How to Make a Horse Bridle Headstall

Creating your own tack to use on your horse is a great way to have equipment that specifically fits your horse. However, be diligent in making your tack, since your life depends on your equipment. A poorly made headstall, which comes apart during a ride, could mean an out-of-control horse with you going along for a ride. The headstall is the part of the bridle which attaches to the bit. It can have a brow band or an ear hole to secure it over the horse's head. Some headstalls have nosebands or bosals and can be made out of leather, nylon or rope.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 inch leather strip
  • Snips
  • Rivets
  • Two buckles
  • Marker
  • Ruler
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a headstall that fits your horse as a pattern. You will need to carefully take the headstall apart, marking the pieces.

    • 2

      Measure each piece individually. Start with the brow band. Record the length and the placement of the rivets or hooks which hold it to the cheek pieces.

    • 3

      Record the length of the throatlatch.

    • 4

      Record the length of the headstall and the placement of the buckles, which hold it to the cheek pieces.

    • 5

      Record the length of the cheek pieces and the placement of the rivets or hooks, which hold it to the bit.

    • 6

      Use your measurements to properly cut the lengths for all the pieces needed: brow band, cheek pieces, throatlatch and headstall. Mark the position of the rivets and buckles based on your template bridle. Mark the position of the brow band based on your template bridle.

    • 7

      Attach the ends of the brow band leather around each side of the headstall with rivets, leaving a large enough gap to fit the throatlatch leather through.

    • 8

      Feed one end of the leather of the throatlatch through each side of the brow band/headstall opening. Add the buckle to one end of the throatlatch leather.

    • 9

      Add the buckles to the ends of the leather of the headstall. Attach one end of the leather of the cheek pieces to this buckle.

    • 10

      Wrap the other end of the leather of the cheek pieces around the bit. Secure with rivets.