tsaheylu & bridleless riding
Tsaheylu is a word from James Cameron's ‘Avatar’ that means ‘bond’. In the film, two beings intertwine neural filaments to form a physical connection, allowing them to share sensations, feelings and memories instantly which the blue people (Na’vi) use to pair with creatures that they ride, like horses, without reins.
Whenever I have watched this movie it makes me think of riding our horses and the kind of feeling and connection I strive for with my herd.
The first horse that I ever had this feeling with was my Flicka, my childhood heart horse. He’s the reason my favourite colour is grey, even though I am quite grateful that my current herd are chestnut, bay and black! I was too obedient to the livery yard and riding rules back then to explore the special connection we had in the realms of training but he is the reason that I love caring for and being with horses more than I love riding. He was my first ‘big dog’ frees-tyling on the yard and hanging out together.
The second horse I felt that deep ‘tsaheylu’ level of connection with is the oldest member of my herd, Nova (née Stanzi). Wow, what can I say about this mare. If she were a human you might describe her as a white witch. She just knows everything. She’s the horse I would choose to clone and live a full lifetime with over and again but each time gifting her the new things she has motivated me to learn for her sake.
Nova is the horse that has shaped me into the horsewoman that I am today. She was the first horse that I rode in a bareback pad and bitless bridle. She was also the first horse to give me many, many ‘NO’s! My setup, my herd and my deeper understanding have helped subsequent horses say yes quicker than she was able and willing but I am so grateful that she continued to tolerate me and train me! It might be more accurate to describe my initial riding journey with Nova like Hiccup and Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon but OMG once we reached tsaheylu it felt so exciting to be riding such a powerful horse who felt like she’d go into battle WITH me.
Poppet, who currently enjoys riding, is the first horse that I have ridden *bridleless. Having ridden and (re)trained every horse bitless since Nova, I was a little late to the bridleless movement, although I am delighted that the question of “how little physical force can you use to ride” has been brought into the public arena! However, something at the 2026 Horsemanship Showcase at Bury Farm flicked a switch in me and I came home, ordered a neck rope and the day it arrived Poppet and I were cantering in the arena!
I’m excited to explore this further with Poppet, and my other horses too, but in the interests of safety I want to be explicit: bridleless riding is NOT just removing a bridle and hoping for the best. Bitless riding requires many of the same foundations as bridleless riding - seat, voice, neck reining and very importantly connection. Having ridden all my horses exclusively in a bitless bridle for years, including hacking, jumping and at clinics, means we have a very solid foundation to build upon and removing the reins was a very small step for us.
We began that ride with the bitless bridle on first, in addition to the new neck rope, and practiced our steering around obstacles in the arena first in walk and then trot, and some stops with the rope. Then I asked my husband to come into the arena to unclip my reins and film (so I could reflect after). *Technically we weren’t bridle-less as we left the bridle on but it was easier for my non-horsey husband to remove rein clips than the whole bridle! It’s important to chunk new training down into small successful bite sized pieces so Poppet and I stayed on a circle for canter - I wanted a positive experience for us both.
Reflecting, the neck reining with the bitless bridle was transferable to the neck rope at the right angle but it did then throw my position forward so I will need to work on that part more - I’ve already messaged my coach to check her insurance when she comes back from holiday as we may be laying down a new challenge for her to support us with!
How would you describe your connection with your horse? Is it the same on the ground and in the saddle?
What appeals to you about bridleless riding? Have you or would you like to try it?
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