are open to riders of any age over 12, of all experience levels and for those that don't have their own bitless bridle, they will be provided. 

Workshop times are 9.30 - 4.30 and all attending will be able to purchase LightRider Bitless Bridles at 10-20% discount. Bookings/enquiries can be made with Kelly Bick at waterfallcreek@westnet.com.au or phone 02 6071 0210. 

The May news includes: 

• Agfest Education
  
• New LightRider Reins and Stockhorse style
  
• Bitless Dressage Event in Bendigo
  
• Bitless Riding Clinics
  
• New Video Competition
  
• Fantastic Feedback
  
• Bitless Buddies
  

Read it all here now. 

I am very pleased to announce that after almost a year of trialling the LightRider Bitless Bridle and Bitless Noseband, the executive of Horse Safety Australia have given their endorsement. 

"it is something the executive were happy to endorse, especially considering the quality of the materials in your products." 

Horse Safety Instructor, Nina Arnott, writes "My horseriding organisation, 'Wirraway', is using both the full bridle and the noseband that you sent us  and  we are really happy with them. I see a real advantage to them in our sort of work, with mostly beginner riders, and horses which could be a bit sensitive in the mouth. Quiet horses, which react to pressure on the reins, especially  (inadvertently rough) activity of the hands of beginners, are so happy with a bitless bridle! It has also virtually cured a head shy horse, which hated having the bit in its mouth with these riders."

This endorsement adds more credibility to bitless bridles in general as Horse Safety Australia are a responsible, recognised organisation with Instructor and Trail Guide certifications.

Perhaps this will encourage other clubs and competitions to allow bitless bridles.

In the near future the Horse Safety Australia website will be updated with information and links on the LightRider Bitless Bridles, but in the meantime, see what they have to offer. 

With a  change of manufacturer I have finally been able to produce a top quality yet affordable biothane product that I'm very happy with ($99 for the English and Stockhorse styles).
The new Regular bridles are made with Beta Biothane from the USA - the same as the Beta Biothane used for the Deluxe bridles. Beta Biothane is renown for its softness and flexibility plus strength and longevity.

The major difference between the Regular and Deluxe bridles is their place of manufacture - the Regular bridles are made in India by one of the best factories who supply the USA and European saddlery market.  
All fittings are top quality brass or stainless steel on both Regular and Deluxe LightRider bridles.

Regular LightRider Bridles replace the 'standard biothane' and will soon be available in dark brown Beta Biothane too, just like the Deluxe range.
Black Beta Biothane Regular bridles are now available with brown coming in stock around the end of May. 

I will continue to sell the Deluxe Beta Biothane bridles for those who would prefer an Australian made product. 
Deluxe Beta biothane bridles come in black or dark brown with stainless steel fittings and are $165 for the Stockhorse and English styles or $185 for the Western which has a plaited horsehair browband, extra silver conchos and fancy buckles. 
They are 'last a lifetime' bridles and are hand made by a professional saddler in Tasmania.

Go direct to the Bitless Bridle store 

On the Photo/Video page I have included some new videos showing how soft vertical flexion and a responsive relaxed horse can lead to true collection via self carriage. 
The first one features Instructor Suzanne Bellette with her colourful Paint gelding, Tombay who developed some unusual front end soreness that seemed to involve the bit.
Suzanne added the LightRider Bitless Noseband to her bridle and found it worked brilliantly with no more recurring front end soreness and a happier bitless horse.
In the second video, another NSW Instructor,  Shelly Broomham shows the start of training her horse to high level dressage bitless, treeless and barefoot.  Although she is riding bitless she still applies Classical principals to his training.

The Natural Rope bitless bridle are now available in some snazzy new colour combinations designed through www.ropeonline.com
The brown and gold zig zag pattern rope (pictured) and a black and gold version come in pony, cob and full size. 
The zig zag style rope reins can also be purchased separately. 

See more samples of the rope and order yours at www.naturalhorseworldstore.com