how to learn to ride in a double bridle

[Evol_or_revert]

I have a bit of an odd question here.

For years Iv had a double bridle hanging on my wall. Never used as it isn't necessary as well as always being to scared as iv heard it is bad in the wrong hands. But have done alot of reading up about it.

Well im starting to feel the urge to give it ago and see what it is like to ride in. I feel im now developing a deep seat and steady hands. I also have a well trained patient horse that would happyily tolarate any of my experiments.

Since to me this is a big deal, I wanted some knowledge advice from nr first.

Would one short ride in a double bridle with no intend on schooling or sorting out any problems, just to get a feel of it, do any harm?

[Mehitabel]

have you ridden in double reins before, in a pelham or similar? before going ot a double, you must really learn how to handle two sets of reins - learn to shorten and lengthen them independently, and also how to use them independently so you can use the snaffle when you want and the curb when you want.

i learned, and i teach people, with a snaffle and another pair of reins on the noseband - use the nose reins as the snaffle, and the bit reins as curb. then if you shorten the wrong one, have the 'curb' tighter than the 'snbaffle' you won't hurt or confuse the horse. i also learned on a horse who already knew how to go in one, and then taught petal once i had been riding in one for a couple of years.

i wouldnt recommend a person and horse who neither have had one on before, trying it out without supervision. the weymouth can be very severe, and also the fact of having 2 bits in the mouth takes some getting used to, you need to learn how to fit it etc.

[hApPiNeSs]

You could try putting the bridle on a 'fake' horse eg attaching it to a post/gate or something :cool:

then you could practise using the reins without the horses mouth on the other end

[Morgan_girl]

use a second pair of reins on the bit you are using now. If your horse does not mind, use a martingle, 10 ring or running, (something along those lines)to seperate the bits. also they will apply different min pressure. Ride this way for a bit until you are comfortable. It is different so give your horse some time.

[Aly]

Firstly, Is your horse used to being ridden in a double bridle in the past, or used to a bit that involves the use of poll pressure? If not you need to prepare the horse for the new sensation of pressure on the poll and the curb chain. I have seen people throw on a pelham or double with horses not used to it, and have witnessed them go over backwards when the reins have been taken up. This is worse case senario and possibly not the norm, but something to be aware of.

Secondly if you are not experienced in riding with double reins, then as the others said above, practice riding with two reins on your normal bit.

Personally I would advise to have some lessons with someone to teach you how to fit the bridle, bits, hold the reins, angle of curb chain, etc. If your horse is not used to a double, I would take the horse along too, and both of you get some experience.

Goodluck and cheers!
Aly

[Quarter Horse]

Sorry no advice but good luck - I dont even want to imagin how hard ANOTHER set of reins would be ontopofthe 2i have already :D :eek:

[Evol_or_revert]

thanks for the great ideas :d They were just what I needed. I have no riding use for the bridle it was just out of intrest. So I will practice riding in two reins on my current bridle, then get a few lessons when i get back in to them next season!!

[Eli_Jay]

evol_or_revert - I was reading your webpage, did you put charlie down because he wasn't improving mentally? or because he was physically hurt/sick?
At my old riding school there was a horse who wouldn't stop rearing, the instructor tried everything (spelling, retraining, parelli, light work, chiro, only having her best riders ride him - everything) and finally she had to have him shot because she knew he was going to kill someone otherwise.
Is that what Charlie was like??