Are anatomical headpieces worth it?

[GrassChop]

This is where it all started https://fairfaxsaddles.com/pages/fairfax-bridle-testing-and-design

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0737080615005535

The Importance of Bridle Fit for Optimal Equine Welfare and Performance

From professional event riders to casual hackers, the bridle is an essential piece of tack, where optimal fit is imperative to ensure inadvertent discomfort or pain is not being experienced by the horse. Experienced veterinarian and scientific advisor to the BEF, Dr Rachel Murray of Rossdales...

www.eurodressage.com

Equine Bridle Nosebands: Pressure Testing for Horse Comfort

There is limited evidence for the procedures of addressing noseband tightness, eliminating excessive tightening, or the approval of bridles under the government

papers.ssrn.com

Thank you. Interesting read.

I am still a bit stuck though but I think it might just be for my mare in particular because I've compared pictures of when I've had a normal straight headpiece on her and two different anatomical ones, they all sit at the base of the ears in the same place. Browband or no browband.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

They all seem very close to the base of the ear when ears go back much too snug for me. Never bought one and won't either, my horses have always ad normal headpiece since the 80's and never had any issue, so to me its not worth spending the money on something that may or may not make a difference, and I can buy several bags of feed for that money which is more beneficial.

 

[Fransurrey]

View attachment 135339 View attachment 135340View attachment 135341View attachment 135342
Like these for example. For me, it's still in the same place at the base of the ears that a traditional one would be. Isn't it?

Every one of these is too close to the ears for my liking!

 

[IrishMilo]

The issue with any bridle is that so many people do them way too tight. It's an absolute pet hate of mine when the headpiece is so tight you can barely move it off the horse's poll. It must be horrendously uncomfortable!

 

[GrassChop]

I have bought the Collegiate Comfort Bridle for a lot less than the Mono Crown one. This is the headpiece on the mono crown one, it's not hugely shaped. Is it worth the extra money to change it to this headpiece?

 

[LEC]

I have two collegiate monocrown as fitted my requirements. Have another horse in a Henry James

 

[Fieldlife]

As the title, are these worth it? Do they really work or make any difference to a traditional headpiece?

Slighly depends on shape of your horse at the top of his head, and how well or not what you already have fits. I use an FSS comfort padded curved headpiece on my snaffle and double bridle / a quantum headpiece with the quantum bridle I have. For the money IMO the FSS comfort headpiece is great. Not convinced need to spend much though.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I tried quite a few of the shaped head pieces because Arabi is a slight head shaker he doesn't toss his head he rubs his nose on his leg mainly, this gets worse when a bridle is put on so I tried lots of different set ups and alot of them made his worse.

The best head piece was his ancient wide flat one I found and I use it with a very big browband so no pinching, I don't use a noseband much now either so with him definitely less is more

 

[ycbm]

View attachment 135339 View attachment 135340View attachment 135341View attachment 135342
Like these for example. For me, it's still in the same place at the base of the ears that a traditional one would be. Isn't it?

There is no point, for most horses, in an anatomical browband which has a scoop for the ears but does not have a scoop for the lump of muscle that sits behind the ears, otherwise that muscle just pushes the headpiece into the back of the ears, scoop or no scoop.
.