Just one step!
Please confirm your registration using the link we sent you by email.
New
Horse
rider
Care & stable & feed
Dog
Collections
The snaffle, or more precisely the snaffle bridle, is one of the central means by which you influence your horse. Actually, the bridle refers to the mouthpiece. Colloquially, however, the complete head part of the bridle, in which the actual bridle is inserted, is called 'bridle'. A bridle usually consists of leather straps. The poll piece bears the weight of the bit and lies on the horse's poll. It should be wide enough not to dig in. The browband sits perpendicular to the headpiece in front of the ears and prevents the headpiece from slipping. The cheek pieces form the connection between the neck piece and the bit. They run under the horse's cheekbone. The bit is buckled at the end of the cheek pieces. There is often a throat strap that runs in the area of the gaiters and prevents the horse from slipping off the snaffle bridle.
In the classic riding style, the bridle also includes a noseband, which is intended on the one hand to prevent the horse from escaping the rein aids by opening its mouth, and on the other hand to divert pressure from the bit to the nasal bone. Under no circumstances should halters be strapped too tightly, otherwise your horse's chewing activity and breathing will be impaired. Which type of snaffle bridle and which type of noseband is best for you depends on the riding style and the shape of the head and the nature of your horse.
The noseband of the Hanoverian noseband is relatively low, while the Hanoverian is buckled under the bit. This noseband was developed for horses that want to avoid the rein aids by moving their lower jaw sideways. The noseband is close to the movable part of the nostrils. With this bridle, the noseband must be high enough to rest on the stable part of the nose but low enough not to press the bit into the corners of the mouth.
The English combined noseband combines the English noseband used with curb bridles with the Hanoverian. It has nose and flash straps. In the English combination, the flashing strap lies under the bit, as with the Hanoverian bridle, and the noseband lies two fingers under the cheekbone, as with the English bridle. Since the strap is a little less deep than the Hanoverian halter, breathing is not impeded as easily. The English combined noseband is very common.
The Swedish combined halter is very similar to the English combined. It's better padded, it features a pulley and extra padding on the clasp. The result is that the pressure of the buckle is not applied at specific points, but via the noseband. On the other hand, combined Swedish tempts you to buckle too tightly due to the deflection pulley.
The Mexican noseband has a similar effect to one of the combined ones. However, there is no separate nose and flash strap, but both functions are fulfilled by a long strap that is crossed on the bridge of the nose. Most often this point is padded. Whoever halters Mexican gives his horse a lot of breathing space, which is why you often see this bridle in show jumping. However, there is a risk of chafing or pressure points on the nasal bone.
Anatomical bridles are available in a wide variety of variants. What they have in common is that they try to avoid and protect sensitive areas on the horse's head with special padding or straps. This can be of great help, but it means that the halter needs to be fitted extra precisely to the horse.
In our wide range you will find exactly the bridle you need for your darling: whether smooth or round stitched, brown or black, anatomical or Hanoverian: Find your dream bridle here!
