Western horses are often trained that riding them means using body, not hands.
Years ago I had such a horse. My club, of which I was president at the time, had agreed to do riding demonstrations at a local city park. I had to go. But I also had a state test to get the job I’d eventually have. So I went to take my test and my horse went to the park.
After the test, one of my friends ended up having to ride my horse. She was a barrel racer but did other stuff too like team penning.
We did not have any show practiced and we winged it. I was announcing and it struck me that we needed to wow the crowd. I went up to my horse with my friend and told her to trust me. I knew my horse. I removed the bridle leaving only a lead line around his neck. I then had her do a series of things, bridleless, in front of the crowd, in an arena made with snow fencing.
It went great, complete with sliding stops, spins etc. To this day, decades later, she remembers the day fondly.
For many western horses, this is how it is.