How to put a horse bridle together; just the curb chain, reins, bit, etc.?

Question

I am a 1st time horse owner and I bought my horse a bridle.

It is already together, but I have no clue how to put the curb chain, tom thumb bit, and reins into it!

It is an english bridle... not a fancy dressage one or anything.

Thanks!

Answer 1

A tom thumb is a Western rather than an English bit (its also not a suggested bit; however bit choice is not what you asked).  So, are you sure, since you said your bit is a tom thumb, that you have an English bridle?  

Find yourself a bridle hook or door k**b to hang your bridle the way it goes on the horse to put it together.

HEADSTALL - goes from the bit, up behind the horse's ears, back down the other side to the bit.  Hang your bridle by the crownpiece/top of the headstall.  

Find the top of your bit:  If the shanks [vertical bars on each side of the mouthpiece] arch, the inside of the arch-curve is the back of the bit.  There are rings at each end of the shanks.  The top set might have slots; the slots go to the back, and thats where your curb chain goes.  If its English there should be hooks to attach the curb chain with.  

The headstall should have slot-and-T-post hooks for the bit to go in (English).  To open these, pull downward so the T-post slides out of the notch, down the slot, then lift the slot off of the T-post at an angle.  You now have open tabs.  

Turn the shanks of your bit (if they swivel) so the bit is in the above position, and slip the leather tab through the inside of the top ring on the left side of your bit.  Then refasten it the same way you opened it.  Repeat for the other side of the bit to the headstall.  Make sure no straps are twisted and that the bit lays the same way on each side.  

Once you have the bit in the headstall, fasten the curb chain making sure it lays flat and is not twisted.  Hang it evenly from each side, behind the headstall straps on the topmost bit rings.  If your bit does not have slots for the curb chain (some do and some don't), it just goes on the same rings as the headstall, in back of the headstall.  

Your English reins should have probably the same type of T-post fasteners (sorry if there is another name for these I don't know).  The reins go on the lower-most bit rings.  If your reins buckle at the bight, this little buckle will go in the middle of the reins, allowing you to separate the pair of reins.  

That's about it.  Cross-pieces are the browband that goes across your horse's forehead and if your bridle has one, a noseband.  Run the noseband (if there is one) inside of the bit for now until you see the way it lays on the horse.  (If there isn't one, don't worry about it).  

THROAT LASH - is the narrow strap this goes at the back of your headstall, runs under your horse's neck where it joins his head and buckles.  You must unbuckle this to put the bridle on and take the bridle off of your horse each time you ride.  

You may want to try a plain ring snaffle bit instead; because its kinder for your horse.  If you do, it just has one larger set of rings on each side instead of shanks; attach the headstall to those rings, then fasten the reins onto the same rings behind the headstall.  

The link/s below will take you to some diagrams.  Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Does your horse need a curb chain. it might just need a snaffle bit which is a normal bit. You could take it to where you bought it if you bought it from a shop and ask one of the people in there.

Answer 3

Did you measure to be sure you have the right size bit for your horse?  Is this a bit your horse is accustomed to?  You don't seem knowledgeable enough to be doing this on your own.