How to Put a One Ear Head Stall on a Horse

One ear headstalls serve the same function as headstalls with browbands. The strap of leather or nylon keeps the headstall on the horse. One ear headstalls grace the heads of horses riding in western disciplines as English style bridles use the browband to hold the noseband onto the bridle. One ear headstalls serve a decorative function to western pleasure riders as silver usually adorns the strap of leather.

Things You'll Need

  • One-ear headstall
  • Bit
  • Horse
  • screwdriver
  • Reins
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Instructions

  1. Setup Bridle

    • 1

      Untie or unscrew (depends on the bridle) the cheekpiece loops at the bottom of the headstall. Insert the top of the bit into the each loop. Secure with the ties or screws.

    • 2

      Untie or unscrew the loops on the end of the reins. Insert the bottom of the shank--the bottom of the bit outside of the mouth running along the horse's cheek--into the loops. Secure them with ties or screws.

    • 3

      Ensure that the bit lays properly. If it is a snaffle, it should flex skyward. Shanks, that is the lower half of the cheek piece, angle slightly towards the horse.

    Putting On the Headstall

    • 4

      Grasp the top of the headstall with your right hand. The ear piece faces away from the horse. Put your left hand on the bottom of the bit.

    • 5

      Insert the bit normally using your thumb to encourage the horse to open his mouth. Horses have a gap between teeth where the bit lies comfortably in the horse's mouth.

    • 6

      Bring your right hand over the horse's head until the strap that stretches from one side of the bit to the other rests behind the horse's ears. Adjust the ear piece.