Question on the Double Bridle.

Hi Sandy,

You must have given up all hope of an answer!!

I have only just seen this, sorry :-)

Anyway I have used/do use both these ways of holding the reins - do you?

There are a few drawbacks to the Fillis way, that I have found over the years:

In general I find that beside the "technical side" of what you can do with the different ways of holding the reins, there is a very significant "communicated intention" side. Put a very sensitive horse with a competent but less tactful rider and the Fillis way and you'll see what I mean. It can be too much for the horse. The rider has too much power, the intent is too hands-focussed. Very often the rider will forget to "say please", the request will become a demand.... some horse will accept, others will find that less acceptable.

So the Fillis way can make riders "handy" instead of discrete. I also find it is more difficult (but not impossible) to keep a quiet, following hand and a soft contact as well.

Adjusting the reins also takes a lot of practice and a couple of good tips, and somehow a lot of adjusting seems needed...

So for all its advantages in terms of possibilities, and I do believe it is worth knowing, I tend to use it for very specific cases when I want to make sure that I am acting upwards rather than compressing my horse (for instance in a difficult situation, during a presentation etc) so as not to damage the schooling, or on a day when nothing is going right (again damage limitation) Or sometimes just for a change to check a few points.

Basically I prefer the German way - as long as the hands are not acting like side reins(....) and various other details that lets the horse's head hang. The bits are not used independently but I think it allows you to use your upper body to influence the horse and forget the hand more, and I prefer that and the result it generally gives on the roundness of the horse.

I think the two components are still there, although not entirely separate, and not constantly changing, which in some horses is an advantage as I have said.

Well that should get the ball rolling

Andy

Thanks Andy.I enjoyed your comments very much particularly the one concerning 'tact'and sensitive horses.

Sandy.

Another late comment! I am starting my not-so-young-anymore - 11-yo gelding again in the double. Which he accepts - maybe even likes! And works very well in it... I use the reins 2+2 the bridoon on the little finger, just a small touch from time to time on the curb to remind him of it./Margareta in Sweden
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