This is a mostly curiousity question...

How do they work, and in what ways are they similar and different from a pelham?

How are they adjusted, and what bits (I know a loose ring and curb bit, but what mouthpiece, kind of curb chain etc.) are standard and proper?

I saw someone in Colorado over the summer showing in the Maclay, WIHS and USEF talent search with one, and it really stood out to me seeing this. I am aware that it's unusual for hunters, jumpers and eq in this country... but I've read that double bridles are much more common in Europe and Australia for jumping horses. Is this true?

I feel like I should know something about this, just to be educated, and like it might be something to consider if it would be useful to me and my horse. I am aware that they can do a good amount of damage in the wrong hands, and I absolutely don't want to do that. I would rather never touch one than use it wrongly. However, I have had a lot of sucess with a pelham, but found it to be less fine-tuned than I might like. I prefer just a snaffle for some things, or a bit with more leverage than the pelham provided (I'm using a 3-ring with two sets of reins for this, and finding that I don't need all the leverage it provides anymore, I'm using it 95% off the main ring, and riding with a loop in the rein on the bottom ring.) So I'm curious more than anything. Even if I were to want to try this it's going to be a few months before I'm going to run out and buy something that expensive just to try it.

So, Catchride members... teach me.

Wanted to edit, but it had been too long...

Where would one acquire a brown double bridle? The girl I saw in the eq with one, I could swear it was brown... and if I were ever to get such a thing I don't think I'd want a black one.

Ok, so, double bridles:

You basically already described how they work in your last paragraph and how they differ from a pelham. The double bridle has 2 independent bits rather than 2 different rings on a single bit, meaning that the use of each rein is more unique. When you half-halt with the bridoon (snaffle) rein, you won't get curb pressure like you will when you half-halt with the top rein on a pelham. Likewise, the curb pressure and lever action on the curb is more severe. It's more fine-tuned than a pelham, and requires refined hands and a well-trained horse who is confident in contact.

As far as what the mouthpieces and bits look like, the bridoon is just a slightly downsized snaffle, generally a loose ring, the kk french link bits are very popular in dressage, but plain single link loose rings are normal, and it's not unheard of to have an eggbutt bridoon, but I think I've only seen one used once. You would never see anything like a waterford, straight bar, twisted wire, corkscrew, slow twist or rollers on a bridoon. Plain, old school snaffle. For the curb the mouthpieces are a straight bar across with no joints. Some are flat, but it's common to have a port depending on the horse's mouth and his comfort. Shanks of the curb depend on how much leverage the rider wants, it varies pretty widely. Curb chains are plain, but a lip strap might also be used.

You can learn a lot about bits and bridles by looking in tack catalogues, and also rulebooks.

Double bridles were originally standard in the hunt field and all "trained" horses were expected to go in them. In dressage, horses and riders are working to the point where they reach a degree of collection and finesse where a double bridle can enhance performance, but most correctly-trained upper level horses, like Brentina, school regularly in just snaffles. In Great Britain especially double bridles are the standard for their version of show hunters, as well as more traditional hunt classes here (think the sidesaddle ladies). The only riding I've seen in Australia was eventers so I don't know if they are similar or not.

Where to find a brown double bridle: I would either a) try to find one through a British/fox hunter resource, chances are it would be expensive, the average double bridle for dressage is around $500. or b) they sell a "snaffle hanger" which is just a simple leather strap that adds a set of cheekpieces to your existing bridle, if you can find one in brown then you would be set.

If you really want to try a double bridle on your horse, try to find a decent dressage trainer who has a lot of experience riding in one (and maybe one for you to borrow) and can help you. You horse may react very differently to a double than a simple pelham, because it's double the metal in his mouth and can be overwhelming.

I was wondering about these bridles as well. I'm starting to do more dressage on my horse, and he is incredibly strong, even flatting (I won't even get started on jumping.) It's partially my fault, I'm out of shape and weak, and he requires massive amounts of rein and leg, his stride is huge and he doesn't have much fun trying to collect it. He goes well in a pelham, but I find he gets to round and balled up in it sometimes. Does this same thing happen with a double bridle, or is it easier to lay off the curb to get a correct bend, but still use it for half halts?

As for brown bridles, I think a lot of dressage tack comes in the option of dark brown or black. Just try looking around.

I found this... and knowing Bobby's it seems like a smokin' deal.

http://www.eqtack.com/catalog/product_info...products_id=241

The barn I'm at now is mostly dressage and three day, and there's a couple of trainers that do higher level dressage. I don't want to just slap this on to try it, it's something I would want to have someone teach me how to use correctly and safely... I've been doing some more searching and reading, and I am fairly sure I understand how to fit one, and the selecation of different bits and their uses.

I'd love to hear from anyone who wants to educate me though.

I wouldn't use a double bridle in your case. You aren't even allowed to start using double bridles until 3rd level which is probably a lot higher than you are at right now [no offense whatsoever, but aren't you a jumper rider by default?]. A rider at my old barn used a double bridle nearly EVERY day on her 1st level mare and now the horse is hardly rideable simply because she wasn't ready for the double, the rider wasn't working with a trainer who taught her how to use it, and for the basic movements and first level there is no real need for a double. A friend of mine has one horse at 3rd and one at fourth that she still uses a snaffle on.

All correctly-trained dressage horses should be capable of being schooled in a snaffle (oh god, I almost sound like you). Top level horses don't go in doubles 100% of the time, oftentimes they are schooled in snaffles as much as 4 days a week. Even if they are in a double all the time, the curb rein is loopy and barely used on average.

Hyperion- because you described your horse as getting balled up and behind the vertical in a pelham, I wouldn't put him in a double. The horse needs to be very confident and clear about contact and his mouth before you put all the hardware of a double on him. He will most likely suck back like crazy with a double and you won't get anywhere. If you are riding with a decent dressage trainer, he/she will be teaching you how to ride your horse properly from your seat to counteract his heaviness and change his balance. If you want more leverage and to prepare your horse for going in a double, a Boucher bit is a much better bet.

Uh oh watch out... don't want to be sounding like me

Does a Boucher really use leverage? I always thought that it had the same action as a snaffle but was just steadier in the mouth because of the top ring.

Yep. It uses pressure to the poll via the upper ring thingy that the cheek pieces attach to. I've heard that it's a good alternative for horses that are just a little too strong in a snaffle. This is the one bit I'm actually qualified to talk about because it's the one I use on the flat (and, indeed, I use it because my horse is just a little too strong in a plain snaffle for me).

I've never seen a Boucher before...went through a few pages on Google and couldn't find one. Anyone have a picture?

Nevermind. Finally found one. Have never encountered one before. Interesting look to it.

ah, sounds like another bit I might have to add to my collection. I've been riding in a port, which he does surprisingly well in, but if I'm not mistaken (and I could be because I really don't know what I'm talking about) they're not allowed in dressage. But that's alright since I'm a long way off from showing anyways.

A baucher is kind of between a snaffle and an elevator as far as leverage goes.

Personally I find that a baucher tends to get too much bend in the neck and not the poll only. It could just be my horses though because I have ridden my friend's horse in one and she goes nicely in it. If your horse tends to curl up and bend through the neck already just be careful with the baucher.

I've jumped in a double bridle before when I went to South Africa, found it quite awful to ride in as the horse was not yet ready for (was only 5 years old) and I found that the horse was collecting itself up too much and was overbending in the jumping phase even with me trying to loosen off the curb without making the curb rein too long.

But yeah, here in NZ we don't really use them for jumping, a few do in the GP SJng and the SJnd phase of eventing. But then most of our flat show ponies are pushed into them at an early age and they look terrible!

Get a coach to help you, its to easy to screw up.

Wow, aren't you just super helpful?

I just bought this bridle from http://www.tackzone.com This bridle is fantastic and for the price pretty amazing. I have always purchased bridles such as Passier or Stubben or Schumacker and I finally decided to go with a Bobby's. I was so pleasantly surprised. This bridle is better than any of those other bridles I have ever purchased and at half the price. Here is a link to it. Take a look at the pictures and the bridle I received was even nicer than the photos:

http://www.tackzone.com/catalog/product_in...-double-bridles

This bridle is made of fantastic leather, beautiful stitching and beautiful buckles. I am so happy with this bridle. I highly recommend this bridle. Also, more importantly, not only was the bridle priced nicely, the shipping was free. The people that helped me were super helpful and actually knew what they were talking about when it came to bridles and especially crank bridles. They have fantastic dressage bridles and dressage accessories. Great Dressage Reins as well.

Happy Riding!

spam spam spam spam