Bitless Bridle™ UK
Forthcoming Events 2014
News from Past Events
Bitless Bridle Equestrian Centre Summer Show August 2009
The Bitless Bridle Equestrian Centre held a very successful Summer Show on Saturday August 22. The weather was exceedingly kind and the Jersey Ice Cream van did a roaring trade!
Competitors (all barefoot & bitless) took part in a variety of classes including Handy Pony & Clear Round Jumping and there were some amazing get-ups in the Fancy Dress section with Aoife Wooding aged 8 from Felinfach taking 1st place as a blackberry bush with the Centre's pony Bramble. 9 yr old Sophie Reynolds from Ffarmers riding Taffy won the Handy Pony class as well as the trophy presented by Eurocash Registers from Llanybydder for “Best Participant”. The in-hand showing class was won by Lorna Jones from Brechfa with her own pony Scotty. Other rosette winners included Christine Dennis from Cross Inn with Shennion, Sian from Nebo with Tilly, Sue Smithers from Aberaeron with Jack, Michael Palmer from Lampeter riding Ralphie and Sian riding Ginnie.
Simon Mulholland brought the Saddlechariot from Brecon; the demos he gave were watched with great interest, culminating in Simon's own pony 'Obama' giving chariot rides to a long queue of excited children.
Jeff Clout's rodeo bull was very popular and only a few people managed to tame the beast! There were also a number of wonderful face designs created by Pixie Moon face painting.
All day refreshments were provided by mobile caterer “The Lunch Box” from Talsarn. Grateful thanks go to our sponsors including Clark Transport from Nebo, Lorna Jones from Brechfa & Eurocash Registers from Llanybydder.
Unfortunately the Pant Horse Simulator was unable to attend due to a last-minute breakdown and the Centre would like to apologise but the circumstances were beyond their control.
As the day drew to a close everyone was asking when the Centre's next event would take place. There will be a demo in October, winter festivities in December and more events planned for 2010. Pony Club continues fortnightly on Saturdays as usual and the Centre is open daily all year round for lessons (thanks to indoor facilities) & hacking. Contact Sheila or Rosemary on 01570 471541, mobile 07890 888762 or 07799 784350.
Videos of horses doing all manner of things in their Dr Cook's Bitless Bridles (Icelandic tolting, barrel racing, dressage etc) here
Pony Club started in November 2008
We are holding a "Pony Club" for children from 6 years upwards on alternate Saturdays from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. This is proving extremely popular with parents & children alike.
There is a new topic each time which is discussed while the children eat the packed lunch which they have brought. Handouts are provided which the children file for their future reference (and to use to recap before quizzes which are run from time to time). After lunch the group goes down to the yard to the ponies where the discussion continues, together with pony handling and riding.
The cost is £25 per session, or £20 each for siblings.
Bitless Bridle UK exhibited at the first ever Holistic Horse Show at Unex Towerlands, Essex in October
It was great to meet old friends and put faces to names & voices - and to make many new acquaintances. We were exceptionally busy on each of the three days with lots more horses going to benefit from going bitless!
Bitless Bridle UK in Ireland
Weekend 25-27 April
See pictures from the opening of Castle Horses' new facilities at Dunany. Rosemary Carrington-Rogers, BHSAI, BBI gave a Natural Horsemanship demo on the Saturday 26th and a NH Clinic on Sunday morning 27th.
Photo Gallery -Natural Horsemanship at Castle Horses Dunany & Dillonstown
Charity Ride (in aid of Wales Air Ambulance)
Saturday 5th April 2008
The Charity Ride was a great success; the weather was fantastic, although cold (nice for the horses, still with winter coats) it was really sunny (nice for riders!).
We raised £250 for Wales Air Ambulance, £100 of which was raised in sponsorship by the Grangeway stud at Aberarth and another £55 was received in donations from various kind people.
Pictured here are some of the riders on their return to Bitless Bridle Equestrian Centre. It was great to see that the vast majority of the participants were bitless and barefoot! (And one of the few bitted riders bought a Dr Cook Bitless Bridle after the ride).
Interdressage to allow BitlessBridle in Dressage
February 2008
The popular web site Interdressage (www.interdressage.com), following requests from regular competitors, has decided to allow bitless riders to compete alongside riders using bitted bridles, as from April 2008.
Interdressage allows riders to compete monthly via video and to compete against riders worldwide without leaving the yard! Superb rosettes and generous prize money every month.
Welsh Rider magazine features Bitless Bridle UK's Equestrian & Therapy Centre
January 2008
Popular magazine Welsh Rider, available free from tack shops throughout Wales and online at www.WelshRider.co.uk published two articles in their January issue. The articles are available here in pdf format:
Equine Christmas Panto
December 2007
Newly opened Bitless Bridle Equestrian Centre & Riding School at Gwarallt, Talsarn was the venue for an innovative Christmas Panto with equine participants, held in aid of Wales Air Ambulance.
The audience was treated to a brief story of the horse's relationship with man through the ages narrated by the Centre's Training Manager Rosemary Carrington-Rogers before the last remaining tiger in Ceredigion interrupted proceedings to cries of “it's behind you” in true panto fashion. The procession of horses included an apaloosa gelding with his Indian warrior handler, a shire cross ridden by soldier Bill, a beautiful Ardennes cross as the ceremonial drum horse; an Arab show pony, cob trekking horse and section A child's riding pony completed the line-up.
Alexander & Mika Harrison Coulter, along with Shelley Harper and Katie Reynolds, formed the Notorious Clown Gang and entertained the crowd with their antics until they were rounded up by 'police horse' Louie (ridden by Rosemary) when they promised not to be naughty again. Shelley and Kate had earlier done an excellent job of entertaining everyone with buckets of “very wet water” and some true slap-stick comedy routines.
During the interval hot home-made soup was given out to the stalwart supporters who had braved the cold.
The horses worked 'iron free' throughout (no bits and no shoes). The area contained various Natural Horsemanship training obstacles including a tarpaulin walk-way (imitating water), a large frame draped with plastic (which the horses walked through) and various cones, signs and poles.
To begin with Ginnie & Sonny worked at liberty showing their complete trust in the handler; later on other horses were put through their paces wearing their bitless bridles and a training rope. They were shown walking through, over and around obstacles once again showing how relaxed and happy they were, despite spectators, music, Christmas decorations etc.
Despite the cold everyone seemed to enjoy the show and were asking when the next one would be (possibly in warmer weather!)
Ironfree (bitless, barefoot & treeless) Equestrian & Therapy Centre
November 2007
Bitless Bridle Equestrian Centre (home of Bitless Bridle UK) near Talsarn, Lampeter, Wales was granted a Riding School Licence in November 2007. The Centre is owned by Sheila Lee Thompson (BBAC) and Rosemary Carrington-Rogers (BHSAI, BBI) is the Training Manager. Sheila believes this to be the first totally 'ironfree' riding school in Wales, and probably in the UK - all the horses have Dr Cook BitlessBridles, are barefoot and have treeless saddles. In addition all the horses at the Centre are kept as naturally as possible and live out 24/7 on a very recently installed 'Paddock Paradise' system.
The Centre adheres to the principles of 'natural horsemanship' and offers ironfree hacking and trekking as well as riding lessons (beginners to advanced) and takes in horses and ponies for starting, backing and re-training. Problem horses and nervous riders are especially welcome.
For further information or to book, phone Sheila on 01570 471541 or Rosemary 07890 888762
Bitless Bridle UK - 3 years on, and a Tack Shop!
October 2007
In early 2004, I came across the Dr Cook Bitless Bridle and decided to send to USA so I could give it a try. Like most people, as soon as I tried it I was converted and vowed never to put a bit in a horse's mouth again!
Later that year Dr Cook asked if I would be interested in promoting the BB in UK, which I did, and launched a simple web site in late October 2004.
The initial take-up of the bridle exceeded all expectations and as popularity of the bridle grew, we began to actively source innovative products which were compatible with the ethos of being kinder to horses and keeping them more naturally.
Storing the increased stock became more problematical (there are limits to how many treeless saddles you can store in a bedroom!) and in November 2006 we moved to our current larger premises at Gwarallt, Talsarn, Lampeter to provide the office space and tack shop to showcase all the products previously only available online.
Open Monday – Friday 10 till 3 (other times by appointment), we can be contacted at the The Bitless Bridle Equestrian Centre by phone 01570 471541 and email Sheila AT bitless.co.uk
First BBI appointed outside USA
May 2007
In 2006, The Bitless Bridle Inc added a third class of appointment to further the company’s educational program in the USA and abroad. This appointment will carry marketing privileges in the USA and abroad but the primary criteria of selection are the appointee’s ability to spread the word as part of their own pre-existing educational program. Such people will have education as their primary goal and sales activities will be of secondary importance. Appointees will carry the title of Bitless Bridle Instructor (BBI).
The first BBI to be appointed outside USA was our very own Rosemary Carrington-Rogers, who teaches natural horsemanship and bitless riding at Bitless Bridle UK's premises near Talsarn, Lampeter in Wales.
Check out the latest news on Dr Cook's website www.bitlessbridle.com too
Including the amazing story of Ivory Pal (photo left, courtesy of Stunning Vision Photography)
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