While many sunchasers danced with their horses in milder climes, it was the Finns who managed a breakthrough experiment in testing bitless, by staging a juried exhibition before a large audience for The Tunne Hevonen Dressage Challenge at the Helsinki Horse Fair.

Whether the LG-bridle was required for the test, or favored by the riders is unclear. And whether exercise bandages were required, or only permitted, I also do not know. But all the stills and videos I’ve seen are LG-bridles and bandaged. For this exhibition performance, just like everyday exercises, why not?

What I like most about this mode is that the rider’s dynamic positions more nearly approach the ideal than they might if performing the same movements in snaffle or full bridles, especially that transitions are influenced by the riders’ backs.

This ride, by Julia Alfthan-Kilpeläinen and her 17-year old Swedish warmblood gelding Chirocco (by Chirlon x Castello), was the jury’s favorite:

The judges also liked, as do I, the ride of Maria-Kristina Virta and her 20-year old Finnish warmblood gelding Conquistador S (by Matador) in which at 2:10 is evident lavish saliva. Bitless.