04/08/2025
𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤’𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐁𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞
So, Denmark’s just banned the double bridle for all riders below Level 4, that’s around Advanced Medium for us over here in Uk and as you’d expect, the reaction has been… loud.
Some people are cheering, others are fuming, and the rest of us are somewhere in the middle, watching it unfold with equal parts hope and caution.
Let’s start with this, it’s not about the bridle. It’s about the shift in thinking behind it.
𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁, 𝗡𝗼 𝗜𝗳𝘀, 𝗡𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘀
The Danish Equestrian Federation have made their message very clear, horse welfare is not negotiable. Not for a ribbon, not for a score, not for reputation. The new guidelines ban training methods that harm the horse physically or mentally hyperflexion, excessive spurs, pushing on when the horse is sore or stressed, all gone. And rightly so.
They’re not tiptoeing around it either. Officials now have to step in if they see a problem. And abusers? They’re out, full stop.
You know what? I respect it.
I’ve seen too many horses pulled into outlines they’re not ready for. I’ve seen beginner riders on green horses, overbitted, under coached, trying to “look the part” rather than build the foundation. And you can’t blame them, that’s what the system’s taught them. If your horse’s nose isn’t on the vertical, you’re not good enough. But that thinking is cracking at the seams now, and Denmark’s driving in the wedge.
𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗢𝗻𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱
Of course, there’s pushback. Some feel it’s a punishment. Others worry it’ll ruin the development of their young dressage horses. Some trainers say the double helps refine the aids and create self carriage and in skilled hands, it can. But at novice level? Come on.
We’ve all seen the curb rein doing more than it should. We’ve all seen the grey area between ‘refinement’ and ‘restriction’.
And let’s not pretend this doesn’t have consequences for international riders either. Denmark will now be training under one set of rules while other countries still allow doubles early on. Will it change results? Maybe. But do you really want to win because your horse was held together with hardware?
no one wants to admit, if your horse can’t go correctly in a snaffle, it’s not ready for more bit it’s ready for more time.
𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝘀 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱
Let’s talk about France for a minute, because no one’s really shouting about what they’re doing but maybe they should be.
France now allows snaffles and bitless bridles all the way up to Grand Prix. You heard that right!!!!Grand Prix. The highest level. With a bitless bridle, it’s a statement that softness and correctness shouldn’t come from leverage. It should come from trust, training, and understanding as long as the bitless training is done ethically.
Imagine showing a horse who’s relaxed, responsive, and strong in their body without needing two reins, a chain, and hope. That’s where we should be heading.
𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
I’m not against the double bridle. I’m against when and why it’s used.
This isn’t about banning tradition. It’s about asking better questions:
𝐈𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩?
𝐀𝐦 𝐈 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥?
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬?
Denmark’s not perfect, but they’re trying. They’re listening. They’re acting. And honestly? That’s more than I can say for most federations.
I know this decision will ruffle feathers. It already has. But if we’re really in this for the horses, not the prize money, not the social media clips, not the prestige then we need to start getting uncomfortable with what we’ve accepted for too long.
And if your training plan falls apart because you can’t use a double bridle at Elementary? You don’t need new rules. You need new priorities and more schooling.
𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽.
And that should be the standard everywhere, not just in Denmark.
Time the rest of us caught up.
