Horse Bridles
Introduction to Horse Bridles
Perhaps as early as 2,500 B.C. an inventive rider tied a rope around the nose of his barely domesticated horse and created the bridle. Today, no matter what discipline you ride, the bridle is an important tool for communication and control. It fits over the horse's head and consists of a headpiece and adjustable cheekpieces that hold the bit in place. Typically, English bridles will also have a noseband while many Western ones do not.
Bridles are traditionally made of leather but in recent years colorful nylon ones have become popular in certain disciplines because they require no maintenance and are inexpensive. Saddle seat and other gaited horses sometimes use synthetic browbands for shows. Still, for durability and a professional turnout there's no beating a quality leather bridle.
Bridles are available in sizes ranging from Pony, Arab or Cob, Full-Sized, and Over-Sized. These sizes are based on the length of the horse's face and the width of his nose and brow. While the sizes are designed to fit a typical horse of that size, it's not unusual to have to mix and match. For instance, a small horse might require a cob-sized headstall and horse-sized noseband.
There are a variety of bridle styles in both English and Western, depending on the horse's training needs and the rider's style preferences.
PARTS OF THE BRIDLE
While English and western bridles differ slightly, in general the parts of the bridle (also called a headstall) are:
The headpiece and throatlatch - These are made from the same piece of leather (or webbing). The headpiece, along with the cheekpieces, supports the bit in the horse's mouth. The throatlatch helps keep the bridle in place, preventing it from being pulled/pushed over the horse's ears particularly if the rider falls off over the horse's head. It is important, when bridling a horse, not to tighten the throatlatch too much, as it will place pressure on the animal's windpipe and constrict its breathing.
The browband - This prevents the headpiece from slipping back.
The cheekpieces - These are attached at one end to the bit and at the other end to the headpiece.
The noseband - The standard noseband (absent in most western bridles) fits around the nose above the bit. It is used as much to balance the appearance of the bridle as it is to keep the horse's mouth closed. There are several variations that serve different purposes (see below).
The reins - The reins of a bridle attach to the bit, below the attachment for the cheekpieces. The reins are the rider's means of communication to the horse and are seen on every bridle.
Fitting a bridle
In order to effectively and safely use a bridle, the length of each piece of the bridle needs to be individually adjusted to fit the horse's head. When fitting the cheekpieces, their length should be adjusted so that the bit is held neither too high nor too low in the horse's mouth, to ensure good communication between horse and rider. The adjustment of the noseband varies, depending on the type used. However, it is most often adjusted so that one finger can fit between the noseband and the horse. The browband should not rub or pinch the horse's ears, and also should not pull the bridle forward so that it rubs on the back of the ears. When tightening the throatlatch, the width of four fingers should be able to fit between the throatlatch and the horses' cheek.
WESTERN BRIDLES
Western bridles with bits can range from a very plain browband and cheekpieces to one with silver or stone accents and tooled leather. Browbands can be straight across or v-shaped; some even have tassels, knots or small decorations at the tip of the "v". There is also a slip ear style where the bridle is held in place by a leather loop around one or both ears. Though typically made of leather, western bridles are also made out of nylon. Colors can range anywhere from white to black and everything in between. They may have long, separated "Split" reins or shorter closed reins, which sometimes include an attached Romal.
If a Western bridle used in conjunction with a bit has a noseband, it isn't attached to the rest of the bridle but put on separately beforehand. The Western noseband does not buckle closely around the horse's nose the way an English noseband does. Rather, it hangs loosely and is used as part of the tie-down or Western version of a standing martingale
Hackamore
A hackamore, derived from the Spanish word "jaquima", is a type of bridle for a horse that doesn't have a bit. Instead, it works on pressure points on the horse's face, nose, and chin. They can be made of leather, rawhide, rope, cable or various plastics, sometimes in conjunction with metal parts. Like a bit, a hackamore can be gentle or harsh, depending on the hands of the rider.
Typically used to start young horses, they are also seen on mature horses with dental issues that make using a bit painful or on horses with mouth or tongue injuries that would be aggravated by a bit. Some riders also like to use them in the winter to avoid putting a frozen metal bit into a horse's mouth.
Types of Hackamores
There are three main types of hackamores: the bosal, the sidepull, and the mechanical hackamore.
A bosal (pronounced "bo-Sahl") consists of a fairly stiff rawhide noseband with reins attached to a large knot or button at the base-- the bosal. It's fitted to the horse in a manner that allows it to rest quietly until the rider uses the reins to give a signal. The reins are made from a specially tied length of rope, often made of horsehair, approximately 20-25 feet long, called a mecate (may-CAH-tay). It's tied in a specific manner to both adjust the size of the bosal, and to make a looped rein with an extra length of rope that can be used as a lead rope.
Ridden with two hands, a bosal uses direct pressure on the horse's nose and jaw rather than leverage on the mouth and head. It's particularly useful on young horses that still have teeth coming through.
On very green horses, a specialized rope throatlatch called a fiador (FEE-a-dor) is added, running over the poll to the bosal, attached to the hackamore by a browband. The fiador keeps a heavy bosal properly balanced on the horse's head without rubbing or putting excess pressure on the nose. However, it also limits the action of the bosal and is removed once the horse is comfortable under saddle.
While designed to be gentle, the bosal is a very sophisticated piece of equipment intended for use by experienced trainers and should not be used by beginners, as they can be harsh in the wrong hands.
The sidepull is a modern design inspired by the bosal. It's a heavy noseband with side rings that attach to reins on either side of the head, allowing direct pressure to be applied from side to side. The noseband is made of leather, rawhide, or rope with a leather or synthetic strap under the jaw, held on by a leather or synthetic headstall. Sidepulls are primarily used to start young horses or on horses that cannot carry a bit. The primary advantage of a sidepull over the bosal is that it gives stronger direct lateral commands and is a bit easier for an unsophisticated rider to use.
A mechanical hackamore falls into the hackamore category only because it works on the nose and has no bit that goes in the horse's mouth. It differs from the bosal and sidepull with its long, metal shanks and a curb chain that runs under the jaw much like a curb bit would have. The shanks and curb chain serve to increase pressure on the nose, jaw, and poll, giving a mechanical hackamore more leverage a true hackamore.
The noseband can range from mild to very harsh; some are made of rubber-covered cable, stiff metal, or even bicycle chain (though usually covered in plastic). Some of the milder designs are used by casual riders, especially for trail riding, and are particularly popular with hunters who must ride and camp in freezing weather where a frozen bit can injure the horse's tongue.
Mechanical hackamores lack the sophistication of bits or a bosal. They cannot turn a horse easily, and primarily are used for their considerable stopping power.
ENGLISH BRIDLES
Whether used for dressage or jumping, English bridles tend to look fairly similar except for the color (brown for jumping, black for dressage) and the type of noseband. There are a wide variety of nosebands available, from the simple cavesson to the more complicated figure-8 type and each serves a purpose that, as a rule, is unique to certain disciplines or issues. For instance, jumpers often use a figure-8 noseband while it is illegal to show in one in dressage.
A new accessory to the bridle is a "blinged out" browband. A trend that surprisingly started in the ultra-conservative dressage ring, this is growing more popular in breed shows and even jumpers. The browband can be decorated with anything from beads, stones and crystals to metallic accents. It can be subtle or very flashy depending on the rider's taste.
Nosebands
On the whole, nosebands are used to keep the horse's mouth closed, giving the rider more control. Nosebands may add some pressure to the nose when the reins are applied, depending on adjustment, style and the degree to which the horse resists the bit. They can also help prevent the horse from pulling and give the horse's head a more balanced appearance.
Nosebands should be fitted according to their purpose. A horse must be able to part its teeth and open its mouth slightly in order to flex correctly at the jaw, relax and come onto the bit. If a horse cannot relax its jaw because its noseband is too tight, it will have problems achieving proper head carriage.
The Cavesson Noseband - This is the standard type of noseband. It fits around the nose 1 -2 inches below the cheekbone. It's typical for most disciplines including dressage, hunters, and Saddle seat. It is the only noseband that should be used with a double bridle (one that has two bits used simultaneously) or a Pelham. They can be plain flat leather, raised, padded or fancy-stitched.
The Flash Noseband - Similar to the cavesson, this noseband includes a second strap that runs from the cavesson, around the nose in front of the bit and under the chin groove. This second piece is used to help keep the horse's mouth closed and to keep the horse from crossing his jaw. It also helps the bit remain steadier in the horse's mouth. Buckled properly, the remainder of the strap should point downwards, not up towards the top of the horse's nose as is often seen. This noseband is usually seen at the lower levels of dressage or in the dressage phase of eventing.
The Crank Noseband - Used most often on dressage horses, this noseband is similar to the plain cavesson except it is designed to easily tighten up to force the horse's mouth to stay closed. The crank is most often seen on upper level dressage horse that are typically ridden in double bridles since you cannot use a flash or drop cavesson with a double bridle. The down side is the horse can't open his jaw at all when the crank is tight, so he cannot relax the jaw and properly move into the bit. Ideally, a finger should be able to pass between the noseband and the horse at any point.
Hanoverian - This is the same as a flash noseband but with the addition of a padded jawband like a crank noseband has. It holds the horse's mouth shut and keeps the bit steady in the horses' mouth. It is very commonly found on dressage bridles.
Grackle - This noseband crosses from the top of the cheekbone on one side through a center piece over the nose to the chin groove on the other side, under the horse's chin, and back up to the opposite cheekbone. It is used to remind the horse to keep its mouth closed and prevents him from crossing his jaw. It allows for more expansion of the nostrils, which is preferable for horses performing work involving galloping (eventing, polo, racing), and has always been popular in show jumping. Many people believe that this type of noseband is more comfortable than a flash.
Figure eight - A figure eight serves the same purpose as a Grackle but instead of having fixed rings at the cheekbone, it is movable. This makes the bridle very adjustable but the fit is less consistent.
Drop noseband: Invented by the Spanish Riding School, this noseband is fitted on the nasal bone, with the strap and buckle fastening below the bit in the chin groove as opposed to just below the cheekbone. It reminds the horse to keep his mouth closed and prevents the horse from crossing his jaw. Care should be taken not to allow the top part to rest below the nasal bone - if it presses on the soft tissue below this bone it can impede breathing. In general, a drop noseband should not be tightened as much as a regular noseband due to its position. A drop noseband is not suitable for galloping work as it tends to restrict the nostrils if it is fitted incorrectly. The drop noseband is very rarely seen today, partly because many riders dislike the look it gives the horse's head. However, most horses prefer the drop noseband to the flash.
Kineton - A relatively severe noseband, the Kineton transfers pressure from the rider's hand to the nose. Horses typically respond better to noseband pressure than to the use of a harsher bit, which can cause the horse to run out of fear and pain. The kineton has metal "s" shaped shanks that pass under the bit, and a leather strap that sits below the bit and over the nose about where a drop noseband would cross. There is no strap to keep the horse's mouth closed. This noseband should only be used with a snaffle bit (which should be slightly wider than usual to take into account the shanks and a martingale should not be attached to the noseband. This is most commonly seen in eventing on the cross-country phase, and in show jumping. This noseband is most suited for horses that are hard pullers, allowing the rider to ride lightly with a mild bit and still stop a strong horse. It is also popular for use on hot horses, to get them to trust the bit and relax.
Combination or lever noseband - this noseband has a half-moon piece of metal that goes on each side of the horse's face. On the "top" end of the curve (near the horse's cheek bone), a piece of leather is attached that runs under the jaw and attaches to the other side of the face. At the peak of the curve is a piece of leather that runs over the top of nose in a position slightly lower from where a regular cavesson would cross. At the "bottom" of the curve, a third piece of leather goes under the chin groove of the horse. This noseband is similar in design to the figure eight, and works similarly by preventing the horse from crossing his jaws (which is especially helped by the metal on either side of the face). Unlike the figure eight, it does not stabilize the bit and it tends to push the cheeks in against the horse's molars, which can be painful.
Australian noseband - This noseband consists of a Y-shaped rubber fork, which attached to the center of the browband, the forks dropping to either side of the nose, with the ends having round rubber cheek guards that fit over the bit. It is an effective and kind option for a puller or a horse that gets his tongue over the bit. Most commonly seen at the racetrack.
Studded - A studded cavesson has round or sharp studs, which are meant to increase or take the place of rein pressure. These cavessons are commonly used as a means of controlling a difficult horse, or as a training shortcut, but they are generally illegal in most horse show competition. If the studs are round, they have a relatively mild effect and do not cause much discomfort. If they are sharp, like a serrated knife, they can actually cut the horse and are extremely painful. They act with the normal action of the noseband, which applies pressure to the nose when the horse fails to submit to the bit, and increases the effect of this pressure.
Jumping Hackamore - Closely related to the Western mechanical hackamore, this falls into the hackamore category only because it has no bit that goes in the horse's mouth. It has long, metal shanks and a curb chain that runs under the jaw much like a curb bit would have. The shanks and curb chain serve to increase pressure on the nose, jaw, and poll, giving a mechanical hackamore more leverage a true hackamore. Even without a bit, a jumping hackamore has considerable stopping power.
