Choosing the right fit for comfort and function

Not all bridles are created equal, and not every horse benefits from the same design. Here’s a breakdown of the most common bridle types used in modern sporthorse disciplines, along with their key features, intended use, and welfare considerations.

1. Cavesson bridle

Description:
The most traditional English bridle consists of a plain noseband that sits approximately two fingers below the cheekbone.

Best for:

• Dressage (especially lower levels).
• Hunters and showing.
• Horses with steady mouths and soft contact.

Pros:

• Simple, widely accepted.
• Easy to fit correctly.
• Minimal facial pressure points.

Watch out for:

• Tight cavessons can still compress facial nerves.
• Often used with a flash strap, which may compromise comfort if over-tightened.

2. Flash bridle (cavesson and flash strap)

Description:
A cavesson with an additional strap running down to buckle below the bit, intended to keep the mouth closed.

Best for:

• Young horses learning steady contact.
• Horses that tend to open their mouths, but should not be fastened tightly to prevent mouth opening, but rather loosely to encourage steadiness of contact.

Pros:

• Common in dressage and eventing.
• Can stabilise bit position.

Watch out for:

• Easily over-tightened or used to suppress natural oral behaviours, which are a valuable form of communication.
• Place pressure on the nasal cartilage and chin groove.

3. Drop noseband bridle

Description:
A low-set noseband that encircles the nose in front of the bit, securing below the bit rings.

Best for:

• Young horses.
• Horses that cross their jaws and open their mouths. Again, it should not be fastened tightly but rather just used to encourage a steadier contact.

Pros:

• Allows clean bit action.
• Reduces pressure on the upper part of the face.

Watch out for:

• Must be carefully fitted, as if it is too low it can interfere with breathing.
• Can suppress oral behaviours which a horse uses to communicate discomfort.
• Rare in upper-level sport due to aesthetic preferences.

4. Grackle/Figure-8 bridle

Description:
A crossover noseband forming a figure-eight across the nose and jaw. Designed to discourage jaw crossing.

Best for:

• Showjumpers and eventers.
• Strong horses needing lateral control.

Pros:

• Avoids pressure on the upper nasal bone.
• Allows good airflow for galloping.

Watch out for:

• Pressure points at the crossover can irritate the facial nerves.
• Often tightened too much across the face, suppressing natural oral behaviours that signal discomfort.

5. Micklem® or anatomical bridle

Description:
An ergonomically shaped bridle designed to avoid facial nerves, teeth, and pressure points. Often used with or without a bit.

Best for:

• Horses with sensitive faces or bit aversions.
• Riders focused on welfare and biomechanics.

Pros:

• Pressure is distributed away from the main nerve clusters.
• Often improves comfort and willingness.

Watch out for:

• Fit varies between brands, with some ‘anatomical’ versions being only cosmetically ‘anatomical’.
• May not be legal in all classes.

6. Double bridle (Weymouth)

Description:
A bridle that uses two bits (snaffle/bradoon and curb/Weymouth) with two sets of reins. Standard in upper-level dressage.

Best for:

• FEI dressage.
• Highly trained horses with a refined response to aids.

Pros:

• Offers nuanced communication in skilled hands.
• Traditional elegance.

Watch out for:

• Requires independent rein control.
• High potential for discomfort or misuse.
• Can create excessive tongue and bar pressure if not correctly fitted.

7. Bitless bridles (sidepulls, cross-under, hackamore, etc.)

Description:
Bridles that use nose, jaw, or poll pressure to guide the horse without a bit. Many designs exist.

Best for:

• Schooling, hacking, or rehab.
• Horses with dental issues or aversions to the bit.

Pros:

• Can improve relaxation and reduce tension.
• No direct oral pressure.

Watch out for:

• Some designs apply strong pressure to nose or poll.
• Not allowed in most mainstream competitive disciplines (except endurance and some working equitation).

8. Western bridles/bosals/bitless options

Best for:

• Western riding, reining, and working equitation.
• Horses trained with neck reining and light cues.

Pros:

• Often minimalist.
• Encourages responsiveness without constraint.

Watch out for:

• Some mechanical hackamores can apply intense pressure.
• Must be used with finesse and understanding of traditional technique.

Key points when choosing a bridle

• Always check for pressure points behind the ears, over the nose, and under the jaw.
• Less is often more – don’t add a flash or crank unless there’s a real reason and discomfort has been ruled out as the cause of that ‘reason’.
• Match the bridle to the horse’s conformation, behaviour, and level of training.
• Fit it for the horse, not the discipline. Welfare should come before tradition.