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Preparing for Successful Bridling

If there was a secret to successful bridling it could be said in a word: "Preparation". Simply put, the more time you take preparing your horse, the more successful you’ll be at bridling.

I use the following progressive exercises to produce a brave, confident and trusting horse that will accept a bridle "willingly".

Being consistent as you move in a quiet and non-demanding rhythm has a powerful effect on any horse. By doing so, your horse will learn to trust your movements and actions.

Exercise #1

If a horse’s head is stuck in the clouds bridling could be a problem. I always start with a laterally flexion exercise that unlocks the body and relaxes the mind.

With the horse outfitted with a lead rope and halter I break this exercise down into two parts. It’s important to remember here that you need to reward the horse with a release of pressure for the slightest try.

  1. First, I like to practice until my horse has enough confidence to lower her nose completely to the ground. You may achieve this in the first session or it may take a few days, the important thing to remember here is not to rush or scare your horse, thereby losing her confidence. Just as importantly not to drill your horse and have her become sour to the exercise.

  2. Secondly, I want this exercise to become a conditioned response, so that when I remove my hand from her head she will not raise it immediately, but rather keep it down low to the ground on her own for a few seconds or more.

Complementary Exercises

  1. Preparing your horse to open her mouth and accept the bit. Start by adding molasses to her grain, and once she catches onto the taste, have some on your finger as you insert it into the corner of her mouth. Finally, when it comes time for her to open her mouth and accept the bit, she will be more inclined to do it willingly if it has molasses on it.

  2. Be sure you can touch her ears. To start just run your hand over her ears in one easy, gentle swipe. The idea is to be on the ears for only a second as you progressively slow down the swipe until you can stay on the ear for longer and longer. Push the ears flat and forward in preparation of the bridle slipping over them.

  3. Remember to always be aware of your body position. As you work with your horse, stand between the nose and shoulder as you tip her nose in towards you.
  

Laterally Flexion Exercise

Here Mathew stands between the nose and shoulder of his horse as he places his right hand on (or just behind) the poll to add gentle downward pressure. With his left hand on her nose, he simultaneously unlocks tension to relax her and then lowers her head by gently moving her head and neck laterally from left to right in a smooth steady rhythm.

Exercise #2

With the lead rope, I like to prepare my horse for the feel of a bridle around her face and ears. Practice this until your horse proves she is relaxed and confient by not trying to avoid the lead rope.

Effective Bridling Techniques/Procedures

Note: For safety to both you and your horse, never let the reins of your bridle dangle on the ground. If the bit is partially in the mouth and the horse stands on the reins as she moves, the bit will not only hurt her mouth, it will also cause her horse to pull back. Now, you have a bridling problem.
Practice these bridling techniques in a small self-contained pen so your horse doesn’t get away from you.

  1. If you are working with split reins, place the reins under the neck and then reach over and bring them back across the top of the neck.

  2. With a looped or a connected set of reins, slip them over the ears and around the neck.

  3. You can now take the halter off and use the reins as a way of keeping your horse with you.

  4. The higher up on the neck the reins are, the more control you will have if your horse starts moving around.

  5. Holding the crown piece of the bridle in your left hand, as you hold the nose of your horse.


  6. Let your horse get confidence here as you cause a slight bend in her neck by tipping the nose in towards you.

Feel of a Bridle

With Mathew standing beside his mare he begins touching and rubbing her face with the lead rope in an effort to gain her confidence. He has already worked on lowering her head so he can now place his right arm and hand between her ears to reach for the lead rope. Now he will slowly bring the lead rope up her nose and over her ears.

Pull Reins to Draw Bit Behind Chin

Here Mathew holds the crown piece of the bridle in his left hand as he tips her nose in towards him. Next, he will pull on the reins with his right hand to draw the bit in behind her chin.

Bit behind Chin

With his reins up high on the neck and the bit behind her chin, he has control of his horse in case she trys to move around.


Changing Hands

Here Mathew has changed hands and is now holding the crown piece with his right hand. He has allowed the bit to drop down lower so his horse can accept it with her mouth.
  1. Change hands by holding the crown piece in your right hand and then allow the bit to drop down lower to a position that allows your horse to accept it with her mouth.
  2. Spread the snaffle bit with your left hand to make it easier for your horse to accept the bit.


  3. Anytime your horse raises her head, ask her to lower it with lateral movement and downward pressure.

Spread Snaffle Bit & Position to Mouth

Here Mathew is spreading the snaffle bit
and positioning it to her mouth. He is giving his mare a chance to open her mouth first before resorting to inserting his finger into the corner of her mouth. If you are patient, your horse will learn to open her mouth without any help from you.
  1. If necessary, put some molasses on your finger and the bit to encourage your horse to open her mouth.

  2. As your horse opens her mouth, gently draw the bit into her mouth by pulling on the crown piece of the bridle.

  3. Slip the crown piece over the right ear by pushing it flat and forward. Now do the same with the left ear.
    Success! Your bridle is on and the only thing left to do is to adjust it for a comfortable fit.


Push Ears Flat & Forward
Push the ears flat and forward as you slip the crown piece over them.

Adjusting the Bridle


A. The cheek straps need to be adjusted evenly on both sides so the bit hangs balanced in the mouth. I like to have the snaffle bit “just” touching the corners of the mouth.

B. The throat latch should be adjusted “loosely” so it doesn’t cut off any air to the wind pipe when your horse flex’s at the poll.

C. Make sure the bit you are using is the correct size for your horse’s mouth.

To view a free video on bridling click here: Preparing for Successful Bridling

Remember – “Success with horses starts with us”!

 

This article was written by Jay O'Jay for the July 2008 issue of Horse Canada.