Curvy brow bands

[SLW]

Is there a physical reason for using curvy brow bands in dressage? FTR, I have limited dressage background.

[LawsofMurph]

Because it’s prettyyyyyyyyyyyy

Source:

[emeraldcity]

No. IMO they’re more flattering on most faces, but physically, your browband isn’t doing much so shape doesn’t really matter (unless it’s interfering with something of course).

ETA personally I also find them a little more forgiving size-wise- a curvy browband that’s a little too big doesn’t stick up off the face the way a straight one does, and if it’s a little small, the curve can pull open a bit whereas a straight one doesn’t have any give at all that way.

[SLW]

Thank you both!! Excellent source Lawsofmurph!

[Willesdon]

Because it’s an opportunity to spend more money on your horse?

[beowulf]

Curvy ones are usually more anatomically friendly. Even a straight brow will eventually have a curve to it as it breaks in and is conditioned properly. I like the curvy brow bands because they also tend to be longer – most off-rack bridles have too short browbands.

[SillyHorse]

They make horses look like they’re frowning. I don’t like them.

[Cowgirl]

They are looser and give the horse more room.

[Curly_Feather]

I don’t like them either. They just look like badly fitted tack to me (even though I know they’re deliberately curved).

[SillyHorse]

@Cowgirl

They are looser and give the horse more room.

An ill-fitted one won’t, any more than an ill-fitted straight one will. A well-fitted straight browband gives plenty of room.

[Shagyas_Rock]

While I agree that a browband should be fitted correctly so that the horse’s ears are not pinched or restricted, I am not a fan of these curvy things either. They look floppy sloppy to me.

[see_u_at_x]

I never used to be a fan of them, and then I bought my double bridle which came with the curved browband, and I quite like how it looks on my horse. It isn’t too droopy at all. And I do think it gives us more wiggle room vs. the other browbands I have for one of my snaffle bridles.

[Demerara_Stables]

But can we talk about that saddle

[beowulf]

Curvy browbands look best on old fashioned heads. They swim on petite faces.

I like mine but it does droop a bit more than I’d like:

[CanteringCarrot]

@SillyHorse

They make horses look like they’re frowning. I don’t like them.

I’ve honestly never seen this/thought this. I still can’t see it, but might depend on the horse/browband. Now I’m going to be thinking of this every time I see a curved browband

[see_u_at_x]

Yes, that saddle is legitimately one of my favorite things…I just love it! (It’s a Custom Gemini. )

[JBCool]

That looks great on him! I was never a huge fan of the droop ones myself but I like that one. I have a V for my guy and my niece says it’s his crown and since he has a crown it makes him a prince. (She’s not wrong ).

[eightpondfarm]

what a great look on your guy! His “V” is aMAZing! and that browband is so perfect. Love his ears too… And his chiseled face. everything about his head is beautiful… I think you niece called-it…he does look regal.

[JBCool]

Thanks! I love everything there is about this horse He is both a king and a knight in armor. Yes, I fixed the noseband later. We were just test fitting the bridle at the time and he went “model pose!”

[see_u_at_x]

I love that on him and I love how his forelock makes him look like he has a heart-shaped star! I have a couple of v-shaped ones that I used on my old snaffle bridle, and I think they’re a super alternative to the curvy and straight browbands.