Bridle fitting - Is it O.K?

T

Tern

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 December 2012
Messages
2,608
Location
Gloucestershire
Visit site
**PICTURES** (Sorry forgot to select when putting title)
How is my bridle fitting, do i need an adjustments? :) No crit please, never really fitted a bridle.
 
Last edited:
grr image didn't work again
2vl5d0z.jpg
 
I agree with above. It's hard to tell from the pic but I wonder if the browband needs to be a little longer but I could be wrong

Very chilled out horse!
 
Only problem if i put the bit up it like forcing someone to smile and pinches quite a bit, thought the noseband needed to go up so will punch even more holes lol :D Yes he's very chilled out.. though so would i be, he's 26 :rolleyes:
 
Noseband definitely needs to go up a few holes, I'd say the bit height is down to the horses preference (all mine sit with just the corners snug to the bit, so the bit isn't hanging but there definitely isn't 2 wrinkles as usually I feel this is too high - all of mine have been happy with this arrangement anyway). Definitely worth checking the browband too, my Sec A is now in a cob size browband so it doesn't pull the headpiece onto the back of his ears! :o
 
Bit looks ok to me (although I do seem to like them lower than a lot of people) but I'd see how happy/comfortable the horse is when ridden before making a decision. Noseband could definitely go up a couple of holes and the browband looks on the small side.
 
IMO the Noseband needs to goo up a couple of holes and the bit too. If the bit is to low it will bang on his teeth, a bit of a grin would be more comfortable for him and will make for a better contact. As as long you don't hang on hs mouth.
 
I would say that it will not fit - it might at the moment but leather stretches quite a lot after a few months use.
The noseband strap is to long and the buckle if you punch holes will be to high - especially after it has stretched.
The cheeks are to high, again when it stretches it will be on the top hole and if you ever want to use a bit with bigger rings or a hanging bit, it will be to long.
The throatlash is to long, the idea of one is to stop the bridle coming off a horse's head - this wouldn't do that!
I also think the browband is a bit short.

A good fitting bridle will have the cheek pieces in the centre of the holes and the noseband buckle should be roughly the same height.
 
Foxhunter49 said:
I would say that it will not fit - it might at the moment but leather stretches quite a lot after a few months use.
The noseband strap is to long and the buckle if you punch holes will be to high - especially after it has stretched.
The cheeks are to high, again when it stretches it will be on the top hole and if you ever want to use a bit with bigger rings or a hanging bit, it will be to long.
The throatlash is to long, the idea of one is to stop the bridle coming off a horse's head - this wouldn't do that!
I also think the browband is a bit short.

A good fitting bridle will have the cheek pieces in the centre of the holes and the noseband buckle should be roughly the same height.
Click to expand...

I kinda agree with this. My cob was in between a cob and Full size(due to square large head)!! The throat lash is definitely too long. The bit just try one hole up(there should be a small crease in the corner of the mouth..not tight). Again if you ride although its good for a horse to mouth their bit you will know if its hanging too low in their mouth(they will try to hang onto it and you dont want them putting their tongue over the top). You are nearly there. The bridle mustnt just hang! But again not too tight either. Look at some pics of a other horses. But you are nearly there!!Tweak it.
 
I think you need a size smaller. You are using the top holes and it is looking a bit big so there is no where to go if the leather stretches.
 
Try to put a Pony on his head, it WONT go on.. Interesting thing is his Sabre bridle is COB this is COB, I cant swap noseband because once again a pony WONT fit. As already said bit is fine, i was talking about the bridle, if i put the bit up one more hole it's stretching his mouth uncomfortably, i got this bridle off eBay, it's badly stitched but i couldn't give it back as i couldn't ride when i first got it so didn't try it on..
 
CobbyHoofs said:
Try to put a Pony on his head, it WONT go on.. Interesting thing is his Sabre bridle is COB this is COB, I cant swap noseband because once again a pony WONT fit. As already said bit is fine, i was talking about the bridle, if i put the bit up one more hole it's stretching his mouth uncomfortably, i got this bridle off eBay, it's badly stitched but i couldn't give it back as i couldn't ride when i first got it so didn't try it on..
Click to expand...

You dont have to buy a whole bridle for it to fit. You may find you need to buy some ie shorter cheek pieces and rebuild the bridle etc. Take it apart and you can buy seperate cheek pieces(take yours with you and try to get shorter ones etc). Most good equine shops will allow you to exchange, if it doesnt fit. I know headcollars that I have bought as cob(nylon type) are smaller than those in leather!The nylon cob headcollars never fitted my cob but a leather one did.

May find different brands come up a bit different for sizes. Perhaps it wasnt a cost effective purchase?
 
I always got taught if you want to check the fit of a bridle you want 4 fingers outwards from the cheek to the throatlash, noseband should be 2 fingers down from cheek bone, and then 2 fingers outwards from nose to noseband so it's not too tight, 2 wrinkles on the mouth when the bit is adjusted and You should be able to see the browband "gapping" slightly under the forelock so they don't get a headache. :-) think the noseband could do with being a little bit higher up, if it's a cob I'd just get a pony noseband cheap off eBay and see if it comes up any better. I don't know anyone that can buy a bridle off the shelf perfectly fitting! Hope that makes some sense!
 
That bridle doesn't fit, can't be made to fit and it looks as though it's poor quality.

I'd stick it back on ebay and buy something else.
 
Can't quote but have to agree with Jemima Askin. It certainly doesn't fit.
I was bought a cheap bridle once by a family member thinking they were doing me a favour. It seemed to fit but the buckles were a pig to do up and within a week one of the reins snapped on the buckle to the bit.
My advice for safety sake is get rid of it and by a good quality used bridle from eBay.
 
I am pretty aware it's not fitting hence why i asked what i need to adjust, I brought this CHEAP new, i won't get much for it, i'm not paying £100 + for another Sabre bridle, which i like.. If you really want me to buy another one i suggest you find a cheap one and pass me the link, i was looking for months for a cheap one ;) Not all of us have £100's to spend.
 
budley95 said:
I always got taught if you want to check the fit of a bridle you want 4 fingers outwards from the cheek to the throatlash, noseband should be 2 fingers down from cheek bone, and then 2 fingers outwards from nose to noseband so it's not too tight, 2 wrinkles on the mouth when the bit is adjusted and You should be able to see the browband "gapping" slightly under the forelock so they don't get a headache. :-) think the noseband could do with being a little bit higher up, if it's a cob I'd just get a pony noseband cheap off eBay and see if it comes up any better. I don't know anyone that can buy a bridle off the shelf perfectly fitting! Hope that makes some sense!
Click to expand...


:rolleyes: Pony noseband won't fit on him.. hence why i have a cob bridle..
 
CobbyHoofs said:
I am pretty aware it's not fitting hence why i asked what i need to adjust, I brought this CHEAP new, i won't get much for it, i'm not paying £100 + for another Sabre bridle, which i like.. If you really want me to buy another one i suggest you find a cheap one and pass me the link, i was looking for months for a cheap one ;) Not all of us have £100's to spend.
Click to expand...

You dont need to pay £100's, some super nice bridles for around the £50 mark, and one that will fit.

Or, as said above, get a saddler to make it fit. but that might be more than the bridle is worth :/

Currently its too big. Noseband needs to go up a fair bit, as do the cheek pieces, and throat lash is too long. You could try putting the cheek pieces up a bit, will put them right near the top mind you.
but you have not much space left for the noseband to go up. The other option if your tight for cash is to remove the noseband, its not really needed ;)
 
I think it would be worth trying a different make. There's a bit of overlap in sizes, so if the pony is too small and the cob is too big (presumably different makes? :confused: ) you need to find a make that either does a larger pony or a smaller cob.

If it's the same make I'm amazed that the pony noseband is too small, because it looks as though this one is too big even on the top holes. Maybe a defect? Probably worth contacting the seller to check; it seems odd that one noseband is too small, and the other too big, with no middle ground.

Facebook pages with horsey stuff for sale seem to be good places to find bargains.
 
Can't remove noseband, its a show bridle and Theocat this isn't Sabre I got it for a shocking price new for £14.50, something NOT to be done again :/
 
For the price it was worth a punt. However, I would get down to your tack shop and see if you can find something 2nd hand or make one up out of bits and pieces. If you set this one up as it needs to be, use tape if needs be you can use it as a template, or failing that take measurements using string. I wouldn't expect to pay more than £20-30 for 2nd hand, then flog this one back on eBay.
 
In an ideal world, the buckles should sit in line with the eye when everything fitted 'correctly'.

With your bridle, the nose band doesn't look like it is sitting square on the nose so would instantly look better if straightened up. While it isn't sitting where traditionally it should be fitted, cavessons are rarely used/fitted as they once were so I really wouldn't stress too much about putting it up.
For me personally the bit could be put up a hole either side, but that is preference and will depend on the mouthpiece you have (single joint or french link).
And technically yes, the throatlash is too loose, but then I have mine loose and shock horror I don't even have the loose end in the keeper ;)
Browband is possibly an issue as I have a feeling the next size up will be too big.

In short, not the fit is not perfect. Will it be detrimental to your horse, its way of going etc? I doubt it :)

As for the leather stretching? None of your bridle should be under enough strain to stretch it. I have 15 year old bridles made of cheap leather, 10 year bridles made of the best English leather and none of them have stretched?!
 
CobbyHoofs said:
I am pretty aware it's not fitting hence why i asked what i need to adjust, I brought this CHEAP new, i won't get much for it, i'm not paying £100 + for another Sabre bridle, which i like.. If you really want me to buy another one i suggest you find a cheap one and pass me the link, i was looking for months for a cheap one ;) Not all of us have £100's to spend.
Click to expand...


Only just picked up on this and haven't read the rest of the replies.

I've never paid over £50 for a bridle in my life. My horses are in Sabre and Stubben, all careful buys from ebay, mostly under £30.
 
Last edited:
jemima*askin said:
I've never paid over £50 for a bridle in my life. My horses are in Sabre and Stubben, all careful buys from ebay, mostly under £30.
Click to expand...

I've never found anything I like on eBay :( everyone seems to get really lucky on there with their finds and I'm here paying £££s more for the same stuff from the tack shop haha!

OP the bridle doesn't fit well. I'd go and see what your local tack shop has second hand. Ours has a "bargain bucket" of spare bridle parts, useful for mixing and matching which I think you'll have to do if you actually want a decent fit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top