When we reviewed the Bitless Bridle as well as The Ultimate Best Western Bridle Reviews, one question that comes up to us often is that how exactly should they choose the right bridle for the horse. As you can see, there are indeed many variations of the types of bridles, but choosing a bridle that is right for your horse poses a different level of problem. Not to worry about that, as we have come up with a comprehensive guide to bring you through the process of finding the right bridle for your horse.
The Most Comprehensive Guide In Choosing Bridle For Your Horse
It is very important that you keep in mind that a wrong bridle will cause extreme discomfort to your horse. It can be detrimental in damaging the horse’s body structure or even to cause irreparable damage to the horse’s muscle integrity. As such, having the correct bridle for the correct purpose is one of the most important aspects of owning a horse. With that, let us look into the tips and tricks of selecting the best bridle that suits your horse.
1. Type Of Material
The material of the bridle should be one of the main consideration that you should have. This is because the material will determine the strength of the bridle as well as the ease of cleaning the entire bridle. What type of materials are there? There is the Nylon bridle, Synthetic leather bridle, full leather bridle as well as the white leather bridle. Each of them has its own characteristic that you should take note of.
Nylon Bridle: Probably the cheapest and easiest bridle to take care of, the Nylon bridle is known to be strong and durable. While it is functional, it might cause some discomfort to the horse if you wear it wrongly on them. In addition, there are some reports that Nylon bridles heating up pretty fast toos, so we generally don’t advise riders to purchase the Nylon Bridle.Also, do note that Nylon bridles are not allowed for show events.
Synthetic Leather Bridle: They cost lesser than the full leather bridle, it is easier to clean than the full leather bridle counterparts too. They are generally comfortable. The Synthetic Leather bridles are less durable than the full leather bridles though.
Full Leather Bridle: The full leather bridle is perhaps the most expensive of all bridles. They are extremely durable and hardy against the elements as well as being able to resist the strength of horses. They are the most aesthetically pleasing bridles, except for the white leather bridles. However, they can be pretty expensive.
2. Aesthetics
There are literally countless designs of bridles that you can find. Always choose one that suits the outfit that you want to don on your horse. Do note that a thicker material will look awkward on smaller horses and vice versa. This is entirely up to your personal preference.
3. Dimensions Of The Bridle
This is perhaps the most important factor. You will need to choose a bridle that will fit your horse. Having a larger or smaller bridle will not provide you with maximum control over the horse. The measurements that you must factor includes the headstall, bridle throat latch, the browband and the noseband.
For the headstall, you should always measure from the corner of the mouth to the other corner of the mouth. This will allow you to have the most accurate measurement of the headstall. The browband should be measured from the left ear to the right ear. Measure at the extreme ends of the ear to have the most accurate measurement too. As for the bridle throat latch, usually, we will measure around the poll. You should add in about 5 finger’s width to the recorded measurement.
Conclusion
So there you have the most comprehensive guide to selecting the best bridle for your horse. As a quick recap, you will always need to ensure that the correct measurements are taken. Other than that, all you need to consider is the aesthetics and functionality. Of course, the strength of the horse will be a major deciding factor for this.
That’s it! Happy riding!