Fitting a bridle - help

[madginger]

My friend has a newish horse which is a suspected head shaker and she has been advised that she should check the fitting of the bridle to make sure that it is not too tight - vet is coming out as well to check other things.

I know how to check the fitting of the bit, cheek pieces, noseband and throat lash but how can you tell if the head piece and browband are too tight?

Sorry to sound thick but I normally just use the browband which comes with the bridle

 

[gummybear]

if the headpiece is sitting too tight to the ears putting pressure and it will be clear if the browband is too tight - pulling the headpiece forward, tension over the forehead etc.

 

[madginger]

So how can I tell if the browband is too tight pushing the headpiece forward?

 

[Ezme]

If there is a bend in the headpiece where the browband connects its too tight. It will be litterally pulling the headpiece onto the horses ears, not very comfey and a known cause of headshaking and shyness!

 

[Donkeymad]

The headpiece will be too close to the ears, and this is a very common problem.

 

[Dressagebabe]

You should have at least 1.5" clearance at the front centre of the browband and if you look from the side of the bridle at the ear base there should be 1-1.5cm behind the base clearance, the other way of testing is if you gently hold the horse's ear and rotate backwards there should be hardly any wrinkling of the skin at the ear base. Hope this helps a little more.