Bridle

With the bridle or bridle be riding and draft animals - mostly horses - guided and directed. The bridle consists of a head frame of straps for the head of the animal and out of the reins or linen. There are bitless bridles and those with a head-mounted rack passed through the animal's mouth, usually metallic bite ( snaffle, curb or Pelham ).

Effect

The effect of the bridle lies on the various points of the bridle pressure on the one hand in the natural reaction of the animal, on the other hand, certain reactions may be achieved by training. Depending on the used teeth and halters are the pressure points: tongue, jaw, chin groove, neck, lip and nose. In essence, by the pressure on these points, a head movement of the animal provoked, which follows the body, for example, change of direction, or which is otherwise intended by the rider, for example, lowering of the head. The reins are used to activate the pressure points as well as simply to guide the animal. The tethering of the animal by the bridle, as one often sees in Western films is frowned upon in Europe, since it can come through the bite piece of serious injury in horror.

The bridle must be buckled correctly, so he did not expressed and can breathe freely the horse. Of the seat varies depending on Reithalfterart. A too tight verschnalltes noseband also has the consequence that the horse the aids can not accept properly because him chewing on the teeth, which is so desirable, is not possible. So should be wide space between the noseband and horses nose about two fingers. The air trumpet is the part of the nose, which blows up in excitement or effort to supply the lungs with enough air and the body with enough oxygen. You must not be affected, it is important especially when Hanoverian noseband.

Construction

The bridle is the effect on the horse's head in order to influence his pace, the lateral position of the head and neck posture. Over the long history of riding a variety of bridles have been developed. However Bridles are usually made ​​of the following basic elements:

The reins are buckled into the lateral teeth rings or into the suits of curb or Pelham. To curb a smaller so-called bradoon is used with a second pair of reins in English riding.

Stirnbandzäume be used both in Western Riding and in the classical riding styles. Einohrzäume be used mainly in Western Riding.

Typical bridles will be presented below.

Bridle

Bridles consist in most cases of a crown piece, the two back pieces right and left, the throat lash and brow band (sometimes noseband )

The headpiece is located in the neck behind the horse's ears and forms the " core " of each bridle. Bearing in mind that the weight of the horse teeth, situated in the neck, is to make sure that it is wide enough not to cut.

The forehead strap holds the headpiece in place and prevents slipping backwards. A properly seated browband further reduces the weight which acts on the neck. The narrower so the headpiece, the more necessary is the browband.

The cheek pieces are strapped to the left and right of the headpiece and perpendicular to the horse's head under the cheekbone along. At their ends, the bit is strapped.

The throat strap runs in the jowls and is mostly worked directly to the headpiece. It is designed to prevent the horse can strip the bridle itself.

Einohrzaum

The Einohrzaum is common at western riding. It consists of a headpiece where the ear loop is fixed and one or two back pieces. Due to the hot climate in the countries of the Western cavalry, it is useful, as you can get by with as little leather on the horse's head. Therefore, the straps of the bridle are usually quite narrow and accessories such as the throat strap is omitted almost entirely.

In contrast to Stirnbandzaum where the cheek pieces are usually narrower than the neck strap, neck strap and back pieces have here the same width as for the throat strap no further belt is needed. The less leather covers the sweaty pores of the sensitive skin on the horse's head, the lower the risk of Aufscheuerns. Often, only a single back piece exists because headpiece and right cheek pieces are made of one piece.

The ear loop performs the same task as the browband. She holds the neck strap in place, ensuring also that the teeth stay in the proper position. It is either incorporated the same in the headpiece or is separately attached headpiece and movable. In any case, the leather should be supple but without edges because the skin around the ear is sensitive.

Bridle

The bridle does not require separate noseband. The noseband is associated with small loops with the cheek pieces or passes through them. Driving curbs to be driving frequently used.

Westernzäume

Westernzäumungen consist generally of a simple headpiece without noseband, which is almost identical in construction with the classic head piece. When used with water Bridles ( snaffle bit) a chin strap when using dentures with suits ( bits) is buckled a chin chain in the snaffle rings. The chin strap is loose verschnallt and prevents the teeth can be pulled through the horse's mouth, the chin chain is - similar to the English model, the curb - firmly buckled and part of the leverage as pressure is exerted on the chin by assuming the reins. Westernzäume are available with both front strap as well as in one-ear or binaural versions.

Rope halter or a rope halter

In many cultures, the bridle is tied from a rope and also serves as a noseband and for guiding and possibly also for tethering the horse. See also rope halter. Due to the sharp action on the sensitive horse's head, the horse with a rope halter can be tied loosely so that the horse does not hurt if it is to tear yourself away.

Cavesson

The cavesson is a Bitless bridle that is used primarily when training with young horses and the hand work to make it not blunt in its mouth. Young horses jump sometimes unexpectedly to the side, allowing them to lunge at himself in the mouth cause pain when they are with normal lunge cavesson bridle instead. The most common in Germany "heavy cavesson " has a mostly three-piece nose iron, the sections are connected by hinges. At this nose three iron rings are attached for hooking lunge and training aids ( side reins ) or reins or leashes. This nose iron is often quite wide ( 2-3 cm) and also padded thick. Thus, the effect is rather soft. The exact opposite is the case with the commonly used in Spain cavesson variant of serreta: Here is an approximately 1 cm wide, rigid U-shaped one-piece nose iron is buckled on the bridge of the nose of the horse. Often it is completely upholstered or simply covered with a thin sheath of leather and on the inside of the iron usually is a perforation - hence the Spanish name serreta ( = small saw ). The rings of serreta often sit on about 2 cm long walkways, characterized in additional leverage is achieved. An unsuitable for inexperienced Long leaders and Device tab. More and more widespread are Cavessons. that do without nose iron, in which the three rings are mounted directly on the leather noseband. This type cavesson is named after the French captain Antoine de Pluvinel. A fourth variant is the southern French cavesson Caveçon, in which the iron nose of a link chain (often a motorcycle chain) is formed. This chain is used without or usually with a leather sheath.

Noseband

Among the bridles of the classic cavalry mostly heard a noseband. It is to give the lower jaw a rest and protect against excessive exposure to the jaw bone. There is also pressure on the drawer, a counterweight and thus transfers part of the pressure on the nose. It prevents the unlocking of the snout, with which the horse escapes the aids. It takes the horse but also any possibility to avoid such over-exposure to the rider's hand over the bit. A property that is too often misused.

In the western riding is usually ridden without noseband. Here twinkling considered as auxiliary reins. It is only used if the horse has grown accustomed to the action by the bit in principle to withdraw by unlocks the mouth. Because of the noseband is here commonly referred to as blocking holster.

In horse racing and all kinds of popular bridles to be used and partially equipped with various attachments for specific purposes. ( See, eg, Article trotting, Section bridle and reins. )

Crucial for a correct action of a noseband is also the selection of the same with respect to the head shape of the Affected horse.

German noseband

This type of noseband is the oldest among the bridles. It has already been used over 100 years ago in the cavalry. A leather strap that serves as nose and chin strap is pulled through space provided loops on the back piece, similar to the bridle.

Properly buckled it should be about two fingers wide spread below the zygomatic bone, the position is determined here by the length of the cheek pieces. Through this combination, the location of the halter on the horse's head is relatively fixed. It is used mainly to Shetty and cold blood Bridles and to Fahrzäumen use. Since the height of the nose strap is not adjustable, it is only rarely seen, although it works sufficiently. When buckling applies: Between Belt and Horsehead at least two fingers should fit.

Noseband

Not too long ago the Hanoverian was the most common among the bridles until it was replaced by the Combined noseband. It was invented in mid -19th century at the Hanover Cavalry School of EF Seidler. It consists of a jaw and neck piece, on which is a buckle on the side for adjusting the correct length. As a final small rings are machined on both sides to which are attached the noseband and the two small chin strap which are buckled in the chin groove.

The Hanoverian noseband is buckled so that the noseband on the bony part of the nose comes to rest, ie at least four to five fingers above the nostrils. Among them have space He is buckled on the bit rings in the chin groove, so still loose two fingers. If the noseband too tight buckled, then the effect is reversed into its opposite. The horse is not right for chewing, therefore can not accept the bit and the rider's aids no longer get through to the horse. A too low verschnalltes Hanoverian noseband affect the air trumpet. The Hanoverian noseband is particularly suitable for horses with rather long and straight head or in earlier Hanoverians often encountered slight Roman nose, but especially for those with a long foot column. For short and / or wedge- shaped heads, and especially those with short foot column, a correct buckling, however, are difficult, then another noseband is preferred.

In the training of young horses the reins can be strapped into the bridle rings and additionally in the small ring on the noseband. This allows a maul gentle breaking in, as part of the effect is distributed to the nose.

The Hanoverian noseband is sometimes so buckled that it is like a German noseband about two finger widths below the cheekbone.

Flash noseband

The English noseband is next to a jaw - neck - part of a roughly two inches wide, well- padded noseband, which is about two to three inches should be located below the zygomatic bone itself. It is about twice as wide as the noseband of Hanover locking holster. In contrast to this, however, it does not diminish the pressure on the shop, where it transfers a portion of the pressure on the nose. It is merely intended to prevent the horse from unlock the mouth too far.

In the "Hibernate" the English noseband is therefore virtually ineffective. It only shows an effect if the horse wants a wide mouth, and thus prevents the horse to the action of the rider withdraws.

In Germany you will find the English noseband usually only under the curb, rarely as the sole bridle. For the curb bridle the English noseband is good since it does not collide with the suits.

Noseband

The Combined noseband is also known as Irish noseband. It is most commonly used in Germany, as it largely supplanted the Hanoverian in recent decades.

It is basically a Flash noseband with an additional thin barrier or Pullerriemen. This is passed through a small loop at the center of the nose and closed in the chin strap pit. The noseband is the combined noseband slightly oblique.

The Combined noseband should combine the advantages of Hanover and the English noseband. Neat verschnallt and well adjusted, that would be the case, but often the noseband is buckled too low and consequently hinders the noseband the air trumpet. Moreover, many riders still represent the opinion of the locking straps must be buckled tightly as possible. A too high verschnallter nose strap can chafe on the cheekbone.

Frequently one sees the Combined noseband today even without the noseband, apparently as a substitute for the German market as part of Trensenzäumen rarely available English noseband. However, this method is not a full substitute for such, since the shape of the noseband is different rather wider. This bridle is also not permitted in a strict interpretation of the LPO for tournament use.

Noseband

The Combined noseband is also available as Noseband, to which the nose strap is fed back and buckled by a roll loop through. The effect is similar to a pulley so that the noseband can be very much part and sealed with significantly less effort. This often means that the noseband is too tight buckled. Most Swedish noseband are very well padded.

Noseband

The Mexican noseband or cruciate ligament halter is similar with its intersecting on the nose noseband looks more the Combined noseband. There are two visually similar variants.

The a ( genuine) is also similar in function to the combined noseband. It consists of two belts which are fixedly connected to the bridge of the nose in a rosette or the like. The upper belt is thereby connected like a normal noseband, under the jaw, the lower like a locking strap over the teeth in the chin groove. This rosette is usually padded soft, so not too much pressure on the nose is exercised.

In the second (real) variant "lock" - and " noseband " of two long straps formed approximately in the middle of its length on the bridge of the nose diagonally intersect and are connected at each end with the end of the other strap. Thus, each belt is mutually half " lock " and " noseband ". Both straps are attached at the crossing point on the bridge of the nose in a mostly overstuffed rose by loops so that they can slide against slight resistance in both directions. With newer models forming the belt ends, which together form the upper half of the " nose belt ", each in a metal ring, be connected to each of the short belts of two below the lower jaw, which form the lower portion of the " nose belt ". In these rings and the headpiece of the noseband is attached. By this construction, the ( real ) Mexican noseband is movable throughout especially in the newer version and can be very high verschnallt without blocking the mouth movements in any direction entirely.

The advantage of the Mexican noseband is that it is right, not so buckled up, does not impede the breathing of the horse and mule activity and effect of the dentition are affected. However, this can change very quickly to lower buckling when shifting the position of the belt down because the connector performs the belt very loose. The result is that the air trumpet cramped. If the Mexican noseband rather loosely buckled, only occurs after a certain point but then a very significant because selective effect on the nasal bone, which is highly beizäumend.

Ironing Noseband

The noseband strap is a combination of combined and noseband. It has above a centrally located noseband from which to bracket a buckle and a running nose below the belt around the jaw. Of these temples the belts run at right angles to the jaw.

It looks a bit sharper than the two variants mentioned above. Locks the horse 's mouth to the two lower belt is pushed down, the power is transmitted and combined, as both straps over the brackets correspond to each other through the strap on the upper belt.

In contrast to most other bridles the teeth is exposed in the mouth and is not affected by the Sperriemen or the Hanoverian noseband. This also pinching of the lips is prevented by engaging strap. Since the noseband is higher than in Hanover, a narrowing of the airways is largely prevented. In addition, the lower jaw of the horse by the two chin strap with Zügelzug is well supported.

However, in some circumstances, limits the mastication, since a lateral movement of the jaws is prevented by the two side brackets. Due to the two side brackets the noseband strap is also often used for horses that can hang out the tongue side.

When buckling is as always pays attention to the correct position of the noseband. This is determined by the spacing of the two belts from the teeth, they must be about the same on both sides and be so loose that at least two fingers under it have space. It is however said that this noseband its effect also not missed when it is buckled a little looser than usual.

Kineton Noseband -

The Kineton noseband - one sees this country only very rarely. It was developed in England and is where it is mainly used for hunting horse riding, in order to have more control over hot horse.

The holster is made of two bars which are connected by the bridge of the nose away with a leather strap. These brackets are placed around the teeth around. Does the rider a normal dentition acts normally. But blocks the horse 's mouth and tries to escape as the rein aids, guide the bow pressure on the bridge of the nose on.

However, the Kineton has two serious disadvantages: Because teeth and ironing directly meet, it happens very easily that in between the corners of the mouth are pinched. Another drawback is the loose noseband. It leaves out the counterpart, the chin strap so that the noseband lies loosely above. This he slips mostly on the nose down further. Then affects the rider an even moderately, the airways are narrowed immediately.

American nosebands / Noseband

Like the other noseband species to the American noseband, also called Mouth Hutter, prevent the horse 's mouth unlocks too far or, as we mainly find it in western riding, the horse biting a cow in the cow work.

The American noseband is like English noseband of a head piece and a noseband. This is buckled under the cheek pieces, about two inches below the cheekbone. The noseband is only about an inch wide in most cases, consists of either waxed cord or leather and exercises, the horse closes its mouth, very selective pressure on the bridge of the nose from. Due to the usually very firm material is this pressure immediately after, when the horse 's mouth closes again.

This type of noseband is often in use. In most tournament classes they are forbidden, but allowed on the warm-up arena. Since the bite of an ox will be punished in the tournament with high penalties, some riders tend to be extremely brutal means to prevent their horses in it. A quite common method is the tightening of the horse's mouth with a noseband of wire, more subtle way, attaching a wire underneath the actual noseband.

Most riders know the unpleasant effect of the American noseband and put it temporarily for a correction.

Material and workmanship

Leather

Leather is the most popular material for producing bridles. The performance audit order it prescribes for all noseband in the FN - controlled equestrian sport. Mostly cowhide is used. Leather is more care than most other materials, but also much more durable.

It is important that the natural characteristics of leather are retained even after the tanning process. It should have good abrasion resistance, absorb moisture and release it again, be as lightfast, remain soft and flexible and yet provide some stability and be visually appealing. The quality of the leather is dependent on the manufacture, the tanning process and the starting material in the first place. Large pores or rough spots indicate poor quality of the leather can crack under heavy load. In vegetal tanned leather process is far more durable and with good care for the horse more comfortable to wear than chemically tanned. Furthermore, it has a higher elasticity and is more environmentally friendly to produce. Disadvantages compared to chemically tanned leather are in higher weight and lower moisture resistance.

In addition to the quality of leather, the seams play an important role in terms of safety and durability. Is sewn either with particularly strong, waxed or oiled cotton or synthetic yarn. Synthetic fiber has over cotton has the advantage that it is relatively rot resistant. Good stitching should be sewn with uniform and uniformly thick, waxed yarn. The seams should not have to lie close to the edge and be buried for protection against abrasion in grooves. Uneven or worn seams are a potential source of danger.

Synthetic fabrics

Synthetic fabrics as leather substitutes are becoming increasingly popular, however, are not allowed in tournaments. In particular, the plasticized materials are distinguished from leather by uncomplicated care and more color choices. The number of materials on the market continues to grow and now some of the items have reached the durability of good leather. Especially in flat racing and endurance riding, where the bridles must withstand the toughest conditions, bridles use of special materials.

Horsehair

Horse hair is rare and expensive, which is why it is used primarily for decoration on Westernzäumen. Rarely does one find even bridles, the " gehitcht " entirely (that is, covered with braided horse hair ) are. With appropriate processing and maintenance of horse hair is quite a durable material.