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Make Your Own Bridle (image heavy) *Instructions added!!*

85K views 54 replies 15 participants last post by  RBOlena 
#1 ·
I've had a request to explain the bridle in my avatar. It's a do-it-yourself bridle and I plan on explaining it. My trainer makes his own bridles so they are completely adjustable to fit all the different horses he rides. I've posted pictures of some of them, but the main one I don't have pictures of yet, but I'll do that soon.

Please don't make this into a controversey. I know browbands and everything are good, but we just don't use them, but if you want to know how, I can do that for you.

Well first of all here are pics of bridles we have around the barn with different bits.



Roping bridle with Argentine snaffle



same bridle, but with tie-down



now with a curb



with a curb again



now with a snaffle




with a snaffle and a grumpy face


if you have comments or anything go ahead.... I plan on making one of my own soon, so i'll be posting step by step instructions for ya'll! i'll also get some pictures of the most used bridle.... it shows it's ability to be resized easily

thanks for looking!


Edit: Here are the step-by-step instructions!!

First: make sure you have all of your supplies...... 3/8 inch rope, bit, electric tape, knife, lighter, ruler, (trigger snaps, optional)

Step 2: cut your rope into one lenght of 5 feet, more if your horse has a large head, and then two reins..... these can be your choice of lenght, I used 8' split reins, but you can choose the length you prefer and can even use a single rein

Now what you have should look like this:



Step 3: tie the off-side of the headstall to your bit

start by going under, out and over, like so



then go back in through the bit, and then under the loop you just made with the rope



now your knot should look like this:



at first your knot might not want to cooperat too well.... the rope will get broken in though in no time, just make sure that the loop of the knot stays behind the bit like below




the offside should be taped with the electrical tape so that it won't adjust on it's own.... it also keeps the knot tidy



for the near-side you tie the knot in the same way.... the bridle will be snug at the horses poll, right behind the ears.... if you plan on using it on only one horse i recommend sizing it right and then taping that side aswell, but if you don't just keep the usual knot..... and if it is too big you can tie the knot below to keep the excess from flying around



For the reins, you can either attatch them to trigger snaps or directly to the bit...... i used trigger snaps, the secret is to make sure that your reins are as close as you can get them to the same length when they are done....

you start by folding it over what you want it attatched to



then tape it together with electric tape, i prefer using two layers, starting with the end of the rope and going toward the snap and then back, and make sure i go past where the rope ends



Here's what the reins look like finished



and here's everything together....the near side is going kinda crazy in that pic, but i've had it hanging up and the rope is breaking in VERY quickly



here's my homemade headstall next to one i bought



hope you enjoyed!!
 
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#3 ·
I'm excited for mine.... I just have to get everything.... like a bit...... just noticed that I don't have a bit...... i'll get one..... hmm, i just noticed the horribly dirty background in that one pic.......sorry, but incase you want to know, those are things we don't use, except the halter
 
#8 ·
OH jeeze I want one of those! I'm totally into making my own tack. I've tied my own halters, bridles, made my own leads and reins, I've sewn my own cooler (that wasn't easy!) I've made my own saddle pads and I think thats it.

edit- and I made a bareback pad once.
 
#9 ·
Ok for supplies.....

3/8 inch rope...... (sorry JDI i don't know metric stuff)---prolly need no more than 25 ft... depending on how long you like your reins

a bit of your choice

a curb strap, optional.... if you really want you can make your own like in the snaffle pics

electric tape

something to cut the rope with (knife)

a lighter to burn the rope edges

a ruler

(optional) two trigger snaps to attach reins with.... you don't have to use these, but I'm going to for mine because I don't want to tape them to the bit I have
 
#12 ·
Cheval said:
Oh my god, that's so cool.
Can you do it for English riding, or is only for western?
Either way, one day I'm definatly going to try this.
the one with a snaffle we use for English, and we haven't ever had problems.... one of the ones we use now has a noseband, only on the top, but it's too thin and i don't like what it does to the horses nose

there's no reason why you can't use it as english, but i doubt you can use it in shows though....
 
#21 ·
For anyone who is curious, just because you tape the offside of the bridle doesn't mean that It's permanently attatched.... all you have to do is undo the knot that is taped.... it's just a loop with the rope through it..... you can do the same thing with the reins
 
#23 ·
:eek: WOW :eek: I make halters and bridles for my Breyers, and I thought about it for real horses, but you can't use leather lacing for this! I really want to make one, but the horse I would use it on could be a "Bit Evader": I've only ridden him once. He was pretty good about the bit, no tucking his chin or gaping.....Thanks for posting this, mlkarel2010!! I'll see if I can get my Mom to let me make one.......would she make me pay for it? :) :)
 
#25 ·
My2Geldings said:
Why did your trainer start off those?

That's an interesting concept. I would be tempted to make one to say I have one, would be fun to make but not sure I would use it for every day riding.
Looks like you might be starting a trend!
I'm not sure why he started these.... prolly because they are cheap durable and very adjustable to fit all kinds of horses.... and they're simple
 
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