Instructions
Unfasten the ends of the cheek pieces on your bridle. Western bridles typically have snaps or screws holding the end of the cheek piece in a loop. English bridles have a leather loop that is held on by a small hook. Pull the end of the cheek piece forward and then upward to free the leather from the hook.
Hold the bit in your hands so that the front of the bit is facing outward. If the bit is in the correct position, it will fold backward smoothly when you bring your hands together. This is how it is supposed to go in the horse's mouth. Wrap the ends of your bridle's leather cheek pieces around the top of the metal cheek pieces of your bit. If your bit has small loops on it for the bridle to be attached to (some do) run the leather pieces through these loops.
Fasten the cheek pieces of the bridle around the bit, re-hooking, snapping or screwing them together, depending on the style of your bridle. Fasten your reins onto the loops on the bit below where the bridle cheek pieces are fastened.
How to Put a Training Bit on a Bridle
A well-trained, responsive horse who moves properly at the slightest touch of the reins can be a pleasure to ride. However, horses are not born knowing how to respond properly to bits and bridles, making training bits a necessary piece of equipment during the training process for young and green horses. There are both western and English training bits available for use. Western training bits can be either snaffles or shanked bits. English training bits are almost exclusively snaffles.