Dressage bridles for petite heads

[fordtraktor]

My Dutch filly has a very refined, petite head, almost can see the long-ago Arab influence in it. I am looking for a dressage bridle for her that is more delicate…thinner noseband and not a giant crank, and not such a swoopy browband it will end up flopping or in her eyes. She is very quiet in the mouth and doesn’t need anything like a crank.

so many bridles fashionable today would completely overwhelm her face. What are those of you with small, refined-headed horses using in the dressage ring? It is funny, she is a very substantial mare outside her face, but the face is all lady!

[enjoytheride]

I bought the Solo Equine Simplicity bridle for my arab pony gelding. They were very helpful in cobbling together parts for his odd shaped head. It has a regular noseband, no crank, no flash.

[CanteringCarrot]

I’ve heard people on here recommend the Joseph Sterling (IIRC) from Schneider’s/sstack.com for fine heads before. I’ve also seen some Stuebben bridles that would work.

Somewhat off topic but why do you think a horse with a quiet mouth doesn’t need a crank, or that the crank is bad in some way? Yes, most are bulky, but I dont see my crank as any worse than any other noseband, but I keep mine fairly loose anyway. I just never thought about it before.

[Training_Cupid]

I got Bobby’s narrow noseband bridle for my refined guy: https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Bobbys_Tack_Padded_Narrow_Noseband_Dressage_Bridle/descpage-BDSB.html

[fordtraktor]

@CanteringCarrot

I’ve heard people on here recommend the Joseph Sterling (IIRC) from Schneider’s/sstack.com for fine heads before. I’ve also seen some Stuebben bridles that would work.

Somewhat off topic but why do you think a horse with a quiet mouth doesn’t need a crank, or that the crank is bad in some way? Yes, most are bulky, but I dont see my crank as any worse than any other noseband, but I keep mine fairly loose anyway. I just never thought about it before.

The crank was invented to crank the mouth shut with leverage. Of course they can be used properly, but we way too often see them used to leverage the mouth closed and way too tight. If yours is properly loose and adjusted it is just fine, but my mare definitely doesn’t need the crank aspect of a crank noseband! I don’t prefer the bulky look but there is nothing innately wrong with them in the right hands.

[outerbanks77]

In addition to the Joseph Sterling, the Kieffer Anja Beran bridle is thinner. Albion also makes a snaffle bridle that you can build yourself, and there is a narrower noseband and 1/2" cheek piece option.

I have my petite-faced mare in a PS Sweden Nirak and love how it looks on her. It seems like there is more hunter/jumper tack available in black in the UK than in the US, so you might look there.

[mychestnutvalentine]

Ps of Sweden fits my good friends welsh cob/arab witha dished face

[LilRanger]

I know they are eons out of fashion, but I really like rolled bridles for refined, delicate heads.

[oldernewbie]

I bought this for my Arab cross in cob size

https://www.doversaddlery.com/sfflk-prmr-clssc-dressage-brdl/p/X1-12927/

He didn’t need a flash. He did need a broader browband so I bought a fancier one. Can’t beat the price on this bridle and the quality was good. Recommend!

[fordtraktor]

Thanks all there are some really lovely options here I hadn’t seen before!

[Lunabear1988]

I also have a Bobby’s for my petite headed TB. It’s simple and not flashy but I like it for his petite face.

[vali]

Passier Fortuna is lovely on a refined head, and lots of noseband options.

[Shagyas_Rock]

I second the Joseph Sterling - excellent quality for the price. I’ve never had a Bobby’s bridle - but it has buckles -
and I just hate buckles - to me they gunk up the horse’s face. . . when a horse is wearing a bridle with buckles, all I seem to see is hardware.

[NoMoneyBecauseHorse]

Joseph Sterling or the SmartPak Harwich.

[GoodFortune]

I really like the Collegiate ComfiTech for my smaller mare. The price is great and the leather quality very nice for the price point.

[3rottenponies]

Bobby’s, Joseph Sterling, and some of the “Horze” bridles are all good for the more petite heads. I also have bought two Solo bridles in the last year for my little guys. They aren’t quite as fine as I would like but they look nice enough, and the leather is good quality.