Blinders hugging close to eyes

[Leeana]

I have two bridles - the one is open with no blinders and the other has the blinders. I have only driven her once in the set with blinders as after doing so, I found that they rubbed on her eyes, and have been using the open bridle since. But she does drive better in the bridle with the blinders.

I was told that there should be a wire to set the blinders, but I try to set or move the blinders and there is no hold or no wire in there. Is there a way to fix the bridle to keep the blinders from touching her eyes? I was thinking of sewing a "string" from the top of the blinder on each side and connected it back to part of the blinder so as it will "hold" the blinders out away from her eyes. I am going to purchase a new harness at some point this winter for general driving and trail. When I do so, I intend to purchase a bridle with the blinders that "cup".

Thanks

 

[Sue_C.]

Check around in your area for a harness-maker...if you can find one, even if you have to send the bridle away, it wouldn't be difficult to have a new blinder-keepers made to replace the un-wired ones.

 

[Leeana]

Any recomendations? Would I need to purchase new blinders and send with to have sewed on or? I would love the blinders that "cup" (don't know the technical name).

Thanks Sue...got your PM too..thank you thank you..

 

[disneyhorse]

I would buy a better bridle. The bridles are THE hardest part of a harness to fit comfortably on a horse. I don't know the size of your horse/pony but I would recommend getting the one that Ozark Minitack carries... it's about $100 more or less depending on if you buy the check reins. To me, that's fairly cheap for the quality, it is a very simple bridle but generally fits okay. I think I paid about $90 with no check. Most harness makers sell bridles and parts, so if you need one to match your harness I'm quite sure you could find one somewhere.

A good quality bridle will always have wire stitched into the "winker stays" so that you can adjust the blinders to stay out of their eyes.

Sorry, I know you were looking for a way to "jury-rig" your existing bridle, but to me there is no compromise for safety and the comfort of the horse. My opinion only, maybe someone else will chime in.

Andrea

 

[shorthorsemom]

Hi, I had the same problem with a bridle I had. New bridle seemed to be the only way to fix it. So I sold the old harness that never really fit well anywhere... and bought a new harness with a terrific well fitting well made bridle. I love it. I also went back and bought cheek pieces for my boy that drives without blinkers and the harness maker made me a tear drop thingy to hang down from the buckle where the wired piece for the blinkers used to go, so now I have one bridle, two options, blinker and no blinker and it fits terrific. You just can't beat having a well fitting harness. Nothing I did would stretch the wire out enough so the blinker didn't touch my guys eyelashes. I went with a custom fitted harness and bridle and I was very happy with my set up now. My new bridle doesn't have blinkers that cup, but with them being well fitted nice quality they didn't need to cup, they naturally just sit where they are supposed to. Can't beat a nice fit.