Tacking up poll....

Which ear do you put through the headpiece first?

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saddlesore

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..... just out of interest! When I put on a bridle I always put the offside ear through the headpiece first and then the nearside, but everyone else at my yard seems to do it the other way round!

What do you do? :D
 
Hmmmm, I am right handed and would still do it this way - would seem really back to front to me to do it the other way. I must have been taught by elves. Its the only logical reason I can think of :D
 
Juts to be awkward, usually both together as most of my horses have the decency to lower their heads to have a halter or bridle put on and I just slide the head piece on.
 
I need to go out and check but am pretty sure I do the offside first, I find it slips off to easily if I do the nearside first Not sure how you would both at the same time unless the horse held its ears down!!
 
dixie said:
Not sure how you would both at the same time unless the horse held its ears down!!
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Hmmm, never consciously thought about that. Most of mine drop their heads right down and the headpiece just slides on, my bridles have slip ears not browbands which does make life simpler.
 
I was always taught to do offside first, less chance of dragging it across horses eyes. Most people who put it on nearside first as some point end up directly in front of their horse during bridling and this is not really that safe a position to be in.
 
I do nearside as it's closer and I have to stand on a bucket :p

Once we have got to the ear stage she drops her head though so it doesn't get pulled across her face!
 
I have no idea! It's not something I have ever been concious about and I am sitting here going through the motions and I still can't work it out.
With my new 4 year old I think which ever ear is available goes in first!
 
Interesting....

Offside.....its how I was taught (back in the day) ....and how I've taught OH and daughter.

Possibly you will find the 'offside' brigade are all older.....we were taught when standards were higher:p:D:D (yeah yeah- notice the tongue...calm your passion:rolleyes:)
 
Offside for me. My mare has a bit of an occassional naughtly habit (working on it, must have manners!!) of trying to wonder off while I put the bridle on, so I slip it over her offside ear first so she doesn't walk away from me. Seems easier that way too otherwise I would be fiddling around infront of her, I just prefer not to do that when tacking up.
 
I had to visualise it as well, so I am not 100% certain, but I think I do near first and then off, while my right hand helps the off ear pop in - does that make any sense? I can do all this from the near side and don't need to step in front of the horse.
 
poppymoo said:
Interesting....

Offside.....its how I was taught (back in the day) ....and how I've taught OH and daughter.

Possibly you will find the 'offside' brigade are all older.....we were taught when standards were higher:p:D:D (yeah yeah- notice the tongue...calm your passion:rolleyes:)
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ROFPMSL

I was just thinking that!
I , too, am an 'offsider' having been taught as a child by sticklers for 'the correct way' (a looooong time ago). My current horse was obviously taught by similar sticklers, as she is much more co-operative when I put the offside ear in first - I had to experiment, as when I first got her she wasn't keen in being bridled.
I do find it easier as my right arm is already under her chin, drawing the bridle up her head.
 
28 year old offsider here :D I find it's the easiest way if you have a horse that is tricky with its ears. I have one on hunting livery in the winter that gives you one chance to get the bridle on - if I ever did nearside first, it takes too long to get round to the offside and she has lost patience by then.
 
Loving 'offsider'! Perhaps we should start an offsider clique lol! 'I'm an offsider and proud' - that kind of thing ;)

Can't work out how to do quotes but agree with others that
(a) it seems to easy for the horse to walk off and unbridle itself if you do the nearside first and
(b) everyone that I see do it this way then has to step in front of the horse to do the offside ear :rolleyes:

Have never seen a both ears at once approach but I guess it must be like putting on a headcollar the over the ears way?

Ooh - that could be a new poll! I hate putting them on that way! I always like to buckle over the head :D
 
saddlesore said:
Have never seen a both ears at once approach but I guess it must be like putting on a headcollar the over the ears way?

Ooh - that could be a new poll! I hate putting them on that way! I always like to buckle over the head :D
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(SS: Just click the quote button on the post you want to quote;))

See, I much prefer popping headcollar on that way, straight over the ears and then do the clip up:D Can't be doing with buckles!:rolleyes:
 
I normally try to do nearside first.....but its a case of whichever ear he will let me catch hold of first.....hes not overly keen on having his ears touched so sometimes the first one i try isnt always the ear that actually get in in the bridle first lol!!!
 
milliepops said:
(SS: Just click the quote button on the post you want to quote;))

See, I much prefer popping headcollar on that way, straight over the ears and then do the clip up:D Can't be doing with buckles!:rolleyes:
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Lol - my real issue is trying to edit the post I want to quote. For example wouldn't know how to remove my previous post from thsi quote! :eek: (wants blushing smilie)
 
well, it would be offside, however when i got my ear shy horse whos several foot taller than me its now nearside, much easier for me as he will drop his head once its over one ear.
 
All these horses are so well behaved with their head lowering. Mine also hates his ears touched and continues to grow until both ears are through - he then gives in and resumes dopey expression ;)
 
I am 34 and offside. I just find it so much easier, i am not sure i could do the nearside first.

Although, there does seem to be a pattern the people with horses slightly difficult to bridle tend to do the offside first, me included.
 
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