Bridle: Well-Fitting Snaffle Bridles for Schooling and Hacking Out

Bridle: choosing the right fit and noseband

The snaffle bridle is the bridle most horses are ridden in every day. It is made up of headpiece, cheekpieces, browband, throatlatch and noseband, and it holds the bit in the mouth. You will find models from Waldhausen, STAR, Covalliero, BUSSE and Kerbl, many of them in pony and cob sizes as well. The type of noseband is what matters most when you choose.

Noseband types: what suits your horse

A cavesson noseband sits roughly two fingers below the facial crest and is the classic choice for dressage, jumping and hacking. The flash version adds a strap that fastens below the bit. A crank noseband is tightened via a pulley under the chin and can be adjusted very precisely. The grackle crosses over the nose and sits higher, while the drop noseband runs below the bit. If you would like to ride without a mouthpiece, take a look at bitless bridles. Which type is right depends on head shape, level of training and riding style.

What to check when fitting

A bridle is only as good as its adjustment. The headpiece should not press behind the ears, which is why anatomic headpieces with ear relief are so popular. The browband must not pull the bridle forwards. You should be able to fit a hand on its edge between throatlatch and jowl so your horse can breathe freely when it flexes. The bit hangs so that one or two small wrinkles form at the corners of the mouth. For the noseband the rule is that two fingers must fit on the nasal bone, flash strap included.

Frequently asked questions

Which size does my horse need: pony, cob or full?
That depends on the length of the head rather than the breed. Many Haflingers, Arabs and smaller warmbloods take a cob, while big warmbloods usually need a full. It is best to measure from one corner of the mouth over the poll to the other and compare that with a bridle that fits well today.

How tight should the noseband be?
Two fingers stacked on top of each other should fit under the noseband on the nasal bone. That way your horse can relax its jaw and swallow. A noseband that is too tight only hides problems and makes the horse unsettled in the mouth.

Can I swap the noseband on my bridle later?
On most bridles you can, because the noseband has its own headstrap that runs through the browband loops. Make sure the strap width and colour match. On anatomic models with an integrated noseband this is not always possible.