By: Bimol Bee
Submitted: 2012-01-26 06:15:40 | Word Count: 647
Before starting bridling your horse, it's necessary to get aware of the fact that if done incorrectly it can cause pain to your animal, as well as to you. So, bridling a horse is not as easy as you may think. Before bridling a horse, one should know that there's an area in a horse's mouth called the "interdental area". There're no teeth in this area. The area between the back teeth is known as the "molars" and the one between the front teeth is called the "incisors".
Bridling your horse correctly locate the bit on the interdental space. The horse's aficionados also refer to the place of bare gums, particularly on the lower jaw known as bars. And you can place your finger into the interdental space if you wish your horse to open up its mouth. This is usually needed when you wish to insert the bit in the process of bridling.
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Here are the steps you need to follow in order to bridle your horse without any pain and difficulties.
Horse Bridling Step #1: Tie the horse in a comfortable place with a halter on. Never tie the animal solidly, as your horse may want to pull back if scared. You can also bridle your horse without the halter on, but still it's advisable to have it on in order to better understand the animal's needs.
Horse Bridling Step #2: Stand near the horse, better from the left side. Put the bridle on your horse in this position.
Horse Bridling Step #3: Any horse owner can use special schooling materials to make bridling easier and faster. You can use a running martingale to keep the animal from turning its head upwards. You can use the drop nosebands to keep the horse's mouth closed. But if the horse trusts you, you will probably not need all this equipment.
Horse Bridling Step #4: Let your horse lower its head and the bridle should be untangled and ready to be put on. Locate your arm over the horse's neck. Hold the bridle loosely on the other side of the pet. The bridle should be put on the lowest setting to insure that it will perfectly fit on the pet's head. Adjust it on the horse.
Horse Bridling Step #5: Now it's the time to remove the halter from the horse's face. Then put it around the neck.
Horse Bridling Step #6: Insure that you can reach the highest point of the animal's head. If you can't do it, find a mounting obstruct to reach the pet's head in a proper way.
Horse Bridling Step #7: Using the right hand, take the top of the head stall and fit it over the animal's head. Then holding the bit with a finger and a thumb insert it to the horse's mouth, placing your finger in the crack of its mouth. In this position, the animal will open its mouth. You can also use a cue or command to make your horse open up its mouth, I you have such a cue or a command.
Horse Bridling Step #8: then you'll need to slip the bit into the horse's mouth. Never do it with applying your physical strength. When the bit is located in the animal's mouth, slip its higher part of the headstall over the horse's ears.
Horse Bridling Step #9: The length of the face strap needs also to be adjusted. In fact there should be a small wrinkle at the nook of the horse's mouth. Your animal's forelock should be pulled from the straps both of which shouldn't be tangled or broken.
Horse Bridling Step #10: Further it's necessary to loosely realign the chin strap if the headstall has one.
Horse Bridling Step #11: Your left hand should maintain the reins while undoing the halter with the right hand. Never tie your animal with the leather headstall reins.
