​Did you know you can have safer rope halters and bitless bridles with a simple breakaway point? 
Have you ever thought about what would happen if your horse caught their rope bridle or halter on something solid – like a gate latch, or a hitching rail, or tree branch?
Rope bridles and halters without a break-away point are a serious wreck waiting to happen!

I’ve seen horses almost drown from getting a leg caught up in their reins while swimming, and a horse strike their hoof through another’s reins and join the two together in a serious tangle until the rein clip broke.
I’ve known two horses that plunged off a narrow cliff trail when one slipped and dragged the horse who’s saddle he was tied to, with him. Fortunately, the rider survived and was able to euthanise both horses.

Rope hackamores used by Natural Horsemanship trainers and riders have a solid rope rein that can be deadly if caught up. And what about the horse that escapes with un-breakable rope reins dangling? Imagine the serious wreck when a front or hind leg steps through those reins, especially when still around the horse’s neck.

The same goes for a rope cordeo or neck loop that has no breaking point. If it falls close to the head a hoof could potentially get caught in it. Using something like this breakpoint tether will help keep the neck rope in place. 

And how many neck and back injuries are caused by pull-backs when tied solid? We’ve all had those and perhaps changed to a different method of tying, or used a releasing gadget or a piece of twine!

​Obviously, it’s best to educate your horse to stand tied but you still can’t account for needing to tie your horse somewhere different, or that sudden scare factor.

You can make your own break-away tab with scrap or re-purposed leather.This all paints a horrible picture but can be avoided by using a break-away tie on the headpiece of your rope halter/hackamore/bridle. You can make your own as demonstrated here on Horse Nation.

Or buy a ready-made break-away latigo from Natural Horse World here.

How to use a leather latigo as a breakaway tie: Many rope halters come with a leather latigo attached under the jaw so here’s how to remove that and use it as your break-away latigo.

1. Undo the leather latigo from the throat knot.
2. Loop the latigo through its first slot, then push one end through the halter’s tie loop.
3. Pull the other tail of the latigo through the remaining slot and straighten it firmly.
4. Tie the headpiece through and around the new loop formed by the latigo.
5. When you remove the halter, keep the headpiece in the latigo loop for tidy hanging.

LightRider Bitless Rope Bridles are the first to include a breakaway latigo, as are the Supersoft Knotless Rope Halters sold exclusively by the Natural Horse World Store. ​

To celebrate World Bitless Horse Day this Saturday - 7th September, we're having a 10% off all bitless bridles sale. 
Plus 50% off older style bridles - English and Stockhorse in brown biothane, warmblood size nosebands in brown biothane and some leather bridles in warmblood size. 
These bridles are brand new - they just have the older style cheek pieces without the extra buckle to fit a bit or remove the noseband. https://www.naturalhorseworldstore.com/categories/Bitless-Bridles/

Win a LightRider Bitless Noseband by sharing your review on the LightRider Facebook page to go in the draw for a Bitless Noseband of your choice - value $55+ (includes shipping). 

WORLD BITLESS HORSE DAY - SEPTEMBER 7TH
See all the activities listed here and find out more about this day here. 
Win Bitless Ambassadors Rosettes to 3rd place. *** SPECIAL PRIZE *** for first place! Enter your bitless horse photos here.

​Recently the World Bitless Association ​ ran a campaign to find their ‘Champion Bitless Ambassador' with LightRider Bridles being one of the 4 brand sponsors, each also awarding their own brand ambassador from the entries submitted. 

Exmoor Pony gelding Monseiur Chapeau with owner Dawn Westcott won the LightRider Champion Bitless Ambassador.  The pair were also awarded overall runner-up to the World Bitless Association Champion Ambassador, Karen Inkster and Connie from the UK. 
Karen has chosen a LightRider bitless bridle as her prize for the award. 

​Coming second to Dawn and Monsieur Chapeau in the LightRider Champion Ambassador Award was Kallie Zeinstra from the United States of America, while Australian Leah Sharp took third place.

Monsieur Chapeau was rescued from the moors by Nick and Dawn Westcott as an orphan foal in 2014. He was nearing starvation and suffering from pneumonia but recovered well and now helps socialise other wild-born foals and ponies as part of the Exmoor Pony Project near Somerset in the United Kingdom. He enjoys liberty walks, equine agility, connecting with visitors and has even been to London to appear live on ITV This Morning with his best friend, Lady Stumpkin Pumpkin. His story is told in Dawn’s best-selling book,  Wild Pony Whispering.

Dawn has trained her wild-born Exmoor stallion Bear (Wild Stallion Whispering) to win two world championships in international horse agility and he is ridden bitless where possible. ​