So what is it? A double bridle is the simultaneous use of a snaffle and hackamore.
Why would you even use it? One may use a double bridle to bridge the gap between education, whether it be a good hackamore horse that doesn’t know the snaffle or vice versa. This is just one way of introducing new equipment to your horse. It's not the only way.
How does one use it? You would use the double bridle by holding both reins in each hand, usually with one set tighter than the other (typically the more familiar bridle is tighter).
In some instances, it is also a nice tool to use on bronky colt starts to really offer support but provide more bite in sticky situations. In any case, the double bridle makes learning a new headgear easy and supportive for the horse.
Basic Principles The snaffle and hackamore are very different tools. Though they usually are employed on young or otherwise green horses, their differences warrant their own respective principles. When introducing the snaffle it is important to let the horse pack the bit, meaning it is hung on their head with no reins. This time with the bit allows the horse to get familiar and hopefully learn how to hold the bit better. It will also make your cues less scary to them and prep them for learning. In addition to packing the bit, it is also good protocol to do some flexing side to side on the ground as well as teaching the horse to backup off the bit. Doing this on the ground only helps in the saddle.
The hackamore, in contrast to the snaffle, does not need to be packed. What really preps a horse for the hackamore is ground work. In particular, lunging, backing, and flexing side to side are very good prerequisites to hackamore training. When actually using the hackamore, one's hands should be by the horn, operating more up and down toward and away the armpit. Side to side bumps can come in handy to dumb something down but don’t ever offer any refinement of signal to the horse. Another major principle is the bump and release, ideally the release should be proportional to the bump. Holding the hackamore will quickly show the horse how strong you are, and by extension…how much stronger he is than you. That never ends well.
Holding the Double Bridle The double bridle is rigged with the hackamore under the snaffle. So how do you hold it? Short answer, there isn’t one exact way to hold it. Long answer: Usually the more familiar headgear is held tighter than the new headgear. This will make familiar cues in conjunction with subtle, painless cues coming from the new headgear. The way I hold my double bridle is with my index and middle finger grasping the familiar headgear and all my fingers grasping the new headgear.
Introducing the Snaffle to the Hackamore Horse When holding the double bridle as described, rotating your wrist will engage the snaffle to get more collection, respect, whatever it may be. By holding your wrists straight (like holding an ice cream cone) you’ll be able to lay off the snaffle. When I go about it I want my horse to understand sideways pulls, spiraling into a one rein stop (without overdoing it), and being able to vertically give to the pressure. If I can get those things with the double bridle I will then loosen up on the hackamore and focus more on the snaffle.
Due to my hackamore background, I usually double into the fence a bit to establish respect and get the horse rocking back onto their hocks. This will be familiar to them because of prior hackamore training and redirects the horse’s energy into the fence, rather than the new, sometimes scary snaffle. Some other exercises I do to really introduce the snaffle is to walk forward and gather the reins, once they make contact I bump the head down and or back up. Sometimes I find a horse needs to back off the bit and other times they are ready to be riding nice and tucked on the bit. It simply depends. By this point I have already taught the horse to back with my legs more than the bridle. Using the snaffel I will try to make a bit more of a solid wall, and may employ bumps and releases. If that fails to back him up, I will slightly flex the horse’s head like I'm doubling and try to back up using mainly legs. This tends to work nicely because the horse is bent out of natural balance and is thus more focused on that than fighting you. Snaffles also work better than hackamores to hold them how you want when the horse is being resistant.
Introducing the Hackamore to the Snaffle Horse Keeping in line with basic hackamore principles stated about, I typically double into the fence with a lot of room and spiral into small circles. I may also try to get a bit of a backstep during the doubling. That will end up leading to backing up, slide stops, spins…and just about anything that requires the horse to rock back onto his hocks. Some other exercises I do to really introduce the hackamore is to walk forward and gather the reins, once they make contact I bump the head down and back up.
By this point I have already taught the horse to back with my legs more than the bridle. In the case of a hackamore I do this very slowly and close to a fence so I can double if the horse resists. If, God forbid, that happens, I usually double and use a quirt to inspire some life in their feet. I do not beat on the horse, I actually tend to hit my own leg. It's the theatrics of it that really work, and the fact that the horse can't brace a whip as well as spurs and heavy hands. Using this newfound energy I will double into the fence a couple times, walk out, and try again.
Common Problem A problem I have found myself in is that the horse gets dependent on the double bridle and primarily focuses on the old bridle instead of learning the new one. This is why many bridle horses coming out of the two rein are referred to as “green to the bridle”. To prevent this, I make sure that once my maneuvers are understood I start to lay off the old bridle and focus on the new one. My maneuvers can be imperfect…as long as the horse gives and isn’t nervous I progress. Typically I like doing this during a cooldown when the horse has less fight in him and isn’t bouncing off the walls with energy.
Duration So how long do you use a double bridle? Short answer: it depends. Long answer: once your horse has accepted the new bridle, understands basic steering, stopping, and backing off of it, and is no longer nervous you can move into your new bridle. Thank you for reading, I hope y'all try this rig out!
PM me if you'd like to order a custom bosal for your horse!
Comments