A horse's bridle is one of the main communication points, as it can tell a horse to slow down, stop or turn. Learn about properly putting a bridle on a horse with help from an equestrian riding instructor in this video on bridling a horse.
Hello, my name is Chelsey Sawtell, Primary Riding Instructor at Black Friar Farm in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. And today, we will be discussing parts of the bridle and how to properly bridle your horse. The bridle is one of your main communication points with your horse. It can tell you to go, slow, stop, turn right, turn left and is basically one of your main aids in controlling your horse. It can help you change rhythm within a gate, move up or downwards in a gate as well as navigate through obstacles. What we have here is a basic English Dressage Bridle with flash. The reins connect directly with the bit and is your main form of communication. This is a Legend's French Link Snaffle. This is the cavason, it goes around the nose of the horse and the flash which is use to hold the bit up against the horse's soft palette. The cheek pieces, the brow band, the crown piece and the throat latch. When bridling your horse, it is important to have control of the at a all times. When bridling your horse, it is important to have control of them at all times. Slide the reins over the horse's neck prior to removing the halter. That way, should your horse spook or move, you have control of them. Sliding your right hand over the pull of the horse's head, hold the crown piece of the bridle. Using your left hand, cradle the bit and slide it into the horse's mouth, gently pulling up on the crown piece as you do so. Gently push the horse's ears through the crown piece of the bridle and behind of the brow band. Next, you will want to fasten your cavason or nose band. The cavason should be snug, but not stifling. Make sure to place all leather ins in their keepers. Next, fasten your flash. Once again, the flash should be snugged, but not tighten so tightly that the horse is unable to catch its breath. Please note the entire time I have my arm loop through the reins to prevent my horse from moving during bridling. The final phase of bridling is to fasten the throat latch. You should be able to fit your fist through the throat latch. It should not be tight or restricting in any way. Its sole purpose is to prevent the horse from shaking its head and having the bridle become dislodge from behind the ears and come off of the head. In conclusion, when bridling your horse, you want to make sure to have control of them at all times. Be gentle when inserting the bit into the mouth as to not hit any teeth and be gentle and careful as you place the ears in front of the brow band as to not damage their soft tissue.
Specialty: Young Stock and Horsemanship
