We are often asked by customers for bridle size guides, particularly for the Shires range of bridles. This useful guide will help you to choose which size of bridle would be best for your horse, as well as helping when you're ordering individual bridle components such as spare nosebands. Each style of bridle will fit slightly differently, so we have covered different options below. Don't see the size guide you need? Contact us on help@onlineforequine.co.uk.
How should my horse's bridle fit?
Your horse's bridle needs to be comfortable and secure to be effective and allow your horse to perform at his best. Each design of bridle will fit slightly differently - it should fit closely but not apply pressure directly to areas of the horse's face or head.
A well-fitting bridle should have all buckles on the headpiece, noseband and throatlash roughly in line with the horse's eye when fastened, with holes both above and below to allow adjustment up and down. If the buckles sit just below the browband the bridle is too large and the buckles will be uncomfortable for the horse.
- Headpiece - should fit smoothly and evenly behind the ears across the head, without applying pressure
- Browband - correctly fitted, the browband should fit flat across the forehead just below the ears, not tightly pulling at the headpiece or sagging with a gap at the front.
- Throatlash - you should be able to fit four fingers sideways under the throatlash
- Bit - the bit should sit comfortably in the horse's mouth when the cheekpieces are fastened on the middle holes, with one/two creases at the corners of the horse's mouth. It shouldn't be dropping too low in the horse's mouth or so high that it's pulling uncomfortably on the corners of the mouth.
Nosebands - Cavesson noseband - should fit approximately 2cm below the cheekbones with space to easily fit your thumb underneath when fastened
- Flash noseband - the flash strap should not be fitted tightly, and should be rotated so that the buckle sits away from the lips and bit, with the point of the strap facing down, not up
- Crank noseband - should be fitted in a similar way to the cavesson noseband, but not too tight. The padded section needs to sit centrally.
- Drop noseband - should sit lower than a cavesson but not impair the airways at all. It should rest on the facial bones of the nose.
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Grackle noseband/Mexican noseband - two different types with a similar purpose; the grackle is a standard figure of 8 while the Mexican bridle has rings that fit on top of the cheekbones (not underneath). The straps should be fitted firmly enough to stay secure but still with room to fit your finger underneath. The buckles on the cheeks should not fit too high, with the jaw and chin straps fitted so that there is no interference with the bit or the horse's mouth.
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