Double Bridles - Introduction

[Lippyx]

No reason, just wondering really.....

How do you introduce & get your horse to accept a double bridle? Did you find it easy, or was your horse unsure about it?

 

[scrumpygus]

I found it really easy - my horse accepted it like i'd ridden in it for years- i think not all horses take to it straight away so a slow introduction in the school is advisable.
Also if your not used to using a double bridle i would ask for help putting it on and applying the curb chain initially.

 

[camilla4]

Horses vary enormously in their acceptance of a doube and there are many factors in this, including the horse's natural temperament and also their anatomy - some horses with smaller mouths/thick tongues/low roof of the mouth may find it more awkward. I introduce by putting on the double bridle but only using the bridoon rein for a the first few times - hacking out in it is usually easier than schooling until the horse has fully accepted the presence of the second bit. Definitely get advice if you are at all unsure about correct fitting!

 

[Theresa_F]

I started Stinky in a snaffle, worked up to a pelham - firstly a rubber one, then a jointed one with very short shanks - hardly stronger than a snaffle and then to a mullen mouth with longer shanks.

From the mullen mouth pelham, I went to the double. Rode off top rein to start with and when he was going happily, gently took up the bottom rein.

That said, Stinky is not a drama queen and everything has been very easy to do with him from initial bitting, backing etc.

With my TB, I put it on, she was used to a variety of bits, rode on top rein and again gently introduced the bottom rein.

With my TBs and cobs, I tend to hardly need to use the bottom rein, just an occasional squeeze to ask them to steady and round is all I need (so far).

Personally I think the more fuss you make over changing and introducing something, the more the horse gets upset, or maybe I have been fortunate to have horses over the years that have just got on with it when I have changed something.

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

no of mine have bothered so far but my current boy is very fussy-only like his NS lozenege snaffle for flatwork and only his nathe for jumping, so i anticipate that introducing the double may cause a bit of an upset. he backs right off bits he doesnt like and falls behind the leg until he starts threatening to rear, cant blame him if his mouth isnt comfy, in his 2 bits he *likes* he's fine and sweetly forward going.

he's only 5, but i might start off mouthing him in the stable in it at the end of the year, and spend a lot of months next year hacking gently before schooling in it at the end of next year.

if he really hates it then no issues at snaffles are fine for GP now, i just prefer the finesse of a double.