Choosing the Right Bridle For Your Horse: The Ultimate Guide
Bridles, a fundamental part of the horse’s tack, are amazingly valuable with regards to controlling the horse. Bridles allow horses to perform significantly more requesting work that wouldn’t be conceivable otherwise. Using the bit, the bridle applies pressure to within a horse’s mouth, thereby gaining control over the chariot. English and Western bridle are the two fundamental types of bridles available across the globe. There are different parts of the western bridle, like headstall, that goes around the head of a horse, that goes around the horse’s head and also protects the cheek.
Bridles have got some essential standard components that include a headpiece, mouthpiece, and reins. There are different kinds and sizes of horse bridles available in the market, and choosing the right bridle is essential to ensure that no damage or harm is caused to your horse.
Do read on to find out how to choose the right bridle for your horse.
How to choose the right bridle for your horse:
All you need to choose the right bridle for your house is to follow the below-mentioned three steps.
- Select a proper bridle.
- Measure your horse for a bridle.
- Make sure the bridle fits.
Select a proper bridle:
Here’s what you need to consider for selecting a proper bridle.
- Material type and weight: The quality of the material differs from one bridle to another and is the deciding factor of the price of that particular bridle. Superior the quality, better the bridle.
Weight refers to the thickness of the bridle and is usually based on your horse’s substantiation or your personal choice. Whether it’s an English or Western bridle, remember that fine material suits fine head whereas thicker material suits robust head. It is also to be checked that the bridle does not create any discomfort for the horse’s skin.
- Define your discipline: From a western bridle, cart work, jumping, to dressage, there are various kinds of bridles available. Choosing the right bridle as per your discipline is essential to make the riding more enjoyable.
For example, a western bridle doesn’t work well for a dressage horse. You can buy top quality eco-leather bridles with the right brass buckle that lasts long and gives the right fitting to your horse.
- Bitless or with a bit: The metal piece of the bridle that enables the rider to communicate with the horse is called a bit. Bits are believed to cause physical discomfort and disturb the mental well-being of the horse. The physical pain caused to the horse is inversely proportional to its capability of communication with the rider.
Measure your horse for a bridle:
Here’s what you need to consider once you’re done with selecting the type of bridle you need.
- Measure cheek and crown piece: The tie that goes behind the ears of your horse is called a crownpiece. Measure the cheek and crownpiece using a delicate fabric measuring tape. Begin at one end of the horse’s mouth, go over the ears, and then down to the opposite side of the mouth.
- Measure the noseband: Measure the nose’s circumference by beginning two finger widths below from the cheekbone.
- Measure the throatlatch: Measure the length of the throatlatch by beginning from one ear, under the throat, and up to another ear.
- Measure the browband: The browband of the horse is measured by measuring the distance from one edge of the ear, forehead, and then to another edge of the ear.
- There are different specifications of the product and you can also customise the bridle if you want.
Conclusion
Using these measurements, you can select the bridle as per your preferences regarding the material type, weight, price, bit, function, and discipline. Be it an English or Western bridle, make sure to choose the bridle as per the measurements.