By correctly bridling your horse, you can have a safe enjoyable horseback ride.
If done incorrectly, bridling a horse can be traumatic for both horse and rider. Here are step-by-step tips on how to bridle your horse.
Prepare the horse. Because you generally do not want to put the bridle on over the halter, remove the halter from your horse and refasten around its neck.
Approach the horse from the side with the bridle, do not let the horse see the rope. Put the reins over the horse's head or over your right shoulder. Hold the bridle with the bit in your left hand and the crown spread in your right hand. From the left, put your right arm up between the horse's ears. With your left hand, begin positioning the bit. Some horses are particular about their ears, be careful, know your horse.
Insert the bit. In order to get the horse to open its mouth, put your left thumb in the corner of the horse's mouth (where there are no teeth). If needed, apply pressure so the horse will open its mouth. Once the mouth is open, move the bit into the horse's mouth by gently lifting upward on the bridle with your right hand and guiding the bit in with your left. If the horse moves its head, move with it rather than trying to force the horse to stand still.
Secure the bridle's crown over the horse's ears. One ear at a time, gently bend the ears forward and pull the bridle over them. Throughout the process, make sure to avoid the horse's eyes. This will spook him/her. Adjust the forelock.
Make sure the bridle is secure and adjusted. Loosely fasten the throatlatch and check that the brow band does not obscure the horse's eyes. Check that the bit rests comfortably at the corners of the horse's mouth. Remember it's better to put a loose bridle on a horse and then tighten than to put a bridle on that's too tight.
You are now ready for a comfortable horseback ride.
