Bridle size

[Themandme]

Hey! I recently got this Lipizzaner cross mare and I’m on the hunt for some new tack. I feel like this bridle fit is okay, but the nose band is on the last hole and the throat latch will be too, should I go with Full instead of cob?

 

[poiuytrewq]

I think it’s very dependant on brand. I had trouble finding my horse a bridle at first, not sure if he had a weird head or what but I bought a cob that’s was too small, went to full which was too big (same brand different bridle I think) and did this a few times ?‍

 

[Trouper]

If you want to stick with this brand then I would go for the full. It looks tight (uncomfortable) around the ears and poll to me so I might also be looking for a cut away design over the poll.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Maybe try a saddlery where you can select a variety of sizes?

Mine has an assortment of sizes to make him the perfect bridle.

If I was you I'd get a tape measure, measure him and take pictures then head to a friendly saddlery and see what they can do to help.

 

[Widgeon]

The other thing about off the peg bridles is that the browband is very often too small (don't ask me why!!) and replacing it with a much wider one can make the whole bridle fit better. I have a 15.1hh cob and I buy Full or X-Full browbands.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

For this bridle -

* the browband is too short
* the throat lash is too short
* the noseband is too small

I would definitely get the next size up.

 

[milliepops]

Maybe try a saddlery where you can select a variety of sizes?

Mine has an assortment of sizes to make him the perfect bridle.

If I was you I'd get a tape measure, measure him and take pictures then head to a friendly saddlery and see what they can do to help.

I agree with this.
I generally find off the peg bridles fit fairly badly, i usually want shorter cheekpieces (so the buckles are level with the eyes as with this example) and longer browbands as Widgeon mentions. My gang all wear a funny mix of pony to XF to get the perfect fit, and I have TBs, WBs and Natives who all take cob size headcollars.....so IMO it's a bridle maker problem rather than me having particularly odd shaped horses!

 

[Pippity]

I think it’s very dependant on brand. I had trouble finding my horse a bridle at first, not sure if he had a weird head or what but I bought a cob that’s was too small, went to full which was too big (same brand different bridle I think) and did this a few times ?‍

I grabbed a random bridle off the peg when I first bought Blue and it fit perfectly. I haven't been that lucky since. She's now in a mix of cob, full and extra full.

Off-the-peg bridles seem to be designed with the default warmblood-type head in mind - just look at the horses chosen to model them! - so anything outside that, you're best going mix'n'match with the sizes.

That said, it looks like pretty much everything is a bit too small on this bridle, so I'd try going up a size before going mix'n'match.