What Is the Difference Between a Headstall and a Bridle?

A headstall or bridle is a piece of equipment used in riding horses. It is the piece that goes on the horse's head and helps riders direct the horse. Bridles and headstalls both have many different variations, but some key differences exist between the two pieces of equestrian equipment.

  1. Terminology

    • You need to know the parts of the bridle or headstall to understand the differences. A crown piece is the main piece that goes over the horse's ears and holds the pieces of the bridle together. The cheek piece goes over the ears, down the cheeks and attaches to the bit. The bit is the metal piece that goes into the horse's mouth. A brow band is the strip that goes under the ears, across the forehead. The throat latch attaches below the ears and around the neck. The nose band goes around the horse's nose.

    Bridle

    • A bridle contains all six pieces. Bridles typically are used in English riding. In English riding, a flat saddle is used, one without a horn or the middle knob used for attaching a rope. A bridle can have many different variations. A traditional bridle is called a snaffle bridle. It is a basic bridle with one set of reins. In English riding, the reins buckle closed, unlike Western riding in which the reins are not joined at the ends. A pelham bridle uses two sets of reins attached to one bit. A double bridle uses two bits and two sets of reins.

    Headstall

    • A headstall is the term applied to a Western bridle. Western riding uses a large saddle, with a horn and a deep seat. A headstall includes the cheek piece attached to a bit. Often headstalls also include an ear piece that circles one ear or both ears. The earpiece gives the headstall more security on the head. Again, the reins attached to a headstall are longer than English reins and do not join at the ends.

    Key Differences

    • English bridles have cheek pieces, crown pieces, throat latches, brow bands and nose bands. Headstalls, used in Western riding only, have cheek pieces and earpieces. English bridles are made of dark leather in browns and black. Headstalls used in show include silver pieces. The silver is on the cheek pieces and earpieces. Headstall cheek pieces also have large silver buckles attaching the top and bottom halves of the cheek piece together.