Horse Bridle Types

A bridle is a piece of equipment used in horseback riding to direct the horse. It is worn on the horse's head and includes the bit, a metal or synthetic bar that rests in the back of the horse's mouth behind the teeth, and the reins, both of which are the primary system for communication of direction between the horse and rider. There four primary kinds of bridle: snaffle, double, western and endurance.

  1. Snaffle

    • The snaffle bridle is the most commonly used bridle in English riding. It is a basic bridle consisting of a head piece, browband, cheek pieces, noseband, a single set of reins and a bit. The bit and noseband are changeable to suit the individual horse. Some types of bits used with the snaffle bridle include the standard snaffle bit, kimberwickes, gag bits, and single curb bits.

    Double

    • A double bridle is used today primarily in dressage and similar forms of show riding requiring extreme precision. It has two bits, the bradoon and the curb, and a separate set of reins for each bit. The bradoon is a bit specific to the double bridle that is a smaller version of the basic snaffle bit and is placed slightly higher in the mouth. The curb bit is a chain that goes in front of the bradoon.

    Western

    • The Western bridle is a more utilitarian bridle designed to be lightweight and easily repairable. It has a headstall, chin strap, bit and reins, but usually no nose band. The headstall on Western bridles can have either a browband that rides across the entire brow of the horse or ear loops that go around either one or both ears. Curb bits are the most common type of bit used. There are three varieties of reins: split, romel and mecate.

    Endurance

    • Endurance bridles can be modified from a bridle into a headcollar, a type of bridle without the bit. Endurance bridles have a quick release feature on the cheek pieces that allow the rider to remove the bit and the reins, leaving the rest of the bridle in place on the horse. Some uses for endurance bridles are trail riding and mounted police riding units.