Types of Horse Bridles

A horse bridle is a piece of a horse tack used by a rider to control a horse. It is worn on the head of the horse and holds the reins to aid its rider in control. It is usually made from leather or a stainless steel and is made up of a headstall, the bit and the reins. There are various types of bridles designed for horses such as the snaffle bridle, the double bridle and the western bridle.

  1. Snaffle Bridle

    • The snaffle bridle is the most common type of bridle and may be modified to fit any breed of horse. It consists of a headpiece, brow band, cheek pieces, noseband, reins and bits. The width of the leather used in the bridle plays a role as to how the horse will look. The snaffle bridle is the distinguished preference for horses in training since it can be altered as required or as the horse's training progresses. The size of the bridle also differs depending on the size of the horse it will be used on from a pony, to a cob, to a fully mature size. This is determined by the breed of horse and the size of its head.

    Double Bridle

    • The double bridle or full bridle is designed much like the snaffle bridle with the headpiece, a brow band and a cheek piece. It consists of a curb bit, a snaffle or a French bridoon. The curb bit consists of the curb chain, the headpiece and the cheek piece where the curb bit is fastened while the snaffle or the French bridoon consists of the head and cheek pieces. The bridoon, or snaffle, in a double bridle provides the basic means of contact and control by the reins. The cavesson noseband completes the double bridle. It is often used for higher level of dressage and to assure an accomplished rider a higher degree of control during cross-country riding, jumping or schooling.

    Western Bridle

    • The western bridle can range from a plain brow band and cheek piece to one with accents of silver or stone attached to tooled leather. The headpiece of the bridle consists of either a full brow band or a split-eared brow band, which slips independently around the horse's ears, or a one-eared brow band that is used only around the horse's ears. These kinds of bridles are often kept as light and minimal as possible because of the long trail rides and hot weather conditions.