I want to buy my cute filly a new bridle but not sure which to get?
Is there a general rule for what a filly or a gelding will wear? I like
the look of one ears, but maybe the browband is a little more comfy? What’s the general opinion?
Thanks!
leverage bit = one or two ear
snaffle = browband
You can use a browband for a leverage bit, but I would advise against using a one/two ear for a snaffle…when the bit lifts in the mouth, you may find the bridle lifts right off the head! Ask me how I know.
Agree 100% with SuckerForHorses post. Great advice!!!
Browband for snaffle, One or two ear for curb like SuckerForHorses said, but I will also use a browband with a curb if I am trail riding because I feel like it is a little more secure with a throatlatch.
While it is tradition as told, I use a browband always, except when showing.
When showing, depends on what the class demands and there, yes, in some, tradition asks for leverage bits with one or two ears.
I have been seeing more and more fancy browbands even in classes that tradition asked for other.
Browbands are great on some horses because it can really break up a long or not-so-attractive head. Other than that, what everyone else said — browband for snaffle (or jumping hackamore or mechanical hackamore), and a one ear with a curb. Seems that browbands have become a lot more popular than they were for awhile — at one time, you never saw browbands in the show ring.
I love the look of one ears, but sadly, I just learned the lesson recently, that yes, they should be on a horse in a curb.
Make sure the browband it long enough to fit horse comfortably. Every horse does NOT have the same width forehead. You want the browband ending at least at the back of the ear, so throatlatch is behind headstall far enough to be laying in the groove of skull, neck hinge.
Having too short of a browband will pull the headstall too forward, so you have the buckles right by the eyes. Some horses react badly to being pinched with a short browband, ears cramped in that corner of browband and headstall over their head. Can pull the throatlatch forward, so it digs into horse neck or windpipe as the head is flexed down.
I do like the security of using a browband with a throatlatch on my riding horses. My horses have always needed a size up on browband, than what they wore in bridle sizes. Cob bridle took a full-size horse browband, while the full-size bridle takes oversize browbands, to comfortably fit my wide forehead horses, get the throatlatch back far enough to be where it needs to be.
Wow what great advice! Thanks to all of you. Never realized that the one ears would be unsafe with a snaffle (which is what I use on her). A browband it is! Glad to hear a little glitz is acceptable too 
Making the switch from the hunter world so I am in new territory here. Thanks again!
I’m all brow band, all the way.
I was told by a trainer that the brow band and one/two ear puts different pressure on different pressure points (not sure if it’s 100% true).
I like using brow band headstalls with throat latches for schooling and shows.
I agree with SuckerForHorses - browband for snaffle, one/two ear for leverage!
[QUOTE=sparkette;6973693]
I was told by a trainer that the brow band and one/two ear puts different pressure on different pressure points (not sure if it’s 100% true).[/QUOTE]
Depends on what bit you’re using with it.
In case you weren’t aware, all the ‘eared’ bridles I have bought have come with two ears. It’s up to you to decide which looks best, one ear, which ear or both ears. My horse looks best with one ear on his left ear. He has a refined head and not wide between the ears so using both ears makes his head look pinched.
I used to use one-eared just for my horse’s comfort, but am now using a browband. Just one time scratching an itchy head and the bridle comes off (I saw this happen several times on a friend’s horse)…well, let’s just say I don’t want to chance it.
If I was trail riding, I’d go with a brow band and throat latch. Definitely don’t want the bridle pulled off. Especially when going thru the woods!
My last horse hated one-ears. Browband it was. No idea when browbands went out of style for regular use. Guess that shows how long I’ve been out of showing. As far as I’m concerned, you can’t beat the look of a bridled horse, so it’s probably a good thing that I DON’T show anymore.
[QUOTE=ezduzit;6989892]
In case you weren’t aware, all the ‘eared’ bridles I have bought have come with two ears. It’s up to you to decide which looks best, one ear, which ear or both ears. My horse looks best with one ear on his left ear. He has a refined head and not wide between the ears so using both ears makes his head look pinched.[/QUOTE]
Not all “eared” bridles come with two ears though…plenty come with only one, and you can move it from one side to the other. Do you seek out the ones with two ears?
[QUOTE=ezduzit;6990295]
If I was trail riding, I’d go with a brow band and throat latch. Definitely don’t want the bridle pulled off. Especially when going thru the woods![/QUOTE]
EXACTLY!
good old fashioned split ear with throat latch
