PLN
Bridles
A horse bridle is a set of straps, usually made of leather, fitted on the horse’s head that holds the bit in the horse’s mouth and, together with the reins, lets the rider give signals. It consists of a headpiece (poll strap), cheekpieces, a browband, a throatlash and a noseband; it is also commonly called a snaffle bridle. At Equishop you will find Prestige Italia, Renaissance and Equishop Team bridles – cavesson, flash, grackle, anatomic and dressage bridles.
At a glance: Prestige Italia, Renaissance and Equishop Team brands • cavesson, flash, grackle or double noseband • anatomic models with a shaped headpiece • dressage bridles, including double bridles for a curb bit and a snaffle bit • natural leather with soft padding • pony, cob and full sizes; black, tobacco and brown • free delivery within Poland on orders over PLN 300 and 30 days to return online purchases
What types of bridles are there?
Bridles differ mainly in their noseband. A cavesson (English) noseband is a classic strap around the horse’s nose. A flash noseband has an additional crossing strap – the flash strap – that runs lower down, across the nostril area, and stops the horse from opening its mouth wide; this is the arrangement used on the Renaissance 4E153 flash bridle. A grackle (figure-eight, or Mexican) noseband is made of two straps that cross over the nose and fasten above and below the bit – it spreads pressure over a larger area and avoids the most sensitive parts of the nostrils. A double noseband combines two straps in one design and keeps the bridle stable.
A dressage bridle has the classic style of the dressage arena, while a double bridle lets you use a snaffle bit and a curb bit at the same time – equipment for the higher levels of dressage. For show jumping, riders often choose a bridle with a grackle or flash noseband. An anatomic bridle has a shaped headpiece and noseband that spread pressure instead of concentrating it in one spot. Read more in the article Types of bridles and their parts.
Which bridles will you find at Equishop? Brands and models
Prestige Italia
The largest number of models in the collection comes from the Italian saddle and tack maker Prestige Italia. Its classic leather bridles are E38 in solid leather with stainless steel buckles, E37 with a flash noseband and hook-stud cheekpieces, the single-rib E87 with an English look, and E80 with a grackle noseband, made of very soft, double-stitched leather. E141 is an English bridle in full-grain leather – the only model of the brand in the collection that also comes in pony size – while E143 has a double noseband. For dressage there is E157 with two interchangeable browbands and the 3E158 double bridle for a curb bit and a snaffle bit – with an anatomic headpiece, browbands in patent leather and with Swarovski stones, and reins included. Colours: black and tobacco (E38: black and brown).
Renaissance
Renaissance bridles are made in Italy from European natural leather, have stainless steel fittings and come in cob and full sizes. 4E153 is a flash bridle with a cavesson noseband, while the embroidered 4E154 is a grackle bridle with a softly padded noseband, browband and headpiece – a choice for sensitive horses.
Equishop Team
Equishop Team is Equishop’s own line. The anatomic bridle has an anatomic headpiece with extra adjustment and a shaped noseband with a flash strap, while Classic has a wide anatomic headpiece, a throatlash adjustable on both sides, hook-stud cheekpieces and pony, cob and full sizes. Crystal Shine has a browband with crystals, and the anatomic bridle with flash is the only one in the line sold with webbing reins.
What should you look for when choosing a bridle?
| Feature | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Noseband | Match the type to your horse and discipline: cavesson for everyday riding, flash or grackle if the horse opens its mouth wide, double for stability. Fasten any noseband leaving room for two fingers. |
| Headpiece | An anatomic, softly padded headpiece reduces point pressure behind the ears – it is found on, among others, the Equishop Team anatomic and Classic bridles and the Prestige Italia 3E158. |
| Leather and padding | Full-grain, solid or European leather. Soft padding on the noseband, browband and headpiece gives mechanical protection against rubbing. |
| Fastenings and fittings | Stainless steel fittings are corrosion-resistant. Hook-stud cheekpieces (E37, Equishop Team Classic) make changing the bit quicker, and the Swedish noseband fastening (3E158) lets you do the noseband up symmetrically. |
| Browband | E157 and 3E158 each come with two interchangeable browbands – one for training and one for competitions. |
| Reins | Most models are sold without reins – check the bridle description and choose matching reins. |
How do you fit a bridle to your horse?
- Measure the noseband circumference, the cheek length from the corner of the mouth to the point behind the ear, the throatlash circumference and the browband width.
- Choose the size: pony is the smallest, cob fits smaller horses and large ponies, and full fits horses with a standard-sized head. E141 and Equishop Team Classic are available in pony size.
- The headpiece should lie flat behind the ears, and the browband must not pull it into the ears – you should be able to fit a finger between the browband and the forehead.
- Adjust the cheekpieces evenly on both sides so that the bit slightly lifts the corners of the mouth, without deep wrinkles.
- Position the noseband about two fingers’ width below the prominent cheekbone, leaving room for two fingers between the strap and the nose. Do not fasten the flash strap tightly – if it is too tight, it can restrict the horse’s breathing.
- Fasten the throatlash loosely – you should be able to fit a fist under it. Find out more in the guide Horse bridle. How to fit it? – and if in doubt, Equishop customer service will help you choose the size based on your horse’s head measurements.
Complete your bridle – reins, breastplates and care
Most bridles are sold without reins, so take a look at the reins category. Matching models include the webbing reins E34 for E37, E35 for E38 and E89 for E87, E146 and the webbing E147 with stoppers for E141 and E143, as well as the rubber 4E156 for the Renaissance 4E153 and 4E154. Complete your tack with breastplates and martingales. Wipe the leather with a damp cloth after riding and condition it regularly – you will find soaps, balms and oils in the equestrian equipment care category, and tips in the article How to take care of the equestrian equipment. To learn how to choose a bit, read the guide Types of bits. Which bit would be right for your horse?
Frequently asked questions about horse bridles
Is a bridle the same as a snaffle bridle?
Yes. Snaffle bridle is the everyday name for a bridle used with a single bit – a snaffle. Almost all models in this collection are of this kind. The exception is the Prestige Italia 3E158 double dressage bridle, which lets you use a snaffle bit and a curb bit at the same time.
Which bridle size should I choose – pony, cob or full?
Choose the size according to your horse’s head measurements: pony is the smallest size, cob fits smaller horses and large ponies, and full fits horses with a standard-sized head. Measure the noseband circumference, the cheek length, the throatlash circumference and the browband width. If the size does not fit, you have 30 days to return online purchases.
Is the bridle sold with reins?
Usually not – the Prestige Italia E37, E38, E80, E83 and E87 and the Equishop Team anatomic, Classic and Crystal Shine bridles, among others, are sold without reins. Reins are included with the Prestige Italia 3E158 double dressage bridle and the Equishop Team anatomic bridle with flash. For most of the other models, Equishop offers matching reins.
What is an anatomic bridle?
An anatomic bridle has a shaped headpiece, and often a shaped noseband too, which spread pressure over a larger area and avoid sensitive parts of the horse’s head. This design is found on the Equishop Team anatomic bridle with extra headpiece adjustment, the Equishop Team Classic and the Prestige Italia 3E158 double dressage bridle.
What is the difference between a grackle and a flash bridle?
A grackle (figure-eight) noseband is made of two straps that cross over the horse’s nose and fasten above and below the bit – it spreads pressure over a larger area and avoids the most sensitive parts of the nostrils. A flash noseband is a strap around the nose with an additional flash strap that runs lower down, across the nostril area. Grackle bridles include the Prestige Italia E80 and Renaissance 4E154, while the Prestige Italia E37, among others, has a flash noseband.
Which bridle should I choose for jumping and which for dressage?
For jumping, riders often choose a bridle with a grackle noseband (Prestige Italia E80, Renaissance 4E154) or a flash noseband, while the versatile Prestige Italia E141 and E143 work well for both jumping and dressage. Typical dressage bridles are the Prestige Italia E157 with two interchangeable browbands and the 3E158 double bridle for a curb bit and a snaffle bit, designed for the higher levels. Check the competition rules before you compete.