Bridle Path
October 18, 2011
Top five tips for easy bridling and unbridling.
Bridling your horse safely can start you off on the right foot before a ride. Journal photo.
By Dennis Moreland in America’s Horse
Bridling your horse should be a simple process, but like anything else … if you’re not careful or try to rush, you could be asking for trouble. Take your time and follow these five steps every time.
1. When you go to bridle your horse, first untie his lead rope from the fence.
Tie the halter around the neck, to give yourself a “safety net” in case he tries to pull away.
The same is true when you take off the bridle; never try to re-halter your horse with a halter that’s tied to the fence. Only one good thing could happen (your horse is compliant and lets you do it), but there are lots of bad things that could happen.
I like to handle my horses around their heads a lot, to get them accustomed to haltering and bridling. They’re relaxed about the process.
2. First, holding the headstall up with your right hand, ask the horse to accept the bit.
You can put your left thumb in the corner of his mouth to ask him to open up, while holding the bit in place with your fingers.
Brad and Valerie Kearns explain why showmanship is the perfect event for people who can’t afford an expensive horse in this AQHA FREE report, Showmanship Basics.
3. Fold one ear forward and pull the headstall over it, then do the same with the other ear.
Most bridles adjust on the left side (some have adjustments on both sides), so I’m in position if I need to move the buckle up or down a notch.
If you’re using a new headstall or bridling a different horse, it’s better to have it too big rather than too small. If it’s too big, you can adjust it once it’s on the horse.
But if it’s too small, you’ll be trying to let it out halfway through the bridling process.
4. People have different ideas about how tight the bit should be in the mouth, but generally speaking, you don’t want it to be pulling too much on the corners of the mouth or hanging too loose, either.
The Showmanship Basics report offers numerous full-color photos of Nicole Barnes and her Quarter Horse, Zippos Ace Of Spades, modeling correct and incorrect showmanship positions.
5. When it’s time to unbridle the horse, slide the headstall forward off his ears and then allow him to release the bit.
Don’t pull the bit out of his mouth, just let it release naturally. This is another good time to pet his head and encourage him to relax.
Dennis is an AQHA member and tack expert who has been making quality work tack since 1976. At Dennis Moreland Tack, Dennis makes high-quality handmade tack, utilizing the best designs possible. He is a frequent contributor to America’s Horse.
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October 18th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
The problem I have is when we take the the headstall off. My horse is very sensitive at his pole. I can pet and rub his pole while he is eating, even remove the halter, but once we our fingers touch the headstall near his ears he throws his head and tries to back away. He is a ten year old paint gelding that I have had for six months, my first horse. I don’t have his history before then but he does wind suck and I’ve had a cribbing collar on him. I’m not sure if that contributes to his pole sensitivity. Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you,
Kimberly
October 18th, 2011 at 9:52 pm
My problem is she pulls her head away from me and will not accept the bit. She slings her head up and away from me. Sometimes we have a walk across the dirt while flinging her head and turning to the right. If you have any suggestions please let me know it is so frustrating!
Thank you,
Sherri
October 18th, 2011 at 11:23 pm
Hey Sherri, I usually never give treats to my horses- only when they come towards me in the pasture and when they take the bit. I offer them a piece of sugar and the bit at the same time- with the result that they love it!
October 19th, 2011 at 8:38 am
My 7 year old paint mare has the same problem as Kimberly’s horse. She is extremely sensitive at the right ear. I can rub it and she will lower her head and push against my hand but the minute i get the bridle near her ear she pulls her head back. She accepts the bit with no problem, just an issue with her ear. I believe the guy that started her twisted it pretty hard. Patience and time are all I know to make this better. If anyone has another idea, please share!!!
October 23rd, 2011 at 8:56 am
This is for Kimberly and others with un-bridling troubles. A lot of people, not you necessarily but perhaps a previous owner, let the bit bang a horse in the teeth. Always let your horse drop the bit of his own accord.
Anytime you bang the bit into the teeth, bridling or un-bridling, you have created what I call a “pain memory”. You may not have caused actual pain, but you have let the bit impact the teeth which creates a loud noise inside the horse’s head, creates the strong feel of an impact in the mouth/teeth, and possibly created some level of discomfort. Because we want the horse to accept the bit at all times, we want the bit to be a pleasant experience at all times.
First things first: Is the bit correct and appropriate for your horse? Ask yourself if the mouth piece could be too severe, is the bit properly fitted, is it properly placed withing the mouth, is the curb chain correctly adjusted and similar questions.If not, this is the first thing to address. If you’re not sure, find a horse pro to question and get help from.
I have found that most bridling problems come from impatient people not wanting to take the time to do it right from the start. If you have obtained one of these horses, no matter if the trouble is getting the bridle on or off, you need to take the time, slow down, and work with the horse until he has his confidence in the bridle/bit and his confidence in you and how you handle the bridle. Be patient with him. Take the bit off the bridle completely and put it in his feed tub for a few days, let him have to move it and touch it to eat. Put it back in the bridle and start a program of rubbing him with it. Gather the bridle up in one hand (taking the reins off will make it a smaller bundle), and rub it gently from the base of the neck forward. If he raises his head, go back down the neck. Do this until you can rub his head carefully with it. Finally, using your right hand to guide the bridle up his face, start the bridling process. If he raises his head, stop and go back to rubbing. When you can have the horse look through the bridle quietly, use your left hand to offer the bit. Keep the thumb handy to put it between his lips if you need to. Viola’, a quietly bridling horse. As for unbridling, as long as you take the time to work through the bridling process, remember to never bang the horse in the teeth with the bit, and go slow, your unbridling troubles should be over too.
October 27th, 2011 at 11:15 am
Sheia, Try putting the right ear in the bridle first, then the left. I had a horse with sensitive ears. I had to be very careful with bridling. Try it slowly, and a gently as you can.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:18 am
OK – good answers to the questions but no one mentioned the Approach/Retreat method used by Clinton Anderson. He has a CD that addresses this type of problem that the owner may want to purchase. Also, being a member of the No Worries Club may have the benefit of LOTS of other individuals with this problem as well as help from Clinton personally. Give this a try from a professional with proven results.