How to bridle up?

[Casey76]

OK, so now I have an hour lesson to myself I have to go and bridle my own horse, who, most of the time don't want to be bridled.

I've got the bit about standing on the left, and holding the nose (face?) with my right hand to keep the horse from lifting his head. And as I'm only 5' it doesn't take too much lifting before I can't reach ata ll! :o But I can't get any of them to accept the bit. I'm too scared of banging their teeth to be assertive. Last week one of the stable girls just stuck her fingers in Leons mouth and pressed on the bars, but I'm still really nervous of getting bitten (really bad experience in the dim and distant past!). I then have problems doing up the noseband as Juri and Lord chew, which isn't too bad as both wear cavassons, but Leon wears a Hannovarian (sp?) bridle, which is really difficult to do up if he keeps chewing.

And ideas? tips? advice?

Thanks

[jUmPingIsLifE]

You should get someone at the stables to show you where to put your finger. none of the horses at my barn would open their mouths if you didn't stick your thumb in. there is a certain place to stick your thumb where there is no teeth at all so you wont get bitten.

[SAHRideACowboy]

Yup! Where you put you thumb there is no teeth so don't be worried about getting bit! It easy once you get the hang of it! practic makes perfect! Just ask someone to show you and then you put the bridle on when they are there so if you have a question or need halp you can ask them!:)

[virtuallyhorses]

Definitely get someone to show you otherwise the horse will just see you coming and have a great time at your expense :) If it was your own horse you could train him\her to put the bridle on on themselves (well put the bit in, I haven't worked out how to get him to do up the buckles yet ;) ) . But in any case, carry a lump of sugar or a little treat - as soon as the bridle is on give the treat - they'll soon learn that there's a reward and be more helpful toward you :)

[ponytude]

Yup! The back area has no teeth so some one should be able to show you where. I rode a hors ethis summer in a pony camp that wouldnt open his mouth but just when you were about to ask him he would yawn giving me the oppertunity to but the bit in and adjust the bridle. Other wise if I missed the yawn it was the finger thing.


PONYTUDE

[makebelieve]

Yep, agree with everyone but another thing

My horse can't stand being bridled. I put my hand around her nose, even if I'm only 5.3 and she's 15.2hh. Works well, just keep a grip on the horse.

[OlavS]

Ermm so what do you do with the thumb? I've stuck my thumb in the gap but jaw remained closed. Is there some magic "open jaw" button inside that I have missed? :D

[galadriel]

I take the bridle in my left hand. I grab the bridle around the middle; my hand holding the bridle is therefore over the bridge of the horse's nose, so he feels less like he can lift his mouth away.

I put the fingers of my right hand on the bit, and stick my right thumb into horse's mouth. At the corner of his lips, there's a gap where there are no teeth (which is good, else a bit would be VERY uncomfortable). Since I know he's not got any teeth there, I'm quite comfortable wiggling my thumb around until he opens his jaws. You might need to tickle his tongue.

As soon at those teeth crack open, I guide the bit right into the mouth with the fingers on my right hand (remember the fingers? they're sitting on the bit). Now I lift my left hand and draw the bit into the mouth so it doesn't fall right back out again.

Then I take my right hand I pull the top of the bridle over the horse's ears. (The top of the bridle is the crownpiece, and the area just behind the horse's ears is the poll.) Use both hands to settle the crownpiece properly on the poll.

Now all you have left to do is make certain that the bridle is evenly settled around the rest of the face, that it isn't pinching, and to do up the various buckles. You should be able to fit 4 fingers between the throatlatch and the horse's throat. I myself don't undo the cavesson, but if you're going to buckle a noseband, make sure you can fit 2 fingers between the noseband and the horse.

[friskyfilly14]

When you have your hand flat on the outstrech of your left hand press the bit against her/his mouth if he doesnt open then using you left thumb feel In the corner of his mouth a place where he has no theeth wiggle your thumb around and he should open.Quickly pull up the browband the he cant spit it out Good Luck!:)

[Scarlett 001]

At my previous riding school, I struggled for a long time with a horse that did not seem to like to have the bridle put on. I dreaded that part of the lesson more than anything as I felt so foolish not being able to put the bridle on! :( I thought it was just me until I found out everyone had the same problem with this horse. He was an incredibly tall horse and just lifted his head which made the job difficult for beginners. One day I grabbed a small footstool/ladder thing I saw sitting nearby to see if some extra height would help me out (I am not short at all, but thought this would stop him lifting his head). It did help - I just slipped the bridle on and he did not complain or raise his head at all. Moreover, at the same time someone took a look at his ears and saw he had an infection that no one had detected. I think he hated having his ears pushed about with the bridle by the continuous stream of novices and small kids attempting to reach up high. I suppose with the extra height of the stool I was not pushing on his ears as much. Anyway, I noticed that from then on, the school kept this small step by his stall to help out shorter people (and of course they treated his infection).

I only mention this story as I think you said in your message that you were not very tall. Really one has to learn to bring the horse's head down without a stool (which I did learn to do), but in the meantime while you learn the tricks of the trade perhaps a stool would help if you just can't get the bridle on - that way at least you won't be late for the start of your lesson!

[makebelieve]

I might of had a better lesson this week from the way I put on the bridle.

I didn't grab for her nose this time. I relaxed and talked to her patiently, told her what a good girl she was after trying to slowly put my hand around her nose. After 5 minutes I rubbed her in the neck and talked to her some more. Finally, she lowered her head completely and let me put it right over her head-no fuss!

The rest of my lesson was perfect-I think its because I worked with her the time I was putting on the bridle. She never bucked or did anything nasty. I had even been congratulated by other riders in my group. A bit off topic here, but I think that putting it on nicely, not grabbing or lurching is the key.

Not much help on the topic, but it helped me greatly in my lesson.

[amylou_84]

iv never had to tack up a horse for a lesson which i think is really annoying as i want to learn. they are always ready for me. but people presume that with the amount of lessons iv had that i can tack up no problem, but i cant :rolleyes: im determined to learn though and i will when i do an evening course i have planned! yay :) anyway practice takes perfect. everyone had to learn.

amy :D

[flapjacks]

The horses at my barn all expect a treat to be in your hand underneath the bit. When they open their mouths to get the treat, the bit slips in. I was shown to put the bit in my left hand and pull up the bridle with my right. But I see it can be done with the opposite hands.

[entreat]

I don't touch Cody's nose - he flicks his head up and away if I do.
I actually put the bridle 'western style' (according to this site). Just like this picture.
I put very light pressure on Cody's poll until his head drops
I think he likes it - he closes his eyes and doesn't move until I open his mouth to put the bit in! (I'll take a photo next time)

[Equisgurl]

some horses dislike when you put dingy and crusty bit in their mouth, make sure u wash it after every ride, it also helps to wash it right before u put it in the mouth. One thing that helps me with difficult horses, is rubbing piece of apple on the bit, they love the smell!

[Showjumper03]

first of all do you ride English or Western? And If the pony won't open its mouth wiggle your left thumb in the corner of its mouth where it has no teeth! And be sure to quicky pull the browband up so you know you have the bit in the mouth for sure. And you wont get bitten because you wiggle your finger where it has no teeth!:D

[ojoisland]

For some reason, I have more anxiety putting the bridle on more than anything when I have my lesson, all those straps just overwhelms the heck out of me. I'm getting there but it still takes me awhile compare to others, which makes me feel quite stupid:o . If my school horse can talk like Mr. Ed, he'll probably say "oh no here we go again, sigh..."

[makebelieve]

Another idea. Put the headpiece of the headcollar/halter around the neck, just where the neck and the face meet (I'm not being very scientific, lol!) and keep the cross ties on. That way, the horse is under control and its a lot easier to make sure the face is down. Just an idea, and yes I have seen it done on many, many horses. You might be better off asking someone how to do it the first time, if you're unsure. I'm not sure if some horses can't tolerate this either.

[Kanuma]

Originally posted by ojoisland
For some reason, I have more anxiety putting the bridle on more than anything when I have my lesson, all those straps just overwhelms the heck out of me. I'm getting there but it still takes me awhile compare to others, which makes me feel quite stupid:o . If my school horse can talk like Mr. Ed, he'll probably say "oh no here we go again, sigh..." Try putting a double bridle on that's scary!!!

If the horse wont open its mouth put your finger in its mouth roughly where the bit would normaly sit then press gently on the gum if it doesnt open its mout press hard then it should open its mouth