Which bridle - thick or thin

[soph15]

So I’ve been saving up for a lovely English leather bridle for my boy, however he has an absolutely huge head!! I think he’s gorgeous even if he has got an extra full size head on a small delicate body😂

Basically I’ve got two bridles to decide on, neither change the function of the bridle as they are both plain flashes, it’s just deciding on what looks best.

So I’ve got the choice of a standard flash bridle with a thin delicate noseband

Or

A comfort flash bridle which has a thicker noseband (for padding)

I know a lot of people like thicker nosebands for big head horses it’s just I don’t want my horse to look like a cart horse any more than he already does😂

Which would you go for, the thinner one or the big one for the best look?

 

[soph15]

First picture shows thicker noseband and second picture shows thinner noseband

Not sure why they posted twice 🤦‍♀️😂

 

[Rumtytum]

I’m no expert on nosebands but purely on aesthetics I prefer no.2 (thinner) which is strange because I’d have thought thicker would look better but it doesn’t!

 

[milliepops]

I'd go thicker on a bigger head.
But then I like thick nosebands in general 😁

 

[vmac66]

I'd go for the thicker one. Looks better on him

 

[ihatework]

It 100% has to be the thicker one of the two. To be honest, he could go even wider quite easily

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I'd go wider.
Does he need the flash? If not really, try a hunter noseband or a 1 & half inch padded one as they can really transform a longer or big head.
Remember to also go wider on the rest of the leather work too, not a 3/8" or half inch cheek but 5/8" or so x

I have 3/4 inch cheeks, browband and straps on a 14hh, with a 1 and half inch wide noseband, she looks even better in a 2 inch wide noseband

 

[gunnergundog]

If you have a horse with a cobbier head, the wider the leather, the more delicate it makes his head appear. This applies to the entire bridle and not just the noseband.

 

[oldie48]

Well he doesn't look like a cart horse in either bridle but I'd also go thicker.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Another vote for thicker

 

[hihosilver]

thicker!!!!!!!!!

 

[pansymouse]

Well he doesn't look like a cart horse in either bridle but I'd also go thicker.

I agree. When I make bespoke bridles I take strips of leather of various widths to lay across the nose to establish what width looks best on the horse. The narrowest plain cavesson I've made is 1" and that was for a very petite thoroughbred.

You can easily cut strips of dark coloured paper and achieve the same effect.

 

[Floxie]

I think because you're using the flash strap, the thinner one doesn't look too thin - the additional strap breaks up the face enough. That said, the 'thick' one isn't hugely chunky either and looks nice too!

 

[Annagain]

Is that your horse or just photos of the bridles from a website? I assumed they were marketing photos?

 

[milliepops]

Is that your horse or just photos of the bridles from a website? I assumed they were marketing photos?

I did too but I still vote thick noseband for a bigger head.

 

[Fiona]

It 100% has to be the thicker one of the two. To be honest, he could go even wider quite easily

This...

Fiona

 

[soph15]

Is that your horse or just photos of the bridles from a website? I assumed they were marketing photos?

Yes that’s not my horse, these are the photos off the saddlery that makes the bridle 😊

 

[soph15]

Thank you for your replies, I think I’ll go with thicker then as I didn’t realise thicker actually makes the head appear smaller 😊

As for the photos I should have made it clearer that they were the marketing photos off the website that makes the bridle, this is my own horse (who’s not quite as photogenic)😂

 

[milliepops]

awww. Yeah I do think a thicker noseband will make his face look a little shorter. Happy shopping

 

[Fiona]

awww. Yeah I do think a thicker noseband will make his face look a little shorter. Happy shopping

And with the top part of the flash adjusted so its slightly higher OP...

Going by the pic of him you've put up

Enjoy...

Fiona

 

[Rumtytum]

Ahhh now you’ve posted pics of your lovely boy I’ve changed my mind and it’s a 👍 for the thicker 😊

 

[ihatework]

OP, you can completely change his head appearance, that bridle does him no favours.

I’m not sure the bridles you have chosen would have a thick enough noseband to do him justice.

 

[AFB]

Another vote for thicker. If the flash isn't necessary a nice wide hunter bridle would suit.

 

[soph15]

OP, you can completely change his head appearance, that bridle does him no favours.

I’m not sure the bridles you have chosen would have a thick enough noseband to do him justice.

Yes current bridle is definitely not a keeper, just what I was given from the dealers yard he came from😂

Unfortunately he needs a flash so trying to find a hunter style bridle with a flash is proving quite tricky, so would love any recommendations 😊

 

[soph15]

Ahhh now you’ve posted pics of your lovely boy I’ve changed my mind and it’s a 👍 for the thicker 😊

Thank you, I’ll go with thicker 😊

 

[soph15]

And with the top part of the flash adjusted so its slightly higher OP...

Going by the pic of him you've put up

Enjoy...

Fiona

Yes I agree the flash needs to be adjusted😊he’s got a bit of a mix and match bridle that came with him from the dealers so doesn’t leave any room for adjustments which is why we desperately need a new bridle 😂

 

[Annagain]

Yes current bridle is definitely not a keeper, just what I was given from the dealers yard he came from😂

Unfortunately he needs a flash so trying to find a hunter style bridle with a flash is proving quite tricky, so would love any recommendations 😊

Try English Bridles - they do a lovely Flat Padded Comfort bridle and I think you can have a flash on that. If they don't you can definitely put a flash attachment on it if needs be. Although I'd always try to get him going without a flash if possible. Mine had a flash when I had him and by sorting out his bit to find one he was really happy with, I found I no longer needed one.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Unfortunately he needs a flash so trying to find a hunter style bridle with a flash is proving quite tricky, so would love any recommendations 😊

You could either go somewhere like this:
Fylde

Or get a converter like these: https://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/sc_314_saddles-tack-bridle-spares-flash-straps-flash-converters

 

[soph15]

Try English Bridles - they do a lovely Flat Padded Comfort bridle and I think you can have a flash on that. If they don't you can definitely put a flash attachment on it if needs be. Although I'd always try to get him going without a flash if possible. Mine had a flash when I had him and by sorting out his bit to find one he was really happy with, I found I no longer needed one.

Thank you I’ll have a look 😊I agree, I’m hoping that with some schooling I can get him into a snaffle rather than the Dutch gag he came with which might mean he no longer needs the flash 😊

 

[soph15]

You could either go somewhere like this:
Fylde

Or get a converter like these: https://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/sc_314_saddles-tack-bridle-spares-flash-straps-flash-converters

Thank you! I’ll go have a look at these😊