Course
Putting on a Bridle and Checking its Position
Lesson Description Learners can expect to cover the following and more:

    • Restraining the horse while putting on the bridle
    • How to put a bridle on a horse
    • Making sure the horse is comfortable
    • Safety considerations
Who is this course for? This course is for beginner level of polo players
What’s the value of this course? The course explains how to put a bridle on a horse, taking into account the comfort of the horse as well as safety considerations
Learner eligibility This course is for beginner level of polo players
Format / duration The lesson comprises video, still images, and text descriptions and takes between 10 and 20 minutes to view and read through.
Progression opportunities Skills covered in this lesson will enable you to progress further in your training or coaching development.

Please watch the below video by Holly Butler, explaining how to put a bridle on a horse, taking into account the comfort of the horse as well as safety considerations, underneath the video you will find summary information and the transcript from the video. This information will help you complete the knowledge check to complete this course.

 

Below is a brief summary to act as a reminder of the key points; however, by reading the transcript, you will be able to understand the important and often subtle messages from this course.

The Technique:

Here is the description of the techniques

The head collar around the neck restrains the horse while putting on the bridle

  • Put the head collar around the horse's neck in order to restrain it.
Hold the martingale and neck strap with the reins in our right hand and we hold the headpiece in our left
  • Undo the bridle, hold the martingale and the neck strap with the reins in your right hand and the headpiece in your left hand.
First place the reins and the martingale over the horses head down to the neck
  • Place the reins and the martingale over the horse's head, down to the neck.
Use our left hand with our index finger and thumb helping to glide the bit into the horses mouth
  • Put your left hand on the bit and then place the bridle over the horse's head. Use your left hand with your index finger and thumb to guide the bit into the horse's mouth. 

Key Teaching Points:

Here are the key teaching points:

Positioning the bridle correctly enables control of the horse

  • Having the bridle on the horse correctly is the most important thing.
It should be in right position and comfortable as we contol the horse with the metal bit
  • It's important for the horse to be extremely comfortable because it is a metal bit in their mouth which we use to control them. 
  • The bridle and the reins represent the steering, brakes, restraint and even the accelerator in some cases.
Check on curb chain on a pelham or a drop noseband on a gag is done correctly
  • If the bit's too high or too low it's not going to work correctly and the horse will be uncomfortable and unhappy.
Check the leather that its safe and not broken
  • You want to always check the leather work to check that it's safe and not broken. 

Common Mistakes made by the Players Include :

  • Positioning the bit too high or too low. 
  • Not correctly positioning a curb chain on a pelham or a drop noseband on a gag, which can make the horse uncomfortable, or affect the reins. 
  • Not checking if the leather is broken or unsafe. 

 In conclusion:

  • Make sure the horse is comfortable. 
  • The bit should not be too high or too low in the mouth. 
  • Checking for broken leather is an important safety consideration.
Required
Incomplete
Knowledge Check

Please complete the following three questions based on the content covered in this course.

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