Ergonomic no noseband bridles

[GraceLikeRain]

I don’t have any beef with a cavesson but my current ride likes to go without. There is no showing on the horizon so compliance isn’t a concern but I’d prefer black because my heart is still matchy match.

I like my current Kieffer that allows for simple cavesson removal but the crown isn’t overly shaped. It seems that most of the nicely padded ergonomic crowns or jaw throatlatch styles have an integrated style so removing the noseband leaves the straps flapping.

Any thoughts on brands to look into?

[Scribbler]

@GraceLikeRain

I don’t have any beef with a cavesson but my current ride likes to go without. There is no showing on the horizon so compliance isn’t a concern but I’d prefer black because my heart is still matchy match.

I like my current Kieffer that allows for simple cavesson removal but the crown isn’t overly shaped. It seems that most of the nicely padded ergonomic crowns or jaw throatlatch styles have an integrated style so removing the noseband leaves the straps flapping.

Any thoughts on brands to look into?

Once you take off the noseband, the crown piece stops getting dragged down and ergonomic doesn’t matter so much.

[outerbanks77]

Here are two I know of.

Dressage Naturally Bridle

Helsinki Bridle • Brown Leather • PS of Sweden | Anatomical Bridle | PS...

[outerbanks77]

Third option, though it is out of stock:

Black Nosebandless Snaffle Bridle 'Lucie'

[Posting_Trot]

I don’t have this particular bridle from EvoEquine, but I have another one they make. The crowns on their bridles are nicely padded and ergonomically shaped, and the leather is lovely. They’ll also allow you to send your horse’s measurements to ensure you get the right size bridle.

Headstall Bridle

[kaya842]

I’ve seen this one in person (a friend uses it for her Hackamore) and thought it was very nice for the price.

https://millbrookleathers.com/products/freedom-bridle

[scislandsprite]

Barefoot Contour Physio Bridles

The photo shows the bridle with the option to add a noseband but I believe you have to add/buy it separately. The rest of the photos show it without the noseband I think

[GraceLikeRain]

Thanks everyone! Some were on my radar but several were not. I’m curious about the extreme cutbacks a la Dyon but the integrated headstalls would require some after market cobbler work that would feel pretty horrific after spending that type of $$$.

All of these are economical enough that I think it could be viable to try out a few. Definitely open to other suggestions as well.

[amottb17]

I use the Millbrook bridle mentioned above for my mare and absolutely love it!

[outerbanks77]

I will be interested to hear what you decide on. I just started jumping my mare in a hackamore and am on the lookout for a new headstall.

[Inimitable]

Another vote for the Millbrook Freedom Bridle!

[pony_baloney]

I like that Millbrook bridle but I think my pony is too small for a cob size. He also wears a larger browband. He’s currently wearing my old bridle without the noseband; it’s from previous horses and the throatlatch is too long. I like the design of the Millbrook. I don’t really need a new bridle but maybe if I measured him and emailed them they could come up with something.

[eightpondfarm]

I have a couple of horses that don’t enjoy nosebands, and are nice and light, so no need for a noseband. OH, and my coach is convinced that one day in the not-too-distant future nosebands will be DQ for dressage.

[GraceLikeRain]

Bumping up with a bummer update. I haven’t completely given up on Millbrook but so far it’s been a miss. I don’t have enough data points yet to determine if it is where they place the jaw strap relative to the cheek piece or if I may not be able to do this style at all. I also overlooked their “biohazard” policy for no returns so I’m going to try my hardest to figure it out.

If your horse has a “horse sized head” with the majority of the length being in the cheek, you likely won’t have enough real estate for the jaw strap to fit properly. Now that I look at all of their images and shared photos, ideal fit appears to be on horses that have a 50/50 ratio or less of cheek bone to length of face. The more classics longer TB the face looks really nice in their bridle. Those of us with 60/40 big ole meaty cheek bone short muzzle types battle having enough real estate.

Customer service feedback indicated it can go anywhere on the lower third of the cheekbone but personally, I think that the fit and and feel for the horse of a true jaw strap vs cheek strap is very different. We’ve lovingly joked that she’s a bit of a wedge head but I never considered that the reduced length from the corner of her mouth to cheek would present this challenge. Before I give up I’m going to try a bradoon and see if I can make things work.

On the off chance anyone has more than one brand of this general style, any insight into which brands have the jaw strap lower on the cheek pieces that could be a better fit for a jowly horse?

[CatherineD]

I have an issue with the fit as well as the workmanship. If you look down from the top of the crown, the sides are uneven which would cause uneven pressure points on the poll. It ists in my box of unused tack…I love the PS of Sweden Helsinki but it is pricey or out of stock constantly.