Double bridles - stupid question but....

[Maia]

Never had a double bridle before so apologies if this is a stupid question.

How are the cheek pieces attached? Does the headpiece have 3 strpas coming off it (2 cheek, one throatlash) or do they have a separate sliphead for the second bit?

I've seen the exact bridle I want without having to have one made up but they only do it as a double - would I be able to use it as a single (its a heritage bridle)?

 

[JenHunt]

they usually have a second sliphead for the bridoon (snaffle part) and use the main headpiece for the weymouth (pelham part) and throatlash. remember the bridoon has to sit where your snaffle sits in his mouth and the weymouth has to sit lower so they sit smooth in his mouth.

my lad loves his double bridle and i hunt in it all the time - he actually prefers it to his dressage legal snaffle!

 

[Maia]

Well my thinking was that if I could convert to a sanffle I'd also still have a double for if I decide to show, hunt etc and need it. But if I can't convert it I won't bother as I don't actually need a double.

 

[Maesfen]

Of course it can be converted to a snaffle simply by removing the sliphead and its cheekpiece.
Incidentally, if you've never fitted a double bridle before, the bits sit as Jencash explained but the leatherwork is fitted differently to a normal snaffle bridle.
You will have three cheek pieces, a headpiece (with throat lash attached so exactly the same as a normal bridle), a browband, a sliphead (a piece of leather with a billet/buckle fastening at one end which will fasten to the bradoon (snaffle) and the other end will have holes punched which will attach to the longest cheek piece of the three) and a noseband. The sliphead cheekpiece should be used on the offside of the bridle so that when made up, you will have two buckles on either side (cheek piece and noseband on the near side plus throat lash of course, and two cheek pieces on the off side) If you do use it as a double at any time, please remember to always fit a lip strap too as that will stop the curb chain rising up or turning in the chin groove.

 

[checkmate1]

I turned my sisters old double bridle into a snaffle bridle for my horse, so it can be done!