Are comfort bridles actually more comfortable for your horse?

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Sabrina&Stardust

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I've never used bridles with padded headpieces before but I just wanted to ask anyone with experience of them if they reckon bridles with padded headpieces are more comfortable for their horse than non padded headpieces. Just wondering?..
 
I know my comfort leather headcollar and bridles don't either of my horses skin. Both are incredibly sensitive and the new girl came with awful rubs from a material headcollar! Since using padded alternatives the hair is growing back and its no longer warm so I am assuming no longer sore :).
 
When Jay was still in work, as a treat I bought him a comfort bridle, never realising what a difference it would make. He became softer, and rounder, went forwards more willingly, and just seemed happier in his work.

I hadn't really noticed how resistant he'd become in his old bridle.
 
i think they must be, my lad is a rather thinned skinned tb who's not a fan of poll pressure, swapped him into comfort bridles (because i got paid :D) and he so much nicer to school, he accepts the bit more and doesnt head shake - he was never a chronic head shaker but would throw his head up when you started asking more from him, probably not much to do with the bridle but i like them, they look comfy and i personally think they look smarter :D
 
Normal bridles rubbed the back of my boy's nose raw, he's fine in the comfort bridle. It's got a crank noseband which i'd rather not have, but I just don't do it up very tight.
 
In all honesty, while I've ridden other peoples horses in them, I haven't really used them myself. It might make a difference if a horse is working for long hours, or for situations where heavy sweat causes the leather to dry stiff on them whilst working. But for normal work loads, I have never had a problem using normal bridles.
 
Considering the head is the most sensitive part of a horses body (so I was once told anyway) then yes I would say they do make a difference, although some horses will be more sensitive than others, but at the same time it's surprising how many people have badly fitted bridles on their horses (well not exactly badly fitted that's probably the wrong words to use but not fitted as comfortably as they should) some makes fit certain shapes better depending on how they lay on the head even if they are the right size etc.
 
Kenzo said:
Considering the head is the most sensitive part of a horses body (so I was once told anyway) then yes I would say they do make a difference, although some horses will be more sensitive than others, but at the same time it's surprising how many people have badly fitted bridles on their horses (well not exactly badly fitted that's probably the wrong words to use but not fitted as comfortably as they should) some makes fit certain shapes better depending on how they lay on the head even if they are the right size etc.
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that is so true. When i bought my current horse, she brought her tack with her. She had had it less than a year, although it had been bought 2nd hand. The owner was very open about the fact that the mare was a biter, particularly when being tacked up.

I'm not at all surprised. The browband was far too short. She has wide-set ears and obviously didn't like having them pinched every time she was ridden. I got rid of the Dutch gag, with the rein on the 2nd ring too. The mare now helps me to put the bridle on, leans against me when I brush her forelock and has mostly forgotten about biting - although it was never more than a threat anyway.
 
I have never used one, but logically, the design of the headpiece would suggest that it would be more comfortable simply because there is no narrow noseband strap underneath.

To a sensitive horse I can see that it could make a difference perhaps.
 
Have never tried a full-on comfort bridle but a little trick shown to me years ago by a master saddler can make a difference with a normal bridle: thread the noseband headpiece over the top of the wider bridle crownpiece so that the broader piece of leather is against the horse's skin over the poll.
Also check out the size of the browband - many are made too small and pull the whole lot onto the horse's ears.
 
Basically, my pony came with a plain bridle that is obviously very old (but has been well looked after!). I think that it fits him well and the stitching is fine but just to be on the safe side I'm going to get a new one so I know it is (hopefully;)) unlikely to break. I'm wondering if I should be looking at bridles with padded headpieces and wanted to hear opinions on them. Star's a connemara and I don't think he is particularly sensitive (after all his current bridle is not padded at all) but I thought that I would see if anyone thinks they are much more comfortable for the horse. Thanks!:)
 
It's not so much the padding but the fact that the bridle has been cut to shape around the ears. If you are buying a new bridle, might as well go for one that looks to offer more comfort. I have an elevator and the Albion comfort. Albion is a better quality leather IMO though!
 
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