Big Bridles for Big Ugly Heads

[bubxjade]

I’ve known for a while that my oversized bridle is not an ideal size, but a few nights ago my husband snapped a photo of me on my mare and I realize now that not only does her head make the bridle look the equivalent of a string bikini, it’s just not fitting well.

The crown/cheeks are seemingly fine and i have plenty of room for adjusment there, but the noseband is an issue. We’re at the last hole there and the head piece/hanger/strap is about an inch spaced from the cheek pieces. So I mostly just have a cavesson problem. Browband could be a little bigger, headpiece does lay on her ear bulbs a little bit.

I’d like to stay with traditional noseband but i don’t think I’d like a plain cavesson. Padded at least. I wouldn’t mind trying a figure 8/grackle, but those tend to make heads look bigger I think?

And I really do love my mares big head. I think it’s gorgeous but it’s funny, people constantly refer to her as “him”

[beowulf]

Bigger straps, particularly nosebands, tend to tone down coarse or “ugly” heads. Of course, no telling what we are dealing with without a picture… I am a sucker for horses with BFHs… aka Big Fat Heads. :lol:

I find that narrow nosebands and patent look can really make them look like a cart horse. Subtle bling on the browband like pearls or mirrors – not crystals – make a comely head seem more stately.

With the BFHs, some things:

• Extra big browbands - they usually have big temples, which means they need more browband space - curved browbands make their temples seem less coarse and broad, and also offer more room so the bridle is not pulled forward onto the ears
• Thicker and padded nosebands, but not huge - avoid patent as it draws attention to their nose

These specs in mind, some bridles that fit well on ugly heads:
Passier Ingrid Klimke with the Special Caveson.
Kieffer Andromeda
Stubben 2800
Stubben 2010
Eponia Ginger Bridle

Additionally, rolled bridle with a thicker noseband can be a good uniform look.

Some things that will make a bridle less flattering is an improperly fit bridle. Too thin a browband will pull the bridle forward and part the cheek-pieces, making gaps. Too long cheek-pieces or too low a bit, will make the bridle seem flapping and not uniform. When adjusting the cheek-pieces, the buckles should always align near or with the eyes – any lower or any higher, and it makes a less clean look.

IME with the coarse heads, the less busy in terms of buckles and straps, the better. I prefer hook/stud cheek pieces vs buckle for that reason.

Hope that helps.

EDIT: I just typed all this assuming it was in dressage forum… but I see you are a hunter jumper… Ooops. I guess this info is not very relevant to you, sorry!

[ParadoxFarm]

^^^But relevant to others! :D. It’s a good post.

[mmeqcenter]

https://www.doversaddlery.com/ovtn-dc-fncy-rsd-pad-bridle/p/X1-120058/?gclid=CjwKCAjwg-DpBRBbEiwAEV1_-ItMzQIl6cpdv0NPferMHo0FW_aRYDdmeRtizfFVNGNCDzth30YaVRoCqwwQAvD_BwE

[mmeqcenter]

https://www.drafttack.com/

[BAC]

@beowulf

EDIT: I just typed all this assuming it was in dressage forum… but I see you are a hunter jumper… Ooops. I guess this info is not very relevant to you, sorry!

Well that explains the “patent” I was wondering about that.

[Lucassb]

I would look for a wider but perhaps unpadded noseband. Aramas makes one that I like a lot for its design. https://www.doversaddlery.com/harmohn-kraft-aramas-wide-nose-bridle/p/X1-12773/

[licketysplit]

I have a horse with a big fat head. I have a beautiful Edgewood for shows with a thick nose band and it looks stunning. I also have a Smart Pak brand that I use for schooling that I like. Obvious not the same quality as the Edgewood but still a nice bridle for a decent price.

[hairystockings]

I had a wb with a giant moose head, we tell him to stop pushing people around with his giant moose nose (he’s my bffs horse now). When I was doing hunters on him I put him in a wide nose band rodrigo pessoa bridle and it was really pretty on him. I think wide nosebands really help balance out large blocky heads.

[skydy]

A wider cavesson does look better on a big head.

Perhaps this https://www.doversaddlery.com/ovation-ultra-fancy-stitched-wide-nose-bridle/p/X1-12768/

I’ve always thought that the large head looks best in a wide flat cavesson, but I realize that they are out of fashion and are not what you want.

[HJdaydream]

I’m also a fan of the Ovation wide un-padded noseband for big and coarse heads. I recently came across this bridle in the same style which is a better price if you’re price conscientious. I have had other KL Select pieces and found the quality to be good for the price.

https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/KL_Select_Black_Oak_Hunter_Spruce_Cavesson_Bridle/descpage-KLBSB.html

[exo.pragmata]

I was also going to suggest KL. I like the Red Barn Ocala wide nose. The leather quality is usually quite nice.

https://www.klselect.com/bridles/hunter-bridles/red-barn-ocala-bridle/

[Dubarry]

@HJdaydream

I’m also a fan of the Ovation wide un-padded noseband for big and coarse heads. I recently came across this bridle in the same style which is a better price if you’re price conscientious. I have had other KL Select pieces and found the quality to be good for the price.

https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/KL_Select_Black_Oak_Hunter_Spruce_Cavesson_Bridle/descpage-KLBSB.html

I have this bridle. Purchased new off of eBay. It’s lovely.

[Jumper_Princess1988]

Edgewood! I tried a few other brands but the wide, padded noseband helps to cancel out all the “real estate.”

[RamboJumper]

If your looking for low budget shires make some wide nose bands