Bridles

Somewhere between “my horse just won’t settle in a snaffle” and “I’ve heard bitless is kinder” sits a genuinely tricky decision, and it’s one that a lot of British riders are wrestling with right now. The bitless bridle vs snaffle bridle debate isn’t a new one — Dr Robert Cook was publishing on bit-induced behaviour … Read more

Watch a horse’s ears the moment you swap a traditional bridle for an anatomic bridle for horse comfort, and you’ll often see the difference before you’ve even done the throatlash up. The ears soften, the poll drops, the jaw loosens. That’s not marketing spin — it’s what happens when a headpiece stops squeezing a bundle … Read more

A show bridle for showing is the one bit of kit judges look at before they’ve even clocked your horse’s paces — which feels a little unfair, but that’s the game. A show bridle is a fine, plain (or subtly decorated) leather headpiece designed to frame a horse’s face, sit close to the bone structure, … Read more

A double bridle for dressage carries two bits and four reins: a slim snaffle called the bridoon, plus a curb called the Weymouth bit. Each bit has its own rein, so you can send separate, finer signals. It suits educated horses and quiet, independent hands. Think of a snaffle as a felt-tip pen and a … Read more