A New Era for Equestrian Sport? Inside the UK's First Bridleless Competition

What happens when you completely rethink what a competition can look like?

This week on Shut Up and Ride, we’re diving into history as we chat with Mia Rodley, the founder of the UK's first ever bridleless competition at Merrist Wood in the UK.

Simon is missing this one (he’s off on a hen do!), but stepping into the co-host seat is the wonderful, brilliant, and ever-handsome Ben Atkinson — and together we get into the story behind this groundbreaking event.

Mia shares what it took to bring the competition to life, the challenges of creating something that had never been done before, how the day actually unfolded, and what this moment could mean for horses, riders, and the future of equestrian sport around the world.

We also get to know Mia’s incredible journey and career, the passion behind her vision, and why this isn’t just about removing equipment — it’s about asking bigger questions about trust, communication, partnership, and what’s possible when we put the horse first.

A super fun episode with some huge conversations. You don’t want to miss this one

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Chapters

(00:00:00) - Sharp Ride: Let's Talk
(00:00:33) - He's On A Hindu Holiday In Corfu
(00:01:02) - Meet Ben on the Podcast
(00:02:22) - Mia Rodley's story about her Arabian
(00:04:24) - Mia competed in a British dressage competition without a bridle
(00:10:47) - How to Canter Your Horse
(00:11:46) - The Dressage Exhibition
(00:15:47) - The Dress Code Bridalist Competition
(00:22:28) - Dressage: Should you send a video of yourself before competing
(00:29:17) - The Dressage Reboot: A Positive Change
(00:34:52) - Lynn McLeod on Dressage
(00:38:26) - The Bridalist Competition
(00:44:41) - Bitted Horse Riding
(00:46:37) - Riding Without Reins For Bridal
(00:47:44) - Lynn's neck rope
(00:52:52) - How to Train a Top-Level Horse
(00:56:07) - A little more horsemanship on the Olympic Games
(01:01:57) - Ben Atkinson on Teaching Horsemanship
(01:03:58) - When is the right time to take off the bridle?
(01:06:46) - What Are the Most Important Aid For Bridalists?
(01:11:49) - How To Ride When You're 55
(01:15:23) - Bollywood Riding Lessons
(01:20:43) - Ollie and Romeo Try Liberty With Their Horse
(01:22:31) - "What's Annoying You?"
(01:24:05) - Benjamin On Being Annoyed By His Job
(01:28:41) - A Dog Attempts to Bite My Son's Dog
(01:31:57) - A Dog Mauls His Owner's Dog
(01:34:31) - The Horse and Country Love Horse
(01:39:08) - The Fight for Autism

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