Bridle Mechanics Question

[kaya842]

I’m looking at getting a Faysport Bridle by PresTeq as I really appreciate the many ergonomic/ anatomical features, especially after putting a “normal” bridle on my mare and seeing all the ways it could be uncomfortable. I’m not looking for the bridle to magically solve any issue, I just like to give my horses the most comfortable option whenever I can (and some of them don’t give a crap either way). My only hold up with the bridle is the flash piece. I’m wondering if I were to cut it off completely, how would that change the mechanics of the bridle? Would it add undue pressure somewhere else?

Link to bridle:

Presteq Faysport Anatomical Bridle - Elite Equestrian

[Arlomine]

I’m stuck with all the clips on that thing. There are even metal clips Attaching the bit cheek pieces to the rest of the bridal. I personally really hate metal on metal click clacking stuff and I think the horses do too. I would never buy this product because it has so many junctures of metal on metal.

Also, it appears that the Clips mechanisms face outwards. God help you if your horse rubs her face on anything. You can’t police that 100% of the time and it would be so easy for them to get caught and panic.

[Scribbler]

@kaya842

I’m looking at getting a Faysport Bridle by PresTeq as I really appreciate the many ergonomic/ anatomical features, especially after putting a “normal” bridle on my mare and seeing all the ways it could be uncomfortable. I’m not looking for the bridle to magically solve any issue, I just like to give my horses the most comfortable option whenever I can (and some of them don’t give a crap either way). My only hold up with the bridle is the flash piece. I’m wondering if I were to cut it off completely, how would that change the mechanics of the bridle? Would it add undue pressure somewhere else?

Link to bridle:
https://www.eliteequestrian.org/?product=presteq-faysport-anatomical-bridle

To me this looks like a Micklem where the drop noseband (not really a flash) is integral to the design. Since I don’t use a drop or a flash I would not be interested in this style.

My impression is that a properly fitted traditional snaffle bridle is comfortable for most horses. There’s very little pressure. Where you get poll pressure in a snaffle is with a flash. Since the current fashion involves snug or very tight flashes that pull the bridle down the face, poll pressure has become a thing to worry about.

[Warmblood1]

If you cut the lower jaw strap then you will essentially have the same effects as a bridle without a noseband.

IME, a well fitted bridle shouldn’t cause pain. You can add padding at the poll to a traditional bridle for comfort but a well fitted noseband, etc., should not be causing pain.

Eta: I think you’d be better served with a more traditional anatomical bridle with a removable flash. The think the poll is better designed -

This is a Schockemöhle.

[outerbanks77]

I think removing the flash would destabilize the whole bridle, which would be a disadvantage since the bit hanger is attached to the noseband. There is a recent thread on Micklem style bridles without a flash, and those are designed with a more regular noseband instead of the higher up chin/jowel strap.

ETA: it also looks like the crownpiece is curving in so that it hits the base of the ears, rather than being cut away.

[kaya842]

I haven’t seen a Micklem without the flash so I’ll have to look into that.

I’m not worried about poll pressure specifically. But I can see how traditional bridles that lie along the “facial crest” or the cheek bones could be uncomfortable. As well as having the browband sit near (or in some cases on) the TMJ or crown pieces that don’t give the ears enough space. I’ve seen all these issues with the bridle I currently have (monocrown, padded, “anatomical”), and while a longer browband would help some I don’t think it would alleviate the issues entirely.

It’s a good call out that the headstall on this one seems to curve into the ears. I think that may be a result of having the cheek pieces laying lower down the face/ jaw.

Again, I don’t have any reason to believe the horse is in pain and am not trying to fix any issue. I just think that something like this could be more comfortable (could being a key word). Mare might not care either way.

[kaya842]

And yes the clips bother me too. I think some could possibly be removed (as with the PS of Sweden clips) and if I cut the flash that is one less clip there as well.

[Posting_Trot]

I looked at this bridle (on-line, I never saw it IRL) a year ago when I was investigating anatomical bridles. I was intrigued, but no store at that time had one in my horse’s size so I went with something else:
EvoEquine Freedom Bridle

I’m very happy with the bridle I bought because the leather is beautiful and you send your horse’s measurements and they “build” the bridle with pieces of the appropriate size. But I’ll be interested to hear your experiences with the Presteq if you do decide to go with it.

BTW, Evo Equine makes a bridle which is more similar to the Presteq:
Devore bridle