Double Bridles

strides-eventing

strides-eventing

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I am just interested as to how many of you use the double bridle in training or whatever, what for and when. When do you introduce a horse to a double bridle and why? How did you know the horse was ready for the double bridle? What are your reasons behind using the double bridle? Or do you just keep the horse in a snaffle if it seems to be going okay in it?
 
I had a horse that i introduced to a double when i started competing elementary as he could get a little strong and strung out at times and it really helped the control during a test, i had another horse that was so soft in the mouth and obedient i wouldnt have considered it as i didnt fel it was necessary but for the other horse it was a massive help.
 
As I show and in open affiliated classes horses have to wear a double or a pelham. Used a double for a couple of seasons then for some reason horse decided he didn't particularly like it and went to a pelham.

Didn't used to use it at home very often, just at the start of the season (be that double or pelham) and then would only use it at shows as horse was established in it.


Not very scientific I am afraid.
 
Ive recently started using one, I find I can get him back quicker if/when he tries to spook, also gives me some help in the canter, hes a big moving warmblood who I would normally sj in a pelham, the double refines the aids and means I have the help of the curb when I need it. For me it was abit of an experiment as was also unsure when to try him in a double, but very glad I have. Will be doing our first ever Elem in July.
 
ellie_e said:
Ive recently started using one, I find I can get him back quicker if/when he tries to spook, also gives me some help in the canter, hes a big moving warmblood who I would normally sj in a pelham, the double refines the aids and means I have the help of the curb when I need it. For me it was abit of an experiment as was also unsure when to try him in a double, but very glad I have. Will be doing our first ever Elem in July.
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So do you currently train for novice in a double bridle?
 
As ive always shown my horse has gone in a double since he was 4/5 years old during the show season except hacking where he goes in a waterford snaffle, then back to a snaffle over the winter months to do some unaffiliated dressahe althgouh I do struggle to hold him in a snaffle!
 
All of my horses are ridden in double bridles most of the time, and always when "at work". They will also go quite happily in a snaffle when required. I notice that most responders on here are thinking of their double bridles as extra brakes, or for more control, whereas I would think of the double more for a refined aid, for delicacy in riding. The snaffles are more for just slopping about, and are a bit of a blunt instrument.
 
Not wishing to speak on Ellie's behalf, but I imagine she uses it because, in the right hands, it is a smashing piece of kit. One can ride on totally on the snaffle rein and bring the curb into play only when and if necessary, from a gentle touch up to a handful. Much much better than hauling away on a snaffle if the horse leans or gets strong, or the constant pressure of a Pelham etc.

I never Hunt any of mine in any other bridle,
 
strides-eventing said:
Why do you find this more beneficial than training in a snaffle? How did you come to the decision to use a double bridle?

Sorry for all the questions haha
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He can be a pig, rears vertically, spins and spooks, tried the double, no rearing, and less spooking! Hes working well at Elem, with piris and changes, so thought it was worth a try, I hired the weymouth set so didnt cost me a fortune if he hated it. He likes the action of a curb, hes always been in a pelham even when he was in Holland so for a few quid it was worth trying.
 
Bestdogdash said:
Not wishing to speak on Ellie's behalf, but I imagine she uses it because, in the right hands, it is a smashing piece of kit. One can ride on totally on the snaffle rein and bring the curb into play only when and if necessary, from a gentle touch up to a handful. Much much better than hauling away on a snaffle if the horse leans or gets strong, or the constant pressure of a Pelham etc.

I never Hunt any of mine in any other bridle,
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Exactly!!!!! However not sure I could cope with 2 reins when jumping!
 
Bestdogdash said:
Not wishing to speak on Ellie's behalf, but I imagine she uses it because, in the right hands, it is a smashing piece of kit. One can ride on totally on the snaffle rein and bring the curb into play only when and if necessary, from a gentle touch up to a handful. Much much better than hauling away on a snaffle if the horse leans or gets strong, or the constant pressure of a Pelham etc.

I never Hunt any of mine in any other bridle,
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So when worked in a snaffle say at a competition when a double is not legal the horse does not revert to old tactics from before the double bridle was used in training?
 
strides-eventing said:
So when worked in a snaffle say at a competition when a double is not legal the horse does not revert to old tactics from before the double bridle was used in training?
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Each horse is different, however he has just had a week at my trainers schooling, she used both snaffle and double, I picked him up on Sunday and rode him in a snaffle he was a saint. I cant really comment re a competition as I have competed in the double and just rode h/c at novice level. Also he can be arena shy so its never the best time to see if something has improved. ( Im normally happy if we can get in the indoor arena, never mind what the test is like :rolleyes:)
Why are you thinking of changing to the double? There will be people out there who will tell you that a horse should go in a snaffle all the time etc, but if your happy and the horse is going well who cares what bit it has!
 
I don't think he would, no. If he were schooled in it, the memory of use (if any) of the curb when, say he was leaning, would still be there. Remember you ride on the snaffle anyway, 98% of the time, so to the horse, all is normal.
 
ellie_e said:
Each horse is different, however he has just had a week at my trainers schooling, she used both snaffle and double, I picked him up on Sunday and rode him in a snaffle he was a saint. I cant really comment re a competition as I have competed in the double and just rode h/c at novice level. Also he can be arena shy so its never the best time to see if something has improved. ( Im normally happy if we can get in the indoor arena, never mind what the test is like :rolleyes:)
Why are you thinking of changing to the double? There will be people out there who will tell you that a horse should go in a snaffle all the time etc, but if your happy and the horse is going well who cares what bit it has!
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I don't know, honestly. It's been playing on my mind as something that could improve him but I'm rather hesitant as to whether more schooling is just needed. But then I think schooling in a double may be more beneficial. It's just becoming blatantly obvious that whatever schooling tactics I'm trying he remains on the forehand, leaning on the bit enough to hurt my shoulders and that I would love a more refined aid than feeling like I have to give the biggest half halt in the world for him to go "oh, what was that?". I'm just trying to make an informed decision. I know there's so many people that would be like, proper schooling will help, but I've tried a lot of schooling and he remains the same - I know it takes time of course! And there's so many people that would say to stay in a snaffle... So I'm just trying to think about it really. It sounds like it could be helpful from what I've heard here. I'm resistant to changing his bit to something that isn't dressage legal. I went from a french link eggbutt to a french link loose ring to see if it would stop him holding and leaning slightly but there's not a lot of improvement... Plus the loose ring is pinching his lip slightly. I'm competing at novice at present and trying to train for elementary but it's proving difficult when he leans and I can't clearly ask him something other than from my body, seat and legs.
 
strides-eventing said:
I don't know, honestly. It's been playing on my mind as something that could improve him but I'm rather hesitant as to whether more schooling is just needed. But then I think schooling in a double may be more beneficial. It's just becoming blatantly obvious that whatever schooling tactics I'm trying he remains on the forehand, leaning on the bit enough to hurt my shoulders and that I would love a more refined aid than feeling like I have to give the biggest half halt in the world for him to go "oh, what was that?". I'm just trying to make an informed decision. I know there's so many people that would be like, proper schooling will help, but I've tried a lot of schooling and he remains the same - I know it takes time of course! And there's so many people that would say to stay in a snaffle... So I'm just trying to think about it really. It sounds like it could be helpful from what I've heard here. I'm resistant to changing his bit to something that isn't dressage legal. I went from a french link eggbutt to a french link loose ring to see if it would stop him holding and leaning slightly but there's not a lot of improvement... Plus the loose ring is pinching his lip slightly. I'm competing at novice at present and trying to train for elementary but it's proving difficult when he leans and I can't clearly ask him something other than from my body, seat and legs.
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RE the snaffle pinch problem, I have this issue too!!! At my trainers she had him in the Sprenger KK ultra type 2! For schooling this is fine, but not dressage legal, ( i posted a thread about it earlier this week) maybe worth a look just for training? Or hire the weymouth set ( around £30) and add a slip head to your snaffle and try it for a few weeks, I dont see it doing any harm, plus then you know, and if your wanting todo some Elem, you'll be fine in a double.
 
ellie_e said:
RE the snaffle pinch problem, I have this issue too!!! At my trainers she had him in the Sprenger KK ultra type 2! For schooling this is fine, but not dressage legal, ( i posted a thread about it earlier this week) maybe worth a look just for training? Or hire the weymouth set ( around £30) and add a slip head to your snaffle and try it for a few weeks, I dont see it doing any harm, plus then you know, and if your wanting todo some Elem, you'll be fine in a double.
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Thanks for your advice. Where did you hire the set from?
 
my now 8yo PSG horse has been in a double since half way through his 6yo year.

I had the opposite prob that he can be contact shy but prefered having 2 thick ish bits in his mouth as he felt he could lean on them more and i could them actually push him up to the rein and half halt!

he does all his work in them, but for cantering/galloping and hacking (walk only as he's a nob), he's 100% down the snaffle rein.
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
my now 8yo PSG horse has been in a double since half way through his 6yo year.

I had the opposite prob that he can be contact shy but prefered having 2 thick ish bits in his mouth as he felt he could lean on them more and i could them actually push him up to the rein and half halt!

he does all his work in them, but for cantering/galloping and hacking (walk only as he's a nob), he's 100% down the snaffle rein.
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This is the same as mine OP, plus he likes to try and kill me :rolleyes:
I hired the weymouth and bradoon sep, hes in NS Slimma weymouth and the Team up Bradoon
 
Cortez said:
All of my horses are ridden in double bridles most of the time, and always when "at work". They will also go quite happily in a snaffle when required. I notice that most responders on here are thinking of their double bridles as extra brakes, or for more control, whereas I would think of the double more for a refined aid, for delicacy in riding. The snaffles are more for just slopping about, and are a bit of a blunt instrument.
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My horse gets schooled all winter in a snaffle so when it comes to the summer and time for a double he can be rode off the snaffle rein and the curb for refinement, BUT yes its used as breaks at times as he a beast to hunt and has no respect for anything other than his double
 
On the rare occasions when my horse has been sound enough to school, I always use his double. It's what he's used to, and goes most happily in- he knows its his work bridle, and is very soft and relaxed in it. He considers the snaffle to be his hacking bridle, and is much less focused/more likely to be spooky/argumentative.

Sounds anthropomorphic, but that's how it feels! Bit like using dfferent bridles on stallions for work and covering.
 
I've been riding my ten year old in a double for about a year. I first introduced it for hunting purposes, he's always been a little bit shy so I was riding him in a snaffle. 95% of the time that was fine, but sometimes he'd get away from me. I tried various things, most were too harsh, and even with very light hands he'd panic. Found a slim, short shanked Weymouth, padded the curb chain out and he's very happy in it, even more so than he was in just his snaffle. I've stuck with it and use it for everything now as he does like it. I still ride 95% on the snaffle rein only, but that little bit extra is there if I need it.
 
I think maybe a little more study on the uses and effects of the bradoon/Weymouth combination might be useful for some people? If you are riding "98%" on the top rein (snaffle) then you are not using the double bridle the way is designed to be used. The reason many horses go better in a double is because the effect of the curb balances, refines and supersedes the somewhat blunt, bludgeoning effect of the snaffle (which is NOT a "kinder", "mild" or necessarily "nice" bit as most people seem to think). The action of the curb is almost entirely on different areas of the horse's mouth/head to that of the snaffle. I think that the problem is not with the bits you might use, but HOW you are using them - or perhaps how you've been taught to do so.
 
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