How to Use a Double Bridle

A double bridle is used by advanced riders and horses in a variety of English disciplines, including saddle seat, hunters, jumpers and dressage. Most commonly used in the higher levels of dressage, the double bridle is a wonderful way to lighten and brighten your horse's movements. When you half-halt your horse, the action of the curb bit enhances collection by driving him onto his hindquarters. Before using a double bridle, however, both horse and rider must be properly prepared and ready. For riders, this may take years of practice, including riding many different horses in a variety of situations. For the horse, there are ways to evaluate his training and determine that he is at the correct level of fitness and ability. When both parties are properly prepared, the double bridle is the next step to superior riding and a wonderful partnership with your horse.

Instructions

    • 1

      Evaluate your riding level. Riders using the double bridle are advanced enough to know how to keep their hands still. In other words, they do not use their hands as the primary aid, and they do not over-ride. If you are ready to use a double bridle, you know how to effectively half halt your horse, keep him forward at all times and ride with an educated seat. An educated seat uses the lower back, seat and legs to drive, slow and push the horse. Using a double bridle also requires proper hand position. This means that you ride with your fists and fingers gently closed around the reins, keeping your thumbs facing upwards at all times.

    • 2

      Evaluate your horse. A horse is ready for the double bridle when he willingly moves forward with a degree of collection, engaging his hindquarters and working from behind and into your hands. There must be good contact with the bit, which comes from your horse's impulsion. You must also be able to bend and flex your horse easily in all directions.

    • 3

      Fit the bridle to your horse. A double bridle is just like any other English bridle with one exception: it has two bits. The bits are a curb and a snaffle. The action of these two bits, when working together, encourage the horse to chew, which causes him to salivate. The bits also offer the rider a greater degree of correction, as the horse's mouth is ultimately more sensitive with the additional hardware. You want bits that fit properly, so be sure to measure the width of the mouth as well as the the width and length of the bars and the size off the tongue. It is recommended that the curb bit be between 16 and 21 millimeters thick and the snaffle between 13 and 16 millimeters thick. Use a bit gauge to measure your horse's mouth and determine the size of the curb bit. The snaffle should be about 1/2 inch wider than the curb to allow for plenty of room and to avoid pinching the horse's lips. When in your horse's mouth, the curb bit will hang a little lower than the snaffle.

    • 4

      Hang the curb chain carefully. A curb chain goes around the horse's chin and attaches to both ends of the curb bit. Make sure that the curb chain lies flat against your horse's chin but does not pinch or pull. You also do not want to tighten it too much, as it will increase pressure on the bars of the mouth.

    • 5

      Hold the reins. There are a variety of ways to hold the reins of a double bridle, ranging from the most commonly used and simple to extremely advanced. The most advanced ways are typically used only by members of the Spanish Riding School and grand prix riders. Because the double bridle has two bits, there are four reins to hold, two in each hand, rather than the typical one rein per hand. The most commonly used method is to hold the snaffle reins between the pinkie and ring fingers. You then take up the curb rein and place them between your ring and middle fingers. The reins exit the fist between your index finger and thumb with the snaffle reins on top of the curb. This makes the reins cross as they come into your hands. A variation to this method that is also widely used is to place the snaffle reins under the pinkie fingers and the curb reins between the pinkie and ring fingers. The reins leave your fists between the index finger and thumb with the snaffle reins on top. In this way, the reins also cross before coming into your hands.

    • 6

      Use the bridle. Now that you are on your horse and using the double bridle, be sure to give plenty of flexibility with the curb rein, which often becomes too tight. You will know when this happens because your horse will either lean on the bit or become over bent in one direction. You adjust the curb rein by taking up slack in the snaffle rein. This will shorten the snaffle reins and loosen the curb reins. As you work with your horse in the arena, remember to adjust your reins frequently.