Hi thunderfoot....,
Yes, you can use the Dually as a bridle, always making sure it fits perfectly and your horse is used to the pressure on his nose. So some decent groundwork has to be done before riding with the Duallyhalter. Then I would first make sure the horse is safe with his bitlessbridle in an enclosure, so don't start out on a trail without good preparation. Some horses are very happy with no mouthpiece, others have to learn the process from scratch, so be safe!
For the fitting watch the Duallyhalterlessons and maybe this could be an idea for a new lesson: "Riding with the Dually"!
Have fun and let us know how you're doing,
Miriam

Here I am once more! I was just watching the "Advanced Longlining"-lessons and here's a good guide for you to change to the Dually before riding, making the transition through longlining. This way you can test the willingness of your horse to cooperate with the Dually, before you even get on his back...
Miriam

Thank you so much Miriam. I would be working with all my horses on the ground using the Dually before getting in the saddle. I have found that one of my horses does not like the bit to much. His last owner and trainer were VERY rough on his mouth.

So here's your chance to make a difference for your horse!
He might be sceptical in the beginning after his experiences, but there will come a time where he'll find there's no pain involved when you use the Dually, instead of what he's gone through with a bit.
He'll be very grateful finding a better way to communicate with people and be able to make his own choices. That's the big advantage of whatever work you do with the Dually, the horse learns that the path of least resistance is the easiest. Make comfortable what you want and uncomfortable what you don't want him to do.
Longlining seems a great next step for him, following your hands and trusting them...
Keep us posted!
Miriam

I've stopped riding my mare in a bit, she's never liked it at all & I've got pretty good hands but she's a very sensitive & demonstrative mare making her feelings known on EVERYTHING!
She went very well on the Dually as that's what i started her with. I decided to make her a bitless noseband & the difference in her movement is astounding; she uses her shoulders much more freely & uses her back more, she basically feels much more connected through back to front & she's so much happier!
We did have a scary incident on Sunday BUT it's my own fault, i gave her too much to eat for the work she was doing, with her were talking a small cup full, not kilo's!
I'd let 2 cyclists go past us, then said to Lib, shall we go with them, lets have a trot, we trotted nicely, then she extended beautifully, then popped into canter, then she took over & went into race mode, i yelled to the back cyclist that i couldn't stop so she was able to get out of the way, she shouted to warn her husband, Libby saw him & propped to a halt from gallop - my nose ended up down by her shoulder then the little madam took off again past him before i managed to stop her - boy, that was scary, she's not done that since she was 5 years old, she's 13 now.
I was thinking, you'll have to go back in a bit while this was going on as I've got no control, BUT actually, she'd have been a lot worse in a bit, as in a bit, she's put her head up so high, her nose has been higher than the top of her head so she was galloping blind & could have crashed into a tree or anything as she'd have been totally unable to see it.

Answer; she went back to only speedibeet & antilam for tea that night & cut out the Alfalfa & oil until the grounds good enough to work her more!
I also took off the padding from the inside of the noseband as i'd made it too comfortable, it's now lined with soft smooth leather but no padding.

I'm not meaning to frighten anyone, just make sure you are safe & that bridles are fitted well. Bitless bridles don't want to be too loose or you won't have enough control, that doesn't mean that they must be tight, just snug, just as the Dually should be.

Do make sure you have good control before venturing out of safety, that applies to riding with a bit or bitless.

good luck, enjoy your long reining & riding.