Horse bridles: types and subtleties of choice

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

Horse control is carried out using a special tool called a "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 securely fixes the bit in the horse's mouth.
• Headband. 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 either ready-made or made by yourself. With their help, the bit is activated, which allows you to control the actions of the animal.

The principle of operation 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 palate, and the capsule squeezes the horse's face.

To make it convenient 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 sizes of the bridles are 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 every rider can easily select exactly the model that would correspond not only to certain loads, but also to the general design in the design of the horse without much difficulty. The most common types of bridles:

• hakamora;
• 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 bridle bits, bridle bits can be made from rubber, iron or plastic. This option is usually chosen by those riders who are confident in the character and behavior of their pet, and also know how to keep well 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 fastening part intended for one more bit and reins. This provides the ability to exercise maximum control over the animal. Most often, a similar model is purchased for important demonstration events and for horse races.

No less popular with horse breeders and cowboy bridle. It usually consists of a classic capsule, mouthpiece, bit and three straps. Depending on the peculiarities 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 discomfort to the animal, you need to correctly take measurements from it.

Horse breeders are in great demand walking bridles. They are also often found on horse farms. 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 is easy to water the horse, for this it is enough to remove the bit from the animal's mouth.

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

When there is a need to perform therapeutic measures with an animal, to do a routine examination, or if it just needs to be washed, a special device called a halter is used. It acts as a reliable restraint for the horse when it is standing. Sometimes a halter is used to facilitate the movement of the horse over short distances. A halter is considered an imperfect bridle, since it does not have such an element as a bit. Novice horse breeders should consider the following guidelines when using a halter.

• Lead the horse in such a way that he feels that he is under control. To do this, the reins must be kept close to the head.
• When using a halter, the breeder should stand on the left side of the animal and try not to go too forward, following it in one leg. In this case, you should constantly be on the lookout, since even the most calm pet with an agreeable character can kick its owner with a hoof.
• A rope halter is recommended for sensitive horses. You can either buy it in a store or make it yourself from ordinary twine or nylon threads. When creating a halter, the knot weaving method is usually used, in which each knot is spaced from each other at a distance of up to 5 cm.

It is also important to know how to properly put on the halter on your pet, for this it is worth performing the following steps in stages.

• The main parts of the halter are determined, which include the angle, chin, cheek strap, buckle and capsule.
• Then you need to carefully approach the animal without frightening it. To hold the horse and prevent it from escaping, the chombur is wrapped around the neck.
• After that, you need to stand near the left shoulder of the horse and take the same direction as it, fixing the halter with the upper buckle.

The bridle has two roles: it decorates the animal's appearance and provides control over it. Therefore, before purchasing this accessory, it is important to take into account many nuances. It should not cause discomfort, pain or irritation to the horse. It is best to give preference to products 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 the product to be sold. As for low-quality bridles, they are much cheaper, but they will quickly wear out and spoil the appearance of the animal.

A huge role in choosing a bridle is played by the correct determination of the sizes for which measurements are taken from the head of the animal. Measurements are performed 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 chosen at personal discretion.

In addition, when choosing a bridle, you need to take into account the quality of the material from which its main elements are made. Many livestock breeders prefer to sew this accessory on their own or order sewing from saddlers (special craftsmen). Such products, as a rule, differ little from the factory ones.

In the event that the horse is planned to be exhibited at sports competitions or exhibitions, then original bridles should be purchased, giving the horse a sporty look. An important criterion in the choice is the width of the skin, the weight of the animal. For example, show jumping horses require one type of bridle, for hunting horses another, and for traveling horses a third.

It is recommended to choose the correct length of the reins. They don't have to be long and short.... It is advisable to purchase products with a small margin of length, since various situations may occur. The forehead strap should be loose and not pulling forward on the ear area. Special buckles inserted into the ends of the belts will also help to give the animal an original look.

For horses that are constantly used in competitions, it is advisable to buy expensive bridles, they are equipped with comfortable covers for transportation from cotton or other natural fabrics.You should not rush to purchase bridles, before that you need to plan the life of their operation and take into account your financial budget, since it is 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 acquisition of the bridle is resolved, it must be properly put on the horse. If this is done for the first time, then you should be calm and avoid sudden movements, since they will frighten the animal. It is necessary to put on the device slowly, it is worth noting that horses perfectly feel human fear, so if their owner is not very confident in himself, it is better to postpone this event for another time.

Often, nervous individuals do not want to put on the harness and begin to rage, in these cases they can injure their owner. In order to prevent this for the first time, it is recommended to put bridles on the horse by a specialist who has experience in this matter. To quickly and easily put a bridle on an animal, the following scheme should be used.

• The first step is to properly train the horse to wear this device. To do this, the owner must pet the animal and talk to him calmly. In addition, you need to make sure that the bridles are in good working order by unfastening the capsule and pick-up straps.
• Then, being to the left of the horse, you need to put on the bridle, holding the nose of the pet and throwing the reins around the neck. In this case, the occipital fastener should be held by hand.
• After that, bits are placed on the toothless edge of the jaw. In the event that the animal is too restless, then it needs to be given treats. As soon as the bridle is lifted up, the occipital strap 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 to fasten the chin strap. He should be placed in such a way that there is a fist-sized distance between him and his head. There should be a two-finger gap between the primer and the horse's skin. According to safety rules, it is allowed to use only halters with leather inserts on top. Otherwise, the animal will quickly tear them apart.

You cannot put a bridle on a horse when the animal is grazing, playing or resting in a stall. If you adhere to these simple rules, then the process of putting on the bridle will be simple, and it will be possible to cope with it even the first time.

For more information on how to properly put on a bridle on a horse, experts tell in the video below.