Fitting Your English Bridle


KL Select Black Oak Spruce Hunter Bridle

A bridle is one of the most important pieces of tack for the active equestrian. When riding your horse, the bridle allows you to communicate with your rein aids, without impeding your horse’s way of going. A correctly fitting bridle will help your horse perform at their highest level while ensuring maximum comfort for the horse, enabling a harmonious partnership between horse and human.

Conversely, when a bridle does not fit properly, many behavioral issues can arise. These can include tossing the head, anxiously chomping the bit, or lack of physical engagement (not carrying themselves correctly). Additionally, an ill-fitting bridle can cause painful rubs or sores that will make wearing it uncomfortable for your horse. For your horse’s wellbeing and for your safety, it is important to have a well-fitting, comfortable bridle; after all, the bridle is what keeps the bit properly positioned in your horse’s mouth. Keep reading to learn more about correctly fitting and adjusting your English bridle.

Bridle Sizing

Bridles come in different sizes, including mini/pony, cob, full/horse, warmblood/oversize, and draft. When initially choosing the size of the bridle to try on your horse, you will want to consider the size of your horse’s head, not necessarily the size of your horse. Generally speaking, you will want to start with the same size bridle as your horse’s halter, but this may vary depending on the shape of your horse’s head, the style of bridle you select, and the size of your bit rings (for example, a large dee-ring bit may need a smaller size bridle to ensure that the cheekpieces adjust correctly).

The Ovation Breed Collection Bridle comes in Arabian, Quarter Horse, and Draft Cross sizes

Sometimes, the breed of your horse and their unique conformation also come into play. For example, Fjords tend to have shorter heads, making their owners think that a cob bridle is appropriate — however, they have a broad forehead and wide cheekbones, making it so that many Fjords fit well into a horse size bridle instead. Other breeds, like Quarter Horses, can have difficult-to-fit heads, due to differences in their facial proportions. To address this, some manufacturers have begun to make breed-specific bridles, such as the Ovation Breed Collection Plain Raised Padded Bridle.

If you are unsure about the size of the bridle you should order, you can measure your horse’s head with a soft measuring tape. Begin by measuring from the corner of your horse’s mouth, over their poll (behind their ears), to the other corner of their mouth; this will be the “bit to bit measurement” or the crownpiece measurement. To measure for the browband, you will want to measure from the base of the ear, across the forehead, to the base of the other ear; this can be a difficult measurement to get, so it may be helpful to also measure the browband of a bridle that fits your horse. Then, measure for the noseband by wrapping the measuring tape around your horse’s nose, one inch or two fingers below their cheekbones.

Compare these measurements to the bridle sizing charts for the particular brand that you are interested in to determine which bridle is the appropriate size for your horse. You may find that your horse is between sizes or has differing sizes (i.e. a different size browband versus their noseband), this may mean that you should try another brand of a bridle, or it may mean that you will need to purchase parts of the bridle in a different size, such as a larger browband for a horse with a broad forehead. If you have any questions regarding the correct size bridle to select, our experienced sales associates are always available for assistance.

Example Bridle Sizing Chart:

Purchasing a Bridle

After you have decided which size bridle to try, you will need to select the specific type of bridle for your horse. When you shop for bridles, you will find that there are a myriad of different options, including discipline style, color, the thickness of the noseband and browband, noseband style, anatomical options, and many more. 

The quality of the leather and the buckles will have a lot to do with the pricing of the bridle. Bridle leather can come from many different sources, including India, Argentina, and England. Many equestrians prefer soft and supple bridle leather, a high-quality leather that has gone through a special finishing process, and conforms easily to the horse’s head; however, bridles can be made from other leathers and synthetic materials. Traditionally higher-end bridles are made from bridle leather, while economy bridles may be made from lesser-quality leather. Whatever quality and type of leather bridle you choose, keeping it clean and well-conditioned will prolong its use and durability.. To learn more about properly cleaning your bridle, check out our blog post, TLC: Tack Love and Care.

When selecting a bridle, you will want to consider the discipline that you are riding (i.e. hunt seat or dressage), as well as your horse’s conformation. Many equestrians prefer thinner browbands and nosebands for horses with petite features and thicker straps for horses with larger features. Many saddleries are now producing bridles with anatomical crownpieces to take the pressure off the area around the horse’s ears, as well as monocrown styles, which can remove pressure from the poll — if you have a highly sensitive horse, you may want to consider one of these options. The right bridle will depend on a number of factors, but the end goal is to make sure the horse is comfortable and happy.

In recent years, anatomical bridles have built more traction in the marketplace. This is due to the increased understanding of a horse’s facial anatomy. Anatomical bridles have been designed to give clearance to your horse’s vascular anatomy of the head (blood flow) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ), as well as generous padding over the facial nerves and clearance for your horse’s airways. These ergonomically designed bridles evenly distribute the pressure over your horse’s head. They are popular among dressage and hunter/jumper riders because they promote a softer connection with your horse. The Nunn Finer Innovativo English Bridle, G. Passier & Sohn Atlas Snaffle Bridle, and Horseware Rambo Micklem Deluxe Competition Bridle are all popular bridles with anatomical considerations for your horse.

Is it important to note that many tack shops, including The Cheshire Horse, stock bridle parts and pieces. This can be useful for a number of reasons. Many equestrians utilize replacement bridle parts if a piece of their bridle breaks. Additionally, these bridle parts can be used to modify the fit of a bridle for a difficult-to-fit horse (i.e. using a larger browband to accommodate a wider forehead).

Adjusting Your Bridle

Once you have selected the bridle, it should be fitted and adjusted to your horse. Kate Blanchard, a sales associate at The Cheshire Horse, tells us, “I often suggest fitting it without the bit attached first, as this allows you to worry about one less thing.” When you begin adjusting the bridle, many equestrians like to leave the straps partially buckled (not in the keepers), because it makes it easier to move the buckles to the correct place.

First, you want to start with fitting the crownpiece and the browband. The browband attaches to the crownpiece and should fit about ½-1”(or one finger width) below the base of your horse’s ear.  It is important that the browband is properly sized. If the browband is too large the bridle may slip out of place. If the browband is too small, it will pull and pinch the crown piece into the base of the ears. A browband should fit so that two fingers stacked sit comfortably underneath the browband. Just like the crownpiece, the browband cannot be adjusted, so if your browband is not properly sized you will need to look for an alternative sized bridle and/or browband (these pieces are sold separately to accommodate hard-to-fit horses). Also, the splits in the crownpiece should not be visible above the browband or be too far below it. 

Proper throatlatch fit

Next, we will turn our attention to the throatlatch. The throatlatch stabilizes the bridle and helps to keep it adequately balanced during the duration of your ride. When the throatlatch is buckled, you should be able to fit four fingers stacked between your horse’s throat and the throatlatch. 

Then, we will move on to the noseband, also referred to as the cavesson. The noseband should lie two fingers below your horse’s cheekbone (also referred to as the zygomatic ridge), and will always be placed under the cheekpieces. This placement can vary depending on the type of noseband that you select (for example, drop nosebands and figure 8 nosebands will fit differently). When tightening the noseband, you should be able to fit two fingers stacked under the front of the noseband when it is buckled. A noseband that is too high, too low, or too tight can interfere with your horse’s facial nerves as well as their ability to breathe.

Proper noseband fit

Now it’s time to fit the bit by adjusting the cheekpieces on the bridle. The cheekpieces attach to the crown and support the bit in the mouth. Ideally, the bit should sit just in front of the horse’s first molars. Many times this is accomplished by tightening the cheekpieces until there are one or two small wrinkles on each side of the horse’s lips. Placing the bit in this general area ensures that the bit will hit the correct location on the horse’s tongue, lips, and bars of the mouth. Make sure to look at the position of the bit inside your horse’s mouth as well. It is important to remember that new bridles have a tendency to stretch a bit, so you should monitor the position of the bit and adjust it accordingly. If possible, try to have the cheekpiece buckles on the middle holes in line with your horse’s eye, so that you can adjust them if necessary. If the buckles are too low or too high, you may want to look for a different size bridle.

Finally, let’s take a look at the reins. The length of the reins will depend on a few factors such as the size of the horse, the size of the rider, and the rider’s preference. “Generally, the reins should be long enough so the rider is still able to hold the reins and the horse is able to stretch on a loose rein,” Kate explains. Reins are available in a number of different lengths, standard horse rein length is 54”, while pony size is 48”, cob size is 52”, and oversized/warmblood size measure 60”. Depending on the length of your horse’s neck, you may find that you need to purchase longer or shorter reins separately from your horse’s bridle.

We encourage you to watch this video regarding bridle fit for a visual example of this process:

Specialty Nosebands

In addition to traditional cavessons, there are also a number of different specialty nosebands that require additional fit considerations. You should always make sure that you are adjusting the noseband properly, because a noseband that is too tight can restrict your horse’s jaw or their airway, making it difficult to perform the task at hand. In some extreme cases, it can even impede their ability to breathe. There are a number of reasons why you might look at specialty nosebands, including horses that are active in the mouth, that evade the bit, hang their tongue out of their mouth, open their mouth, or cross their jaw. Many of these nosebands can be seen in the dressage or jumper arenas, make sure that you refer to your association’s rulebook to make sure that they are legal for your competition (if necessary).

We will cover the basics of some of the most common specialty nosebands below, but if you have any questions regarding the appropriate fit of your particular noseband, you will want to consult with an equine professional or an experienced equestrian that you trust.

  • Figure 8 (Crossed, Grackle, Mexican) Nosebands: These popular nosebands are made of two straps that cross over the front of the horse’s nose. One strap will fit behind the upper jaw, by the cheekbone, while the other will be fastened in the chin groove. The standard “two-finger” measurement is key to allowing your horse to work comfortably.
  • Flash (Aachen) Noseband: A flash noseband has a separate strap that runs underneath the horse’s bit to stabilize the horse’s jaw and discourage them from opening their mouth. You will want to make sure that you can fit two fingers underneath the flash strap, just as you can for the cavesson piece.
  • Drop (Hanoverian) Noseband: These nosebands sit lower than traditional nosebands, to discourage your horse from twisting its jaw or chewing at the bit. Even when correctly adjusted, drop nosebands can put pressure on the delicate part of your horse’s nose, so it is essential that you do not tighten them too much (enough room for two fingers is appropriate).
  • Crank (Swedish, Adjustable, or Cinch) Noseband: A crank noseband has a ring and a roller buckle that you can “crank” in order to close your horse’s mouth. These also typically have padding to increase the comfort of your horse. Generally, these can be adjusted slightly tighter because of the padding, but you should still make sure that you can fit one finger comfortably under the noseband.

This video from the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) talks about some reasons to select specialty nosebands and how they can benefit your horse:

Trial and Error

You may find that it takes a number of adjustments to properly fit your bridle — this is to be expected. Utilizing patience, you can fit your bridle for your horse’s maximum comfort. You will also want to check the fit of the bridle every time you utilize a new bit on your horse since this can modify the fit of the bridle.

Kate encourages anyone who is struggling to find the right bridle and properly fit it to their horse to speak up, “If you have questions regarding bridle fit, you may want to ask a professional.” The basics of proper bridle fit can be a bit confusing, but they are so important in the long run.

Do you have questions about fitting and adjusting your bridle? We can help! Contact a member of our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff to have your questions answered.

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