Bridle to prevent rubbing on large, set-back ears

[Amordoro]

It’s interesting you say that - my guy has started shaking his head repeatedly while and after I bridle him. I’ve attributed it mostly to bugs - which is reasonable in the season and my climate! - but it’s a little suspicious. Luckily it doesn’t persist, but looking back and thinking more about it, many signs point to him being unhappy with his bridle, He’s just a very good natured horse, and while he never hesitates to express his feelings lol, he doesn’t get overly upset about much.

I just haven’t put all the clues together.

I am very tempted to try a Finnesse. Where did you get yours?

[anonevent]

It does not chafe on my bunny-horse. The leather and the interior foam are very soft. The real crown piece (where the bit straps and throat lash attach) sits on top of that, so it’s a good 1.5 or 2” above the base of the ears.

I had him in a couple different (nice, allegedly well padded) bridles before this and they absolutely crunched his poor ears.

I haven’t tried the new Finesse crown. I’m told the lead time is about a month, but I can let you know what I think when I have it.

Solo equine’s most padded crown piece is maybe an in-between option. The padding only extends about 1/4” in front of the crown piece, but it’s something, at least.

[SBrentnall]

I ordered mine from Classic Dressage in the Uk. They were wonderful. When the crown developed an odd crease that was off-center (a center crease is normal as the bridle breaks in), they sent me basically an entire new bridle except the noseband.

[SBrentnall]

I got this one. I think the fact that there are no buckles over the nerve bundle on the temple is what stopped the headshaking. I thought it was flies, too. But it would get really bad about 20 mins into the ride. As soon as I put the finesse on, it stopped completely.

Finesse Cayenne Snaffle Bridle

[Amordoro]

So wait, there’s a new Finesse crown? Not the one that’s currently being sold on the bridles? How is it different?

[Amordoro]

I’ve ordered from Classic Dressage many times - in fact I used to use Otto Schumacher bridles (so much fun to design and got so many compliments…but my horse’s comfort is more important than fashion, sigh), and I always bought from them. So that’s a good rec!

How is the Cayenne different from the regular Finesse bridle? I can’t figure it out from the useless photos!

[Amordoro]

Oh - another thing I thought of, my show bridle for a now-retired horse was a Hennig. It too had extremely thick poll padding that almost looked funny up close, though of course not this special stuff that Finesse uses, and the buckles for the bit hangers and noseband straps were on top of the crown. Beautiful bridle, though way too small (and too brown!) for this horse. But I probably bought that bridle in 2008 or so - it’s interesting that Hennig seemed to have been thinking in that same direction back then.

[SBrentnall]

@Amordoro

How is the Cayenne different from the regular Finesse bridle? I can’t figure it out from the useless photos!

It is a regular bridle. The Cayenne has flat straps, and the Cassidy has rolled straps.

[anonevent]

It is what is currently sold. It is different from what was sold about a year ago in that it is more contoured around the head shape -from what I’m told.

[Amordoro]

OMG, Classic Dressage shipping is now $70! That’s like twice as much as it was last time I ordered from them. Ouch.

[SBrentnall]

It was $60 when I ordered from them last July.

[Amordoro]

I ordered an OS browband and replacement noseband 2 years ago, in summer 2023, and shipping was $42. So a little more than half as much, and it wasn’t quite a whole bridle, but still, shipping sure has gone way up! I’ve ordered a few pairs of breeches from Hypostore this year, which is in the Netherlands I think? Shipping’s been about $30.

But I guess it is what it is, and even with shipping, the Finesse bridle is still less expensive there than if I ordered from the U.S. place, and it is returnable if it doesn’t work. I just need to find some kind of size chart since there isn’t one on the Finesse site or Classic Dressage. How did you find the sizing? Pretty standard?

[albytb]

@GreyDes

@Amordoro & @beowulf - That Antares looks like their Origin model - https://antares-sellier.com/shop/en/bridles-and-double-bridles/45-origin-anatomic-flash-noseband-bridle.html

As far as I know it’s dressage legal. They do have a model that is extremely cut back behind the ears and not.

If you look at Antares don’t bother with the Signature line. It’s nothing like their higher end bridles and is not worth the money.

Worth noting: Antarès is releasing an ergonomic dressage bridle soon that will meet the USDF standards (unlike the current Precision). Not sure what it looks like quite yet (its name is under Origin so maybe nothing too crazy) but I just ordered one in advance to try.

[SBrentnall]

Yes, it fit my boy pretty much like every other horse size bridle. Make sure you have some extra holes to tighten on the crown, though, because it does compress slightly over time.

[4wdNstraight]

Good info thank you!

[Amordoro]

@anonevent, did you get the new crown from Classic Dressage or from somewhere else?

[anonevent]

Through Horse by Horse.

My old Finesse is from them, and I’m getting the new crown to swap for the old style ($295 for the crown, $13 for shipping).

[lorilu]

Instead of a separate topic I’ll add this here. Looking for double bridle recs.
I don’t like how my current bridle fits behind Gio’s ears. It’s a rolled leather one and all the buckles are up top on the poll. No separate “crown piece”.
Hard to tell fit from computer screens.
Also need to mix some sizes…. PRE short wide face…

[Amordoro]

Well for a different PRE, not the one I started this topic for, I do love the Fairfax. He has both the snaffle and the double and seems very happy in them (though I don’t love the noseband crank pad; it’s too thin and has sharp corners). I really like the way it takes pressure off the (wide) sides of his face, whatever the area is called where the browband attaches, next to his eyes - with other bridles he always got rubs there, because his head, while refined, is very wide at the top. And I love the way the noseband cheek straps attach with rings, so they can slide instead of pulling. I think it’s a great bridle.

Unfortunately the headpiece/crown rubs the back of the other PRE’s ears (the one I started this thread for), or I’d use it for him too.

[SBrentnall]

I’d love to hear your thoughts once you’ve had it for a while. I’m considering doing the same.