Has your headstall ever FALLEN OFF?

[kelo]

Yep.

I only ever buy headstalls with a browband and throatlatch now and keep snaffles adjusted relatively snug in their mouth to boot. I didn’t enjoy that one time when my brakes and steering just fell off my 3-year-old colt! (He shook his head with enthusiasm and…flop!)

[beau159]

@Amber_M

I’ve been riding in the same slip ear headstall forever. Today, I put english reins on and after my lesson, my horse shook her head and the thing fell RIGHT OFF HER FACE. I was in the saddle, thankfully my trainer was right there, but this has never happened to me and I’ve ridden her in the same headstall setup for at least 6 months.

Its just cheekpieces and a slip ear. I don’t want anything else. Do I really have to add a throatlatch?

I’ve never had it happen, but it sure can.

Usually when a horse shakes their head, they tilt their nose up, and that sometimes can “pop” the crown off the poll because it creates slack there. And if they shake just right, bounce it off over the ears. (Or other times, it’ll slide down the neck.)

I use a one-eared headstall for showing only. Otherwise, I use browbands with throatlatches.

[Fillabeana]

What Aces n Eights said.

A one ear, split ear or slip ear headstall is designed for use with a curb bit. When you engage the reins on a curb bit, the upper attachment of the bit (the purchase) rotates forward, tightening the bridle over the poll.

A snaffle bit, when you engage the reins, pulls up on the lips in the corner of the horses mouth (among other actions) which makes the cheek pieces looser. A headstall with browband and throatlatch is the proper equipment to use with a snaffle bit, as it keeps the headstall stable and on the horses head.

If you engage the reins on a snaffle bit hung on a one ear type headstall, the bridle will loosen enough to come off the horses head pretty easily.

I’ve seen bridles fall off, sometimes from a hardware malfunction but mostly when someone is using a snaffle bit on a one ear headstall.

Ive heard some unkind comments about people who are unaware that a snaffle bit wasn’t meant to be used with a one ear headstall… but I will just explain why.

[Amber_M]

@Fillabeana

What Aces n Eights said.

A one ear, split ear or slip ear headstall is designed for use with a curb bit. When you engage the reins on a curb bit, the upper attachment of the bit (the purchase) rotates forward, tightening the bridle over the poll.

A snaffle bit, when you engage the reins, pulls up on the lips in the corner of the horses mouth (among other actions) which makes the cheek pieces looser. A headstall with browband and throatlatch is the proper equipment to use with a snaffle bit, as it keeps the headstall stable and on the horses head.

If you engage the reins on a snaffle bit hung on a one ear type headstall, the bridle will loosen enough to come off the horses head pretty easily.

I’ve seen bridles fall off, sometimes from a hardware malfunction but mostly when someone is using a snaffle bit on a one ear headstall.

Ive heard some unkind comments about people who are unaware that a snaffle bit wasn’t meant to be used with a one ear headstall… but I will just explain why.

So I created the perfect storm for myself. This makes sense

We are adding dressage lessons into our normal dink around the farm hacking schedule, and I didn’t have my new bridle in time. I ride a pony in a barn full of big WBs and TBs so there isn’t much sharing lol. I did have a loose ring hanging on her other (browband, imagine that!) headstall, so I quickly switched and thought my tack hoarding habits saved me. Didn’t even think about it. Her typical bit on that headstall is a low port grazing curb, which is probably why it’s never happened before.

Good to know user error is easily fixed right???!! :insert wonky smile emoji face:

ETA -
@Fillabeana zero ego here about learning, so I really appreciate your reply I don’t think I’ve ever had a proper “western” trainer, I just know that she’s from a ranch (auction pony) and we trail ride in western tack mainly for comfort. I wouldn’t have picked that up elsewhere, so I’m grateful. This is why I COTH!

[Fillabeana]

Yup, easily fixed

I hope you enjoy both the trail riding and the dressage lessons, sounds like lots of fun stuff to do with your horse.