Bridle selection

One of the most common things that we are asked to help new horse owners with is choosing and assembling a bridle. For our western bridles, there are typically 4 pieces to a complete bridle - the headstall, reins, bit, and a curb. The bit is the most important part, and it will usually determine what choices you should make for the other pieces. Ring or snaffle bits are great for young horses or specific training exercises. These bits work best on a browband headstall to keep the bit balanced in a horse's mouth. Some other bits are a little more forgiving and can be used with different headstall stalls, such as slide ears and slit ears. Your curb strap will depend on the bit you choose as well. For a snaffle bit, you will just use a leather strap (you can read more about this in my last blog) for safety reasons. With a shank bit you will have curb pressure so a little more thought needs to go into that piece. Leather-only straps are milder because the pressure is spread out evenly along the strap. Narrower chains have more concentrated pressure points, so they are more severe than wider or doubled chains. To finish your bridle, you need reins. The event or type of riding you do will usually determine this piece. For timed events like roping and barrel racing, a single loop rein about eight feet long is most common. For pleasure riding and performance events like reining and cutting, split reins are most often used. A longer loop rein has gained popularity for trail riding and training. These are usually 10-12 feet. Mecate reins are sometimes used with ring bits, attaching with slobber straps. These are a continuous rope that is long enough for a large loop plus a get down rope.