Bridle project

Ok my new conchos that I purchased at the Horse Expo. They are German Silver I believe, but nice and thick and a good quality. I went to the Expo with finding some conchos for my bridle, it has not just two at the brow, but two more at the bit.

 The old conchos.

 This bridle has no chicago screws, but ties all around.

 The cheek pieces taken apart. Leather rosettes under the conchos.

 This bridle is very challenging to remember how to put back together! A little trial and error.

 I use a pencil or a screwdriver to loosen the ties.

 My reins tie on too. I took the whole bridle completely into pieces and cleaned it and oiled it.

 The whole thing exploded!

 Need a new chin strap, this one is getting a little rusty. I prefer the double chain ones, but I think when I bought this one I couldnt find one. I have a new one, but I think it is to long, I will explain that when we get to the bit.

 I attended a Pat Wyse clinic with Emma when she was four. He used a bit like this, but his had a stainless mouth. I prefer a sweet iron mouth. Sooo as I was the tack buyer for a small feed store at the time I was able to find this bit, of which I bough two. Mullen mouth.

 Now the secret of Pats bit is the shanks and how the chin strap attaches. The top ring is for the headstall, the next one small one to the right side is for the chin strap. The D ring at the center and the short shank with the rein ring at the bottom. I love the drop extra ring for the chin strap, if you have ever had one pinch a horse at the lip, this prevents that. You do need a little shorter chin strap or it wont go tight enough. The D rings are great when you need to use a direct rein and not have to switch bits to a snaffle. Just run the rein (I use split reins) from the inside and out through the D, and no more leverage bit. I have used this with a running martingale while warming up my horse then taking them out later,( and out of the martingale!!) and finishing my ride with the curb. Pretty cool! I have two bits that I use, a heavy ring snaffle with a sweet iron copper inlay broken mouth, and this curb bit.

 I clean all my tack with Murphys, it is liquid glycerin which is what all your saddle soap is. Much easier to use!

Oops, trial and error, LOL, I needed to put the bit loop back under the loop that holds the concho on. Take back apart and redo.

 Here we go, don the right way.

 I am liking how they look!

 Oops, retie! See how this one is pointing forward, it needs to point backwards, had to braid it the other was. The ties have one slit each that you weave them back and forth through.No screws to come undone here!

 And put all back together! I am very happy with my purchase.

 There is a little bit of brown antiquing around the star. Finding slotted conchos is not easy, I had searched on ebay and didnt find any I liked, much less could afford!! LOL

 The bit hangers on this bridle again.

 And the brow concho.

So that was my bridle project! Brought my snaffle bridle in to clean too, will show you that one next.