Losing the Bridle--argh!

OK I can see these pictures .

Looking at the pictures , sorry to say but your bridle dosen't fit your horse.

The cheekpieces are too long ( not the cause of the bridle coming off ) but this is not a major problem

I would like to see the browband longer - this would enable the headpiece to sit further back - really shouldn't be touching the ears quite so much.
Also the headpiece itself isn't right - the flat part between the splits should be longer - at the moment what is happening is that the split between the headpiece and the throat is too high and is forcing the browband higher onto the ears - which is why your bridle is coming off.

You need cheekpieces that are about 3" shorter, a browband that is about 1.5" longer and the distance between the splits on the head piece should be about 2" longer ( approx only as working from photos ) Basically the browband and headpiece are too small.

The bit looks to be sitting OK so no major probs there - could do with sitting a fraction lower but if your horse is happy with it there keep it that way.

Hope this helps

Nutty

Lower the bit? She would be thrilled no doubt, but I'm only getting one really good wrinkle as it is. But we did think she looked a little stretched, so I guess we should have trusted our intuition.
After that, I have no quibble, it's a bridle that came with her and seemed fine so we went with it. I've got other bridles and parts lying about to experiment with.
Interesting, I would have thought the bridle might be too big, not too small. She's a little horse, barely 14'2" but with a big head I guess. Never had to think about bridle fit before--it either did or it didn't.

Thanks a bunch for taking a look. I'll head to the tack room and see what we can rustle up.

It's the brow and head that are too small , as with a lot of bridles the cheeks are way too long - at the moment you could loose 3" and if you take into account the extra 2" you need in the headpiece length the cheeks would have to be 4" shorter . Again I can only estimate lengths because I'm working from photo's but the general picture shows smaller cheeks and larger head/brow

Well, I believe you and this may be just the excuse I need for a new bridle..thanks again. Now that you have pointed these things out they make a lot of sense.

I had the same thing happen to me yesterday! Was going to post something on here today.... I have the same set up as you, no nose band, over the ears, brow band and same snaffle.... shadow just shook it right off lol. I think Im going to try the halter under the bridle.... seems pretty practical!

Ha! My friend who has a much more technical mind than I do thought Nutty Saddler's analysis of the bridle fit was really sound. We're going to try a little duct tape to lower the split of throat latch/head piece, along with a bigger browband tomorrow, just to try out the physics of it. If that works we may be heading off to the tack shop.
I'm sure the running the throat latch through the halter would work--but then there's no excuse to buy a new bridle. :-D

Ok, went out today, taped the headpiece to lower the split, put on our biggest browband, and added the cavesson. There were plenty of flies and a few thorough head shakes, but the bridle stayed on. The browband still wanted to ride up towards her ears though, it might not be long enough yet. Still got a trip to the tack shop pencilled in.

Ditto to this post...I've used one ears or no ear head stalls and haven't had one fall off a horse that was properly fitted...And one with a throatlatch should most definitely NOT come off if it is properly adjusted.

Is the throatlatch tight enough; as in can you only get a couple of fingers under it? If it is extremely loose, and sliding forward over her jaw, then yes, what is happening makes perfect sense...

Oops, noticed the pic, and Nutty's post! Lol! I guess you get to go shopping, huh? I looooovve tack shopping...Hahaha!

I've read all the posts here so far, and I agree with the fitting being wrong.

But if for some stupidly insane reason, you get a bridle that does fit properly and this is still happening, as a last resort you could try a grass/bucking rein.
This is what it is, if you haven't heard of them:

One Stop Pony Shop - Shires Daisy Reins

(I know that's not what it's supposed to be used for, but it might work as a last resort)

:)