Bridles for a horse: types and subtleties of choice

The horse bridle is one of the main accessories and is used by those involved in equestrian sports or professional horse breeding. This device allows you to conveniently control the animal while riding. The bridle can be purchased both ready-made in specialized stores, and independently made at home by yourself.

The horse is controlled by a special tool called the “bridle”. The main components of this device include the following elements: belts, forehead, capsule and reins. Each component of the bridle has its own characteristics and purpose.

• Belt. It is considered one of the main elements of the accessory, as it provides fixation of the entire structure on the horse's head. Each model consists of a lower and chin strap.
• Capsule. It is a special mechanism that reliably fixes the bit of a bit in the mouth.
• The forehead. It plays an aesthetic role, horse breeders often decorate it with rhinestones, colored stones, sequins and ribbons.
• Reins. They look like two ropes of the same length, they are attached directly to the bit. Reins can be bought both ready-made and self-made. Using them, the fishing rod is activated, which allows you to control the actions of the animal.

The principle of action of the bridle is as follows: the mouthpiece, placed in the animal’s mouth, presses on the corners of the lips, the bit is pressed directly on the tongue, the harness has an effect on the sky, and the capsule squeezes the horse's face.

To make it comfortable to control the animal you need to purchase a harness device that matches the structure and size of the horse’s head. Many horse breeders make bridles with their own hands, according to individual sketches, which allows you to use a different design.

The size of the frenulum is determined depending on the size of the animal as follows: with the growth of the animal at the withers from 102 to 145 cm - Pony (S / M), from 146 to 155 cm - Cob (M), from 156 to 168 cm-Full (L) , 169 cm - Extra Full (L).

Today, there are many types of bridles, so each rider can easily select the model that would correspond not only to certain loads, but also to the overall design in the design of the horse. The most common types of bridles:

• hakamor;
• snaffle;
• mouthpiece;
• used for walks and runs;
• Western film;
• cowboy (suitable for both horses and bulls).

Snaffle bridles are commonly used models, they consist of all the main elements, the only thing is that the capsule in them can be removed at will. Unlike other types of bridles in snaffle jigs, they can be made with rubber, iron or plastic. This option is usually chosen by those riders who are confident in the nature and behavior of their favorite, and also know how to keep a good position in the saddle.

The mouthpiece bridle belongs to one of the varieties of the snaffle model. It is distinguished only by the presence of an additional mounting part, designed for another fishing rod and reins. This provides the opportunity to exercise maximum control over the animal. Most often, a similar model is acquired for important show events and for horse races.

Equally popular with horse breeders and cowboy bridle. It usually consists of a classic capsule, mouthpiece, snaffle and three straps. Depending on the features of the manufacture of the occipital belt, such bridles are divided into slotted (having two cuts for horse ears) and ordinary. It is quite possible to sew such bridles with your own hands, the only thing is that during operation the accessory does not cause animal discomfort, you need to correctly take measurements from it.

Horse breeders are in great demand walking bridles. They are also often found on farms where horses are raised. This version of the accessory is characterized by ease of use, so it is ideal for those who like long horseback riding. Thanks to such bridles, it’s easy to drink a horse, for this it is enough to remove the animal from its mouth.

Despite the huge selection of bridles, when buying horses, you need to pay attention not only to the price of the product, but its quality. Sometimes beautiful products can create a lot of inconvenience to the animal. In addition, a strict fitting of the bridles is carried out, which is carried out in the standing position of the horse, without making sudden movements. A special table also helps to simplify the selection of bridles, it shows all sizes and recommendations for selection.

When there is a need to carry out therapeutic measures with the animal, make a routine examination or just need to wash it, use a special device called a halter. It acts as a reliable fixator for the horse when she is standing. Sometimes a halter is used to facilitate the movement of the horse over short distances. The halter is considered an imperfect bridle, because it does not have such an element as a bit. When using a halter for beginners, the following recommendations should be considered.

• The horse must be led out in such a way that it feels that it is under control. For this reason it is necessary to keep at close distance from the head.
• When a halter is used, the horse breeder should stand on the left side of the animal and try not to go too far, following it in one leg. At the same time, you should always be on the lookout, as even the most calm pet with a flexible character can kick its owner with a hoof.
• For sensitive horses, a rope halter is recommended. You can either buy it in a store or make it yourself from ordinary twine or nylon threads. When creating a halter, the nodal weaving method is usually used, in which each node is located at a distance of up to 5 cm from each other.

It is also important to know how to put on a halter on your pet, for this it is worthwhile to perform the following steps in stages.

• The main parts of the halter are determined, which include the angle, chin, buccal belt, buckle and capsule.
• Then you need to carefully approach the animal without scaring it. To restrain the horse and prevent its escape, the womb is wrapped around the neck.
• After that, it is necessary to stand near the horse’s left shoulder and take the same direction as she, fixing the halter with the top buckle.

The bridle has two roles: decorates the appearance of the animal and provides control over it. Therefore, before purchasing this accessory, it is important to consider many nuances. He must not cause the horse discomfort, pain or irritation. Product preference is best. famous brands that are characterized by high quality. They sit well on the head, serve for a long time and do not lose their initial appearance, which allows you to sell the product. As for low-quality bridles, they are much cheaper, but quickly wear out and spoil the appearance of the animal.

A huge role in choosing a reins is played by the correct determination of sizes, for which measurements are taken from the head of the animal. Measurements are carried out as follows: forehead - width + 10 cm, chin - width + 3 cm, from the back of the head to the corner of the mouth, along the cheek and from the ear to the corner of the mouth + 10 cm. The length of the reins is selected at personal discretion.

In addition, when choosing a bridle, you need to consider the quality of the material from which its main elements are made. Many livestock breeders prefer to sew this accessory on their own or to order sewing from saddlers (special craftsmen). Such products, as a rule, are not much different from factory ones.

In the event that the horse is planned to be put up for sporting events or exhibitions, then original bridles should be purchased to give the horse a sporty look. An important criterion in choosing is the width of the skin, the weight of the animal. For example, for competitive horses one kind of bridle is required, for hunting horses another, and for visiting horses a third.

Reins are recommended to choose the correct length. They should not be long and short.. It is advisable to purchase products with a small margin of length, as various situations can happen. The forehead strap should be loose and not pull the ear area forward. Special buckles inserted into the ends of the belts will help to give an original look to the animal.

For horses that are constantly used in competitions it is advisable to buy expensive bridles, they are equipped with convenient covers for transportation from cotton or other natural fabrics.Do not rush to purchase bridles, before that you need to plan the period of their operation and take into account your financial budget, since it’s better to spend money once to purchase a quality product than to constantly change it for a new one.

As soon as the issue with the purchase of the bridle is resolved, it must be correctly put on the horse. If this is done for the first time, then you should be calm and avoid sudden movements, as they scare the animal. It is necessary to put on the device slowly, it is worth noting that the horses perfectly feel human fear, so if their owner is not very confident in himself, this event should be postponed until another time.

Often, nervous individuals do not want to put on a harness and begin to run amok, in these cases they can cause injury to their master. In order to prevent this from happening for the first time, the bridle is recommended to be put on a horse by a specialist who has experience in this matter. To quickly and easily put on a bridle on an animal, the following scheme should be applied.

• At the first stage, the horse should be properly trained to wear this device. To do this, the owner must pet the animal and calmly talk to him. In addition, it is necessary to make sure that the bridles are in good condition by unfastening the capsule and pick straps.
• Then, being on the left of the horse, you need to put on the bridle, holding the nose of the pet and throwing the occasion around the neck. In this case, the occipital fixture should be held by hand.
• After that, a bit is placed on the toothless edge of the jaw. In the event that the animal is too restless, then he must be given treats. As soon as the bridle is lifted up, the occipital belt is put on, it is thrown behind the ears. During this procedure, it is important to ensure that the elements that make up the bridle do not twist.
• The final step is fastening the chin strap. It should be placed so that there is a distance of the size of a fist between him and the head. A gap of two fingers should remain between the capsule and the skin of the horse. According to safety rules, only halters with leather inserts on top are allowed. Otherwise, the animal will quickly tear them apart.

You cannot put a rein on a horse when the animal grazes, plays, or rests in a horse box. If you follow these simple rules, then the process of putting on the bridle will be simple, and it can be dealt with even the first time.

More information about how to properly put on a bridle on a horse is described by specialists in the video below.