Bridle Basics

Before we begin, I would like to introduce you my horse (or as I like to call him, “my son”) Lenny. Lenny resides at our farm in Sewickley, and is the absolute KING of the barn. Right now, I am working to rehabilitate Lenny from a torn tendon in his left front leg (medically, a superficial lesion in his Digital Flexor—that sounded smart), which kept him out of commission from the 2014 show season. He will be my prop for many of my how-to posts, on his good days, of course. Lenny has a short attention span and sometimes does not like to cooperate with these sorts of activities, so we may have to substitute a more agreeable horse for certain projects.

So…with out further ado…the bridle.

When it comes to riding a horse, the bridle is one of the most important, and often misused article of tack. I have even seen professionals forget to attach certain parts of the bridle, resulting in a great deal of embarrassment. This post will show you how to PROPERLY fit your horse in a bridle. Leather bridles are often expensive, but well worth it when it comes to the life span of your purchase. Additionally, the creases that form in the leather when you use the same bridle on your horse are helpful when it comes to tacking up and sizing. As you will learn through horse-ownership, breaking in leather tack is one of the most satisfying experiences. You should always keep your bridle and bit clean! If your horse is at a boarding facility, it is still your job to keep all of your tack organized and oiled.

Below is a diagram of the parts of a basic English bridle. You should become familiar with these terms, as I will refer to them in the following steps. 

Diagram of a Bridle

 

Step 1: The Halter Trick

The bridle should be the final step of the process to tacking your horse. Start by un-clipping the cross ties or lead from your horse’s halter. Next, pull the halter off your horse’s nose and onto his neck in order to ensure control in case of an emergency. 

Step 2: Caveson

Now, pull the caveson (or noseband) over your horse’s ears, but do not buckle yet! Your horse needs to be able to open his mouth in order to take hold of the bit, and the caveson will inhibit jaw movement.

Step 3: The Bit and Bridle

Next, it is time to put the bit and the rest of the bridle on your horse. Be sure to pull the reins over your horse's neck before inserting the bit into his mouth. First, insert the bit using your left hand while holding the rest of the bridle up with your right hand. Once the bit is in his mouth, gently pull the crown over your horse's ears so that they are in between the crown and the brow band.  
IMPORTANT: be very cautious and gentle with a horse’s ears. They are sensitive and trauma can cause them to become head shy.

Step 4: Buckle

Buckle the caveson and the throat latch. You should be able to fit one or two fingers between the caveson and your horse’s nose, and about a hand between the throat latch and his cheek. 

Step 5: Check ‘Em All!

Double-check everything! All straps should be in their respective leather stays to prevent agitation. Tuck your horse’s forelock through the browband so that he does not become irritated by hair flying into his ears. Be sure the browband and caveson are straight, and the bit is not too high in your horse’s mouth (this can be altered using the cheek straps). You should see no more than two “wrinkles” in the corners of your horse’s mouth.

And finally, you are ready to ride! Remember: this is a simple English bridle. Show bridles can be much more complex, and even contain more than one bit! Be sure to check with an expert when using show bridles to be sure all is well.