<< The bridle is not a stopping device but a signaling device. If your
 horse is not capable of being ridden on the trail in a halter it is not
 ready to be ridden on the trail!!! >>
Huh?  Well, in Michigan, if every horse that was not capable of being ridden
on the trail IN A HALTER was eliminated, Michigan horse trails would be
mighty empty, let me tell you!  I too, grit my teeth when I see some rider in
a tug-of-war with a horse who is leaning, gap-mouthed, on a bit, but I
wouldnt ever go so far as to say any horse who can't be trail ridden in a
HALTER doesn't belong on the trail.  Get real!
Trish & "pretty David" (who goes in an egg-butt snaffle, but thinks if mom
rode him in a halter we could do those trail rides WAY quicker--"hang on mom!
 and watch those turns!")