Step 1

Tie up the horse correctly.

Prepare the bridle:

• Check the noseband and throatlash are fully undone.
• Remove the cheekpiece and noseband straps out of their keepers. This allows the bridle to be altered quickly, if necessary, once on the horse.

Step 2

Before putting on the bridle, estimate its fit against the side of the horse’s head. To do this:

Hold the top of the headpiece and the middle of the bit, and pull the bridle taut. Place it against the side of the horse’s head. The headpiece should be slightly above the base of the ears and the bit rings at the corners of the lips.

If it appears longer or shorter than this measurement, adjust the fit at the cheekpieces.

Step 3

Undo the quick release knot, leaving the leadrope through the string.

Step 4

Place the headcollar around the horse’s neck.

Step 5

With all the straps out of the keepers, correctly put the bridle on the horse.

Step 6

Alter the fit of the bridle as necessary.

See: “Fit of the bridle” and “Fit of the snaffle bit”.

Step 7

Once the bridle has been correctly fitted: fasten all the keepers, noseband and throatlash.

Step 8

Remove the headcollar from around the horse’s neck. Undo the throatlash, wrap the reins, and thread them through the throatlash. Re-fasten the throatlash back to the bridle.

Step 9

Corrrectly re-fit the headcollar over the bridle.

Step 10

Re-tie the horse back up with a quick release knot.