WHAT BRIDLE SHOULD I CHOOSE?
So you've finally decided it's time for a new bridle!
With so many different styles and designs on the market, bridle shopping can be quite overwhelming!
To help aid your decision as a rider in choosing the most appropriate bridle for you and your horse, we will identify the benefits and explain the superb qualities of all styles including Cavesson, Double, Hanoverian, Anatomic (micklem), Drop and Grackle bridles.
CHOOSING THE CORRECT SIZE
Ensuring the bridle is a correct fit is one of the most important steps when choosing a suitable bridle for your horse. The bridle is positioned around very delicate areas of the horses face making it crucial to fit correctly and comfortably so that your horse can perform at its best!
An incorrect fitting bridle can result in discomfort for the horse leading to poor performance and potential behavioural problems. Please view our sizing chart for accurate bridle measurements to aid your choice.
Lumiere bridles come in standard sizes ranging from Pony to Warmblood. All of our bridles come with the option to customise your order and mix and match different pieces, if a standard bridles do not fit your horse. For example if your horse usually fits a Full sized bridle but the cheekpieces measure too long on our sizing chart, you can order a customisation for Cob size cheekpieces to be paired with your Full size bridle.
We kindly ask that you tick the customisation box below the product and include instructions for your customisations in the box that appears. Our team will ensure this is changed over prior to dispatch. Please note that this will add an additional $10 to your total cost at checkout.
CAVESSON BRIDLES
These elegant bridles are a simple, classic design. With just a noseband secured around the horses nose. There are a variety of cavesson styles to choose from on the Lumiere website, with the option for browband customisations.
Purpose: There is minimal effect on the horse when fitted correctly, this design is predominantly used for an elegant look.
Fitting: The cavesson noseband should sit two finger widths below the horse's protruding cheekbone. The 'two-finger width' rule should be used when considering how tight to do up your cavesson.
Disciplines: Dressage, Showing, Eventing, Showjumping.
DOUBLE BRIDLES
Double bridles use a Cavesson noseband paired with the anatomic broad headpiece and additional cheek straps for the bradoon and curb bit.
These bridles come with double reins; one standard rein, which connects to the bradoon bit and has a centre buckle and one curb rein, which connects to the curb bit with no centre buckle and no keepers either.
The curb rein does not have keepers or a centre buckle as you would never use a martingale on these reins due to the severity of the curb bit.
These gorgeous bridles are a simple, classic design. With just a noseband secured around the horses nose. There are a variety of double bridle styles to choose from on the Lumiere website, with the option for browband customisations.
Purpose: The double bridle is used as an aid to refine and finesse communication between horse and rider at high levels of riding.
Fitting: Fit the cavesson noseband as mentioned above. The cheekpieces should be adjusted so that the curb bit sits comfortably at the corners of the horses mouth, slightly lower than the bradoon/snaffle bit.
Disciplines: High level Dressage and Showing.
HANOVERIAN BRIDLES
The Hanoverian bridle is very similar to the Cavesson bridle with the addition of a flash strap which is fitted on the horses chin behind their lower lip.
In our collection, we feature Hanoverian bridles with permanent attachment loops, and detachable attachment loops, so you can alternate between Hanoverian and Cavesson.
Purpose: The flash aids in keeping the horses mouth closed. This prevents the horse from putting their tongue over the bit and crossing their jaw. The flash strap also helps stabilise the bit in the centre of the horses mouth.
Fitting: Fit the cavesson noseband as mentioned above. Ensure the flash is fitted correctly in front of the bit, with a two-finger width the whole way round.
Disciplines: Dressage, Showing, Eventing, Showjumping.
ANATOMIC (MICKLEM) BRIDLES
The Anatomic style of this bridle has been designed accordingly to the physiology of the horses skull. The aim of this bridle is to avoid delicate facial nerves and relieve pressure points, promoting comfort and happiness for the horses wellbeing.
Purpose: The noseband sits above the fragile nasal bones and the bottom strap is secured on the horses chin behind their lower lip, providing similar functionality to the flash strap.
Fitting: Fit the bit straps ensuring the bit is not too high in the horses mouth. You should see a slight wrinkle in the corner of the horses mouth. Adjust the cheek straps so that the noseband is approximately 5 cm above the corners of the horses mouth and 15 cm above the horses nostrils. Ensure the noseband sits on the nose bone and above the horses soft nasal cavity .
Disciplines: Dressage, Eventing, Showjumping.
DROP NOSEBAND
The traditional drop noseband bridle sit lower on the horses nose and aids in keeping the horse mouth closed. It provides a similar effect as the flash straps used on Hanoverian bridles.
Purpose: The drop noseband aids in keeping the horses mouth closed. This prevents the horse from putting their tongue over the bit and crossing their jaw. The noseband also helps stabilise the bit in the centre of the horses mouth.
Fitting: The drop noseband should sit lower than a cavesson but must not impair the airways, it should be positioned on the facial bones to prevent discomfort on the sensitive soft tissue area of the horses nasal cavity. Ensure the strap is fitted correctly in front of the bit, with a two-finger width the whole way round.
Disciplines: Dressage, Eventing.
GRACKLE BRIDLES
Grackle nosebands, also known as the 'figure 8' is designed to discourage the horse from putting their tongue over the bit and crossing their jaw. This style of bridle is very popular in the jumping scene as it enables optimal breathing due to the only pressure point being located on the nose bone and behind the chin.
Purpose: The grackle noseband aids in keeping the horses mouth closed. This prevents the horse from putting its tongue over the bit and crossing its jaw. The noseband also promotes comfort with optional sheepskin padding and geometry that avoids the nostrils.
Fitting: The cheek rings of the grackle should sit high on the horse's cheekbones, with the crossover point being at the front and centre of their nose. There should be a finger width the whole way round, both top and bottom.
Disciplines: Eventing, Showjumping.
BROWBAND RANGE
All of our bridles come with the option to customise your order and choose any browband from our range to be paired with your new bridle!
We kindly ask that you tick the customisation box below the product and include instructions for your customisations in the box that appears. Our team will ensure this is changed over prior to dispatch. Please note that this will add an additional $10 to your total cost at checkout.
