How do you know your bridle fits correctly??

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el_Snowflakes

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Hi all,

We all take so much care to ensure and maintain the correct fit of our saddles but how do we know our bridles fit? Mine was bought from a tack shop (wasnt very expensive). Also do you have a proffessional 'fit' your bit? Just wondered as I do believe this is all just as important as the fit of the saddle :D
 
Funnily enough, was only thinking the same thing the other day! Am interested to see the replies :) I always thought if it was not too tight, but not too loose, and could hold the bit comfortably in the mouth for them, and have the nose band in the right place. Browbands can be changed pretty easily so I don't think it's vital they fit when you bridle shop in the first place.. as for bits, we asked the last owner what size he was, and it seems to be the right fit! No idea over the procedure for measuring a bit, as have never done it before :o Will look that up now! xx
 
Erm I just checked all the pieces lay flat and could run my finger along underneath so not too tight and aim to get the bit sitting so it just gently puts pressure on the corners of the mouth, not hanging there but not pulling it into a "smile". I added holes to a pony bridle to get it to sit nicely on our welsh a.
 
good point ! i've never had a bit professionally fitted, big girl came with her favourite loose ring french link and as she goes well in it i've never had a reason to change it, the others have just had to put up with me fitting their bits:o As for bridle fit, heads don't change shape so much as backs , i did change the browband on big girls bridle so checked the fit then but not since. The little boys both had new bridles so the fitting was done the first time they had them on and as that was less than 3 months ago i haven't rechecked since. ginger boy had a change of bit so i refitted his bridle then.
 
It seems that all most people think about when buying a bridle is that the noseband and bit are correct.

Bridles today are horrible to buy because the cheek pieces are way to long.

The headpiece should lie immediately behind the ears, the brow band should be short enough to stop the bridle slipping back but long enough that it doesn't pull the headpiece against the base of the ears.
There should be an uneven number of holes in the cheeks of the headpiece and when the bit is fitted the buckle should be on the centre hole.
This means when buying a new bridle the bit should be lower than the centre hole as leather stretches.
The buckle of the noseband cheek should also be on the centre hole.

No noseband should be lower than the top of the false nostril and nor should it be high enough to rub the cheek bone. (With the exception of a grackle or cross noseband.)

All to often I see people riding and when they take a contact the cheeks of the bridle bow out - this means that they are way to long.
 
err, cause I made it myself! I am fortunate enough to work with an utterly ace bridle maker, and when she makes up a bridle to order she goes out and fits it to the horse and ensures every measurement is perfect.

Because of the stupid long cheekpieces on alot of bridles, esp if a gag is also used, then the buckles can end up right under the brow band which can't be comfortable. The buckles of the noseband headpiece and the cheekpieces should be level with, or a little below, the eye. Certainly no higher.

It is tricky getting an off the shelf bridle to fit, none of them are even close to fitting her without picking bits of different sizes!
 
Leatherwork.
Browband needs to be long enough to clear the base of the ears - too tight some horses will shake their heads. I prefer mine a little long.

Throat lash - when done up will allow a hand span between the cheek and the strap - hand held horizontal to the ground.

Noseband - Flash, Cavesson & drop - two fingers width below the projecting cheek bone. Tightness two fingers between horse and noseband.

Bit width - Hold bit rings where they join the mouthpiece and pull each away from the other - allow 1cm max each side for a jointed bit less for an unjointed bit.

Height - Snaffle 2 small creases in the corners of the mouth, unjointed just 1small wrinkle - can be a little lower.

Curb chain - for a pelham - should go through the bit rings to hold it down in the chin groove also prevents it pinching the corners of the mouth between chain and mouthpiece. Should be done up so that the chain only comes into action when the bit shank is at 45º.
Pelhamchainthroughring.jpg
 
Shilasdair said:
Because I know how to fit bridles.
How can you NOT bother to learn this basic skill if you are owning/riding a horse.
I despair.
S :(
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Thank you for that. I just kept coming back to the post, despairing, typing out a long reply and then thinking "What's the point?"
 
The first time I ever held a bridle I was expected to go and put it on to the pony by myself. Sure it was the right one for the pony and I knew that but I still had to do up the noseband and throat lash correctly. I had read the theory but never had a chance to put it into practice until then. I find it utterly horrifying that adults who have presumably owned horses and/or ponies for years don't know how to correctly fit a bridle, I was seven years old. And yes, I was a precocious brat because I was so desperate to ride or have anything to do with ponies.
 
jemima_too said:
The first time I ever held a bridle I was expected to go and put it on to the pony by myself. Sure it was the right one for the pony and I knew that but I still had to do up the noseband and throat lash correctly. I had read the theory but never had a chance to put it into practice until then. I find it utterly horrifying that adults who have presumably owned horses and/or ponies for years don't know how to correctly fit a bridle, I was seven years old. And yes, I was a precocious brat because I was so desperate to ride or have anything to do with ponies.
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Yeah, but it's too much like hard work to bother to learn something!
And we all know experience is so much better than vocational or practical education!
So, they continue to either have their ponies gaping in illfitting bridles, or the bridles gaping at the cheeks when they try to give a rein aid.
After the horse has endured say, 10 years of this then they declare themselves experienced.
S :D
 
Ooooh Evelyn thats how I was taught to fit the bridle in pony club. I was also taught that if you hold the bridle next to the head first before putting on then you can get a rough idea of fit so less fidling when on. I have noticed recently that a lot of horse owners/riders seem to lack some basic horse care that was taught to me in PC etc.
 
shortstuff99 said:
Ooooh Evelyn thats how I was taught to fit the bridle in pony club. I was also taught that if you hold the bridle next to the head first before putting on then you can get a rough idea of fit so less fidling when on. I have noticed recently that a lot of horse owners/riders seem to lack some basic horse care that was taught to me in PC etc.
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I for one was not fortunate enough to be a member of any sort of pony club as a child and not everyone on here has owned horses for 'years' as someone mentioned. Many of us who use the forum are not BHS qualified and not proffessionals in the business. Obviously if you are, you will know these things like the back of your hand so my question was aimed more towards the amateur rider.
 
I had the saddler out checking my saddle and he fitted my bridle too.
It needed slight adjustment despite me thinking it was ok.
I have posted his notes on fitting bridles from his site below:

"A few notes to help you fit your new/existing bridle:

Fitting bridles (snaffle) general guide ONLY

Traditionally fingers are used to measure all Saddlery when fitting them on the horse or pony in this we mean an average man’s finger, not a child’s or ladies finger.

*You should as a rule be able to fit 1 finger comfortably under the browband.

*2 fingers under the noseband (cavesson variety) or 1 finger under a grackle, flash or drop variety or any other kind that acts to close the mouth.

*Allow a distance of 2-3 fingers from cheek bone to top of noseband.

*1 finger under the headpiece at the poll.

*3 fingers under the throatlash.

*All buckles should be done up on the middle hole (all good bridles will have a uneven number of holes to enable you to do this) and the buckles should line up with the horse’s eyes on the cheeks, noseband cheek and throatlash. This is the correct way but longer cheeks than mentioned are used as long as the buckles are not right up to the end hole as so often seen!

*IF the browband is too short it will have the effect of pulling the headpiece up against the back of the horse’s ears and is the most common cause of headshaking yet it is largely unknown and always over looked!

*PROPERLY made bridles are made with bridle pointed ends (blunted style shape of end of straps) NOT egg pointed (as used on show bridles, headcollars and harness bridles) egg pointed ends like this are used on cheap riding bridles.

This is a general guide that we use as saddler’s and helps us on site to fit bridles.

Bridlework needs to be fitted correctly as much as the saddle but is often neglected.

How often do you see nosebands too low,high, tight, loose or buckles right up on the top hole and my MAIN gripe is a lower flash strap pointing the WRONG way!

ALL straps on bridles that are seen need to be pointing towards the rear of the horse and/or downwards (apart from buckled up cheeks) and not as I see so often with flash straps pointing forwards and the loose end tucked into the flash loop on the nose band itself!!"

From the www.unicornleather.co.uk site
 
elsazzo said:
I for one was not fortunate enough to be a member of any sort of pony club as a child and not everyone on here has owned horses for 'years' as someone mentioned. Many of us who use the forum are not BHS qualified and not proffessionals in the business. Obviously if you are, you will know these things like the back of your hand so my question was aimed more towards the amateur rider.
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If you are going to have horses, you need to know how to do things like fit bridles correctly.
You do not need a pony as a child to do this at all, that is no excuse.
Why do so many people buy horses without knowing half the basics, or having someone close by who does?
 
RunToEarth said:
If you are going to have horses, you need to know how to do things like fit bridles correctly.
You do not need a pony as a child to do this at all, that is no excuse.
Why do so many people buy horses without knowing half the basics, or having someone close by who does?
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Ok, thread was intended to discuss the topic not make assumptions. As i said before my bridle ( all other tack fits correctly) The reason I mentioned pony club was as another user said its a basic skill taught at pony club.
 
I'm a great advocate for HM at Pony Club rallies a subject that is considered just to be certificate work!

To me learning how to care for your horse well is as important as learning to ride it well.

Despite pointing out that many riders these days do not have horsey parents who can teach them the ropes. In saying that we have a few children t Pony Club who have parents that do everything for them.

This year I am in the sub committee that will be organising the rallies so I hope that I will be able to get a little motre HM taught at rallies.

I don't remember how I learnt to fit a bridle - probebly from my Pony Club manual, I later trained at a school that was owned by a master saddler so learnt a lot more about the fitting of tack.

One thing I do disagree with is that there should still be 2 fingers allowed between the horse and drop noseband - this is to allow the horse to relax its jaw.

For those that are being 'smart alecs' try and remember what it was like when you were not sure about how to fit your bridle - maybe you had someone to guide you! - You certainly wern't born with the knowledge!
 
Evelyn said:
I'm a great advocate for HM at Pony Club rallies a subject that is considered just to be certificate work!

To me learning how to care for your horse well is as important as learning to ride it well.

Despite pointing out that many riders these days do not have horsey parents who can teach them the ropes. In saying that we have a few children t Pony Club who have parents that do everything for them.

This year I am in the sub committee that will be organising the rallies so I hope that I will be able to get a little motre HM taught at rallies.

I don't remember how I learnt to fit a bridle - probebly from my Pony Club manual, I later trained at a school that was owned by a master saddler so learnt a lot more about the fitting of tack.

One thing I do disagree with is that there should still be 2 fingers allowed between the horse and drop noseband - this is to allow the horse to relax its jaw.

For those that are being 'smart alecs' try and remember what it was like when you were not sure about how to fit your bridle - maybe you had someone to guide you! - You certainly wern't born with the knowledge!
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Informative and intelligent answer, thanks Evelyn. I'm sure many people are unaware that their tack is ill fitting as I have seen people swapping bridles etc. with other horses. I always adjust my bridle when I change my bit (which I do for different disciplines) but Im sure many other neglect this. Thought it would be an interesting topic to discuss......;)
 
jhoward said:
as i ranted last night..

:eeks: next we will need professionals to fit a sodding rug.. well i tell thee.. not in my day!:rolleyes:
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well tbh I have seen loads of people rugging up with the hind straps too tight, too loose, not criss crossed, one strap only, the rug rubs the withers, sits on the spine behind the withers, the rug is not waterproof, hanging off in the field, over the head in the field and so on tbh it is high time there was a BHS course on rugging, and it should be Fully Certified!
 
Shilasdair said:
Because I know how to fit bridles.
How can you NOT bother to learn this basic skill if you are owning/riding a horse.
I despair.
S :(
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I would dispute that this 'basic' skill is always executed too well by seemingly expert equestrians. Have seen bridles strapped up so tightly by them, they would make a mouse squeak. And resultant sores. Horrid
 
madmav said:
I would dispute that this 'basic' skill is always executed too well by seemingly expert equestrians. Have seen bridles strapped up so tightly by them, they would make a mouse squeak. And resultant sores. Horrid
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I don't know what circles you move in, but I have yet to see a bridle so badly fitted by a real expert/professional that it has caused sores.
Perhaps you need to redefine who you consider experts.
S :D
 
elsazzo said:
I for one was not fortunate enough to be a member of any sort of pony club as a child and not everyone on here has owned horses for 'years' as someone mentioned. Many of us who use the forum are not BHS qualified and not proffessionals in the business. Obviously if you are, you will know these things like the back of your hand so my question was aimed more towards the amateur rider.
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I got a book. Several books in fact.
 
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