Help! Any way of making keepers bigger?

[Slave2Magic]

My mare's bridle is part cob size and part pony size. I have put together a new brown one and the cheekpiece keepers are too small to get the cob size headpiece through. Is there any way of stretching the keepers to squeeze them through?

 

[Jnhuk]

I've used a hoof pick - the metal ones which have a tapering handle. Put keeper over pick end and push up as far as it will go then leave it for awhile for the leather to stretch.

 

[Squeak]

You can also use the handle of a teaspoon to do the same thing as the hoof pick.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

You can also cheat lol! Undo the buckles and thread brown or black plaiting bands onto the bridle or reins! If you have an old bridle with roomier keepers or know a helpful saddler, you can snip the existing ones off and thread new, roomier ones on.