Cradle Bridle (Complete Set)
Please allow 1-3 weeks of Shipping time.
Not sure which size Cradle Bit to choose?
For best results, complete a Horsenality Preview to determine the best Cradle to use for your horse by STARTING HERE
The five points of contact with the Cradle are:
Nose, Chin, Bars, Tongue, and Poll
The Cradle Bridle features two types of mouthpiece, two types of chin strap (elastic or solid), a braided noseband and a support string. It also has a specially designed headstall that is easy to adjust and has a specially placed concho on the browband to accommodate the support string that holds the soft noseband in place.
The best reins to use on the Cradle Bridle are the Parelli Finesse Reins that you can easily snap on to either the big or small rings of the bit itself, as needed or desired. Choose your rein length according to the size of your horse.
Choosing the Right Mouthpiece
Choose the right mouthpiece (bit) design for your horse – C1 or C3. Knowing your horse’s Horsenality is the key here as some horses like more tongue contact while others like more tongue relief, which is provided by a slight port or upward bend in the mouthpiece.
- C1 – Snaffle style: It has a jointed mouthpiece and provides equal contact to the tongue and bars of the mouth. Best for most Right Brain horses and young horses just starting out in a bit.
- C3 – Large tongue relief: A wider port in the mouthpiece that gives maximum tongue relief and contact on the bars. Best for most Left Brain horses.
There are two rings on the bit as options for positioning your reins.
- BIG RINGS: Give you more direct contact with the horse’s mouth. Better for lateral and latitudinal flexion and in situations where you need more control.
- SMALL RINGS: Give you more contact with the nose. Better for horses that are bracey about vertical flexion or who are afraid of the bit.
Adjust the Fit:
The Cradle mouthpiece needs to fit snugly in the corners of the horse’s mouth but without stretching the lips and causing wrinkles. A snug fit is important for the bit’s stability. The specially designed headstall has a single buckle on the crown that allows you to adjust the height.
Adjust the position of the noseband. It needs to sit on the nose, just below the bridge (middle) but above the soft part of the nostrils – feel for it. Simply lift the attached support string to the desired height and wind it around the concho in the middle of the browband to secure it. (You can make a knotted loop if you like, but we recommend not doing this in case you use it on different sized horses).
Adjust the chin strap. Choose the elastic strap to start with. The solid strap is more advanced and is best used by, or under, the supervision of a Parelli Professional.
This is not a curb, it does not work for leverage, it is part of the Cradle. It must not be too tight or too loose. Pull the little knots through the loop on the other end until the strap is resting against the horse’s skin but is not tight. (Hint: The knots are for fitting, not for added pressure.) When you take the Cradle on and off your horse, simply unhook it from the other side so you don’t have to keep pulling the knots through the loop.)
Check that it is the right fit by lifting the noseband up off your horse’s nose. You should have about a ¾ inch gap. It is not designed to be tight nor to restrict your horse’s ability to open his mouth or move his jaw.
Prepare your horse on the ground before you ride with the Cradle Bridle for the first time.
- Ask for neutral lateral flexion to the left and to the right.
- Ask your horse to yield backward for a step or two with both reins.
- Ask your horse to vertically flex and hold it.