Please help! fitting tack!?

Question

i just showed somebody a picture of my new horse and they reckon the bridle doesn't fit or the bit!

how can i fix this!

what do i need the bridle is a size full and the bit is a normal snaffle bit!

i have no idea how to fit tack properly i thought it fitted him ok?

please help

Answer 1

the bit i think is small

and the throat latch..

Answer 2

That person is right the bit is WAY to small you need to get a bigger bit and the bridle you can let it out alittle. find someone around to help you before you hurt the horse.

Answer 3

The bridle seems to f**t...maybe not the bit. It is hard to tell form a picture though.

here is a WONDERFUL video on brdle fitting :D

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-fit-...

you can also search "bridle fitting" or "bit fitting" on google.com

Hope I Helped

Answer 4

The bridle is an easy fix.  Just get a hole punch and take up the cheek pieces.  BTW, that's an Australian stock bridle for those who don't recognize the type of cheek pieces, it goes with her Australian Stock saddle.

The bit's too narrow.  Not wide enough for your horse.  Take it with you and get another that's at least another 1/2" wider in the mouthpiece.

Answer 5

Hmm, yes, the bridle is too small. Since your bridle is already a "full" or "horse" size, then try a "warmblood" size bridle and see how that fits. Usually, it's preferable to have a few holes to adjust up or down. Also, throat latch is way too tight, usually, you should be able to fit a fist underneath between his two cheek bones. And you should be able to fit 2 fingers between him and the noseband.

Bit does look too small. You can try asking around to see if someone has bit measurers, where you hold it up to the horse and take a measure of their mouth and gives you the correct bit size. Normally, you'd like to see about half inch of bit on either side of the horse's mouth. Measure the bit that you have (in inches) and try one size up.

Then, to fit the bit and bridle to the horse(adjusting the cheek piece). One way to tell, is you'd like to see 2 wrinkle folds at the corner of the horse's mouth. Another, is (with the bit and bridle on the horse) stand infront of the horse, and lift the bit up lightly(sort of like pulling up and back if you were on the horse) and see if the cheek pieces loosen and buldge out. There should not be a big buldge, if any. (the wrinkle folds method is usually good enough).

Have you checked that your saddle fits as well? Just because saddles can easily cause pressure on the horse, and make their back sore, thus causing other problems like bucking and just disagreement to work. The best would be to have a saddle fitter out to fit your horse.

But, if you must do it on your own for your first try, place the saddle on your horse(be sure not to have your saddle too far up his withers), no pad, nothing, just the saddle only.

There should be approximately a hand-span width between the withers and the pommel. The knee pad area should just lightly touch the horse.

Then, rock the saddle gently (pommel to cantel) to see if it actually rocks. If it does, the saddle does not fit. This just shows if the saddle is not sitting flat on a horse's back. You WANT the saddle to sit flat on a horse's back, so that when you're riding, it doesn't lift and come down on his back every time you move.

Again, these are very crude ways to see if your tack fits the horse, but sometimes, it is better than nothing. The best is always to have a professional, or at least someone who knows something about tack fitting to take a look at the tack.

Also, since your horse is on the skinnier side, be sure to check your saddle fitting often as your horse gains weight and muscle. Because as he developes, so will his topline, thus possibly causing the saddle to not fit him as well.

Good luck with him! ^_^

Edit to add..Just read your update lol

Ok, so try the saddle on his back and see how that fits. He might need a saddle with a "wide tree".

If it's too tight there, there really isn't much you can do, other than to get a new saddle. Nowadays, it's relatively easy to make "trades" of tack. And there are always used saddles that are sold relatively cheap. A friend of mine had a saddle fitter out, and she told him her price range, and he sold her a used saddle for less than $200, which fits the horse.

The "15 inch" part has little to do with the horse. That measurement is more for your seat.

There's a little blurb here: http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com/hor... that tells you how to measure the gullet, and gives a basic description and different between "gullet" and "tree" that I found interesting.

So taking from that site, if the rest of your saddle fits(the seat and back part rests comfortably on your horse), then the "tree" fits your horse fine. However, it is the "gullet" that is too small for your horse.

I forgot! lol When you're riding your horse, slip your hand between the saddle and your horse and see if you feel any heavy pressure/pinching. Slip your hand at the pommel area, knee pad area and see how it fits while you're on the horse as well.

After riding, run your fingers along his back, along his withers, and note his reaction to the pressure(ears forward? back? dancing around? angry tail swishing?). Also, stand at his side, and run your fingers from his spine down towards his belly, at the area where the saddle sits. Press down with decent pressure. If the saddle is not fitting properly, your horse will be agitated with the pressure, also, you may notice "ripples" in his muscles as you hit sore muscles. (this massage is also good for relieving those sore muscles). Repeat on other side.

Answer 6

i prefer to use a bit guard when using a lose ring bit.there should be two wrinkles on the horses mouth where the bit ends.i just have to say that if you dont know how to fit a bridle/bit then you arent ready for your own horse.

Answer 7

Cute horse, first off. His bit is a bit snug. (no pun intended). The bridle is probably fine, you can probably let it out a little bit more. I'm not certain if the throat latch is as loose as it will go, but that should be let out a bit. It's a little tight. There should be two wrinkles right where the bit meets the back of his mouth. (right where the bridle meets the mouth). Everything else looks good. Happy riding!

Oh, I worked at a feed store for almost 6 years. Typically if you keep the tack clean, and the bit bite free you can return it. To me, your saddle doesn't look too bad. I'd have to see it in person to be certain. But again, if you get a saddle and keep it clean you can return it. I suggest just using a sheet when fitting it, it just gives you a good idea as to how it is fitting.

Answer 8

The bit looks about 1/2" too small, the mouthpiece, and it could probably go down one hole. If you let it just rest in his mouth he'll pick it up and hold it, giving you the contact you want and he will want it too. I like your bridle though, very nice, and it looks good on him. ;)

Answer 9

Some of you people need to let up...

I understand I recently bought my first horse--the ones I had leased had all their tack so if you have never had to shop for tack it's totally understandable that you don't know how to fit it. That comes with experience so don't even worry. I JUST went through an awful struggle finding the right size bit for my horse too lol. To me the bridle looks like it fits fine, i thought the bit looked a bit small at first, but it looks better in the close up. I'm thinking you could try putting the buckle down 1 or 2 holes on the cheek piece that attaches to your bit. If that makes it hang too low in his mouth, just get a bit like up 3/4 of a size. If your not sure what size the one your using is bring it into a tack store with you to compare. I think it's really great that your concerned enough to ask for help--but don't worry it doesn't look like it was small enough to be actually hurting him.

Answer 10

His bridle looks like it fits fine. The throat latch looks a little tight. You should be able to fit your hand under the stap. Just make sure its not squeezing his brains out. Stick your finger under it, you'll be able to figure out if its to tight. The bit is definatly too small for him. That probably pinches his mouth so much. Measure that bit and then probably go a inch up. The standard bit size is 5. It also looks a little high, so on the side of the bridle let it down a hole.

Answer 11

what type of bridle is that?

EDIT:

Oh that's a barcoo, they use those in austrailia haha I had to look it up.

I use an Hunt Seat bridle so it looks different

Answer 12

the bridle looks like it fits but the bit looks to small. go to a tack shop with one of the pictures and the bit and get their opinion and the next size bit.

btw what kind of saddle is that?