FITTING A SNAFFLE BRIDLE Instructor Club/Center Region Year Topic: Fitting a Snaffle with a cavesson noseband Level/Certificate: D-3 Class Size: 2-6 Arena Size needed: none Time: 30 min Objective: D-3 Turnout/Tack: Describe proper adjustment of the snaffle bridle with cavesson noseband. Describe proper adjustment of curb chain if appropriate. Equipment Needed: Snaffle bridle with a simple cavesson noseband Safety Concerns: students should wear proper footwear in the barn, students should not crowd the horse, especially if in an aisle or wash rack References: USPC D Manual, 2 nd Edition, pp 166-168, 284-288 Safety Check: safe appropriate footwear Medical armband or bracelet Lesson Procedure 1. Introduction of Self/Students Hello, my name is and I am a member from Pony Club or Riding Center. Let s go around the room and you can tell me your name, certification, and the type of bit your pony wears. Allow the students to do this and give each one a name tag. You could even keep a list of bits-in your notes or write it on the board so all can see. 2. Verbalize Objective of Lesson Today we are learning how to properly fit a snaffle bridle with a simple cavesson noseband. A proper fitting bridle ensures that the equipment is working correctly, so that you can control your pony/horse and that the horse is comfortable, and won t act up because he is in pain. 3. Ask Prior Knowledge of Topic Who has put a bridle on their horse before? Who checks the fit after they put it on? How do you know if the bridle is on correctly and fits your pony/horse? 4. Demonstration/Discussion: I am going to demonstrate and tell you how to correctly put on the bridle and check the fit. Be sure you have the bridle before you start and that the throat latch and cavesson are unbuckled. 1. Unbuckle the crownpiece of the halter, slip the pony s nose out of the halter, and re-buckle the
crownpiece on the pony s neck so he will be tied by the halter and lead rope while you put on his bridle. 2. Put the reins over the pony s head so they won t drop on the ground where you or the pony could step on them. 3. Stand close to your pony s neck on his left side, facing the front. If his head is low enough, you can put your right arm over his head and hold the top of the bridle (crownpiece) in your right hand. 4. Rest the bit on the fingers of your left hand. Bring the bit up to the pony s mouth and gently squeeze the side of his lip with your thumb. 5. As he opens his mouth, pull on the top of the bridle with your right hand, sliding the bit into the pony s mouth. Your fingers never go into his mouth. If he doesn t want to open his mouth you can carefully stick your thumb in his mouth, where there are no teeth, and he will open his mouth. 6. Once the bit is in, slip the crownpiece gently over the right ear and then the left. Be careful not to twist his ears or hurt his face with the bridle. Make sure the bit is resting evenly in the pony s mouth before buckling up any bridle parts. 7. Buckle the throatlatch under his throat not too tight. (You should be able to get four fingers underneath it.) 8. Buckle the noseband (inside the cheekpieces) so that it is snug but not too tight. The noseband should be level, not twisted, and you should be able to slip one or two fingers between the noseband and the pony s face. 9. Stand in front of your pony and make sure the brow band and noseband are straight, and that the bit is straight as well. 10. Run your fingers underneath the browband and crownpiece to be sure the bridle fits comfortably, and pull the forelock out so that it is free of the bridle. Now let s talk about the fit and reasons: o -one hole below and best if two holes above -in case of breakage there are extras o -two fingers between noseband and nose on top of face o -four fingers/fist between throatlatch and cheek, pulling throat latch up - helps keep bridle in place if it slips, but loose so horse can breathe o -noseband straight and sitting two fingers width under cheek bone, underneath cheek pieces -- up on nose so not cutting off airflow o -browband straight across the forehead, being sure not too close/pinching ears so comfortable o -all keepers and runners in place for safety. Keepers keep their place and do not move and runners run up and down. o one to two wrinkles in corner of mouth(depends on type of bit and horses mouth shape) -- up so bit is not resting on teeth, loose enough so not pinching the lips or hitting canines. Look inside mouth see no teeth/bars o -1/4 excess on each side of bit - big enough so it doesn t rub, but short enough that the bit isn t sliding in the mouth o -curb chain: should lie flat, and two fingers should fit between chain and chin groove - prevents bit from rotating past 45 degrees. You need to hook correctly so it lays flat. *never tie with the reins or leave a pony unattended while bridled/tacked up 5. Application of the activity: Change the buckle locations and as a group put the bridle on and adjust it correctly, reviewing all the rules and reasons as you go ask the group, don t tell. Now it is your turn to put the bridle on and fit it correctly. We will do this as a group. Who would like to put the bridle on? (perform) We should check the fit of the bit first, so who would like to do that and explain? (perform) Who would like to adjust the throat latch and tell what the rule is for the fit? (perform) Who would like to adjust the noseband correctly and tell us what the rule is for the fit? (perform) Who would like to adjust the brow band and tell us how it should fit? (perform) Is there
anything else we should do? (runners, keepers, number of holes above and below buckles, curb chain?) 6. Additional Ideas if time allows: Have each student put on the bridle or do it in pairs, after the buckles have been changed. Discuss different nosebands and how a bridle must be adjusted in order to accommodate the different noseband(s). 7. Conclusion: Correct bridle fit matters because it ensures the horse is comfortable and listens to you better. Work on becoming very comfortable adjusting a bridle to fit as best as possible, with different size horses, and different bridles. Every time you put it on you should check the fit, using the rules we learned today. Which part do you adjust first, once the bridle is on? (bit) How many wrinkles at the bit? (2) How tight do you adjust the throat latch? (4 fingers) How low should the noseband sit? (2 fingers) How tight do you adjust the nose band? (2 fingers) What is the difference between keepers and runners? (runners run and keeper keep their place) How many spare holes should be above and below the buckles, and why? Your homework is to make sure your bridle fits correctly. Thank you for coming today and I hope you learned some new things. Photo permission USPC from Susan Harris
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