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Always put the saddle on before you bridle your
horse. Carry your bridle on one arm by the crownpeice
and reins, so the reins won't be dragging on the
floor. Approach the horse from the front so that
it can see that you've got the bridle in your hands.
Try not to let the metal bit clank as you walk,
because some horses will react to the noise and
then you might have some trouble. When you're
bridling the horse, you should always have some
means of restraint on the horse's head or neck to
stop it from just walking off. Also, be careful
not to let the horse get away while you're still
putting the bridle on, because it might get its
legs tangled in the reins.
To
start out, untie the horse, then undo its halter.
then either wrap a lead rope around its neck or
your reins, it they aren't fastened together. Stand
on the left side of the horse, take the reins in
your right hand, and put them over its head. Then
put your right arm underneath the horse's jaw and
hold the cheekpeices of the bridle together in front
of the horse's face. Hold the bit in your left hand
just under the horse's nose. Move the bridle carefully
up the horse's face. When the bit touches the horse's
mouth, insert your thumb gently between the horse's
lips at the corner of its mouth so that it presses
slightly on the gum in the gap between the horse's
teeth. This will usually encourage the horse to
open its mouth.
Draw the crownpiece up over the horse's ears, taking
care not to let the bit fall out of the horse's
mouth. Carefully fit both ears between the browband
and the crownpiece and pull the horse's forelock
out to that it lies free over the browband.
Check that all the parts of the bridle are lying
straight and flat before you begin fastening the
buckles. First buckle the throatlatch. When it is
fastened there should be enough room in-between
the leather and the horse's throat to put three
finger on top of each other. Any less is too tight
and may become uncomfortable for the horse. After
that, fasten the noseband. Depending on the type
of noseband, it should either be loosely fastened
or tight.
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Horse
Care page
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