I applaud Melanie Ferrio-Wise  not so much for going bridleless at the Washington Horse show, but for the systematic process she took to get there.

As a riding a teacher, I’m excited about process– understanding and enjoying the journey, not just the results.  Teaching skills and cues to your horse, layering them to produce the manoeuvres you’ll need and then testing them in another environment.

Melanie built trust in her horse. Not at Disney movie follow-your-dreams feeling, but by systematically installing the cues she’d need. She taught her horse the neck rope signal, tweaked it at home and tested it off property – riding outdoors and at local  shows. Then show went to the Big City!