Bestsellers
Horse Bridles | Emmers Equestrian
A bridle is the core piece of headgear connecting rider to horse, whether through a bit or, with a bitless design, without one. At Emmers that spans snaffle (combined) bridles for everyday riding, double bridles for upper-level dressage, bitless and hackamore options, and anatomical designs like Micklem, alongside different noseband styles, cavesson, flash, and grakle (Mexican), and drop, and components such as browbands, nosebands, reins, and cheekpieces that are often sold separately, from brands including HFI, TRUST, Dy'on, CWD, Passier, and Otto Schumacher.
With this much choice, the real decision is usually less about "which bridle" and more about which noseband style and bit setup actually suits your discipline and your horse. A double bridle, for instance, is specifically required at the upper FEI dressage levels, Prix St Georges and above, rather than being a general upgrade from a snaffle, while a grakle or Mexican noseband is popular in jumping because its crossed straps stabilize the bridle without restricting the horse's breathing on landing.
Tips for Choosing
- Start with your discipline and level, a snaffle (combined) bridle covers most everyday riding, while a double bridle is specifically needed for upper-level FEI dressage rather than general use.
- Match the noseband to the actual job: a cavesson for everyday stability, a flash for extra bit stability without restricting airflow, a grakle or Mexican for jumping where free breathing matters, and a drop for a green horse that needs encouragement to accept the bit.
- If your horse is sensitive around the poll, the nerve under the cheekbone, or the bars of the mouth, look at an anatomical design such as Micklem rather than assuming a standard padded bridle solves the same problem.
- Decide whether you need a complete bridle or just a replacement part, since browbands, nosebands, reins, and cheekpieces are commonly sold separately and can often be mixed and matched.
- Measure your horse properly rather than guessing from a previous bridle, since fit can vary between noseband styles even within the same labelled size.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a snaffle bridle and a double bridle?
A snaffle bridle uses one bit and one set of reins for everyday riding, while a double bridle uses two bits and is specifically required at the upper FEI dressage levels rather than being a general step up.
Which noseband should I choose?
It depends on the job: a cavesson for general stability, a flash for extra bit control without restricting breathing, a grakle or Mexican for jumping, and a drop for a green horse still learning to accept the bit.
Do I need a bitless bridle?
Only if you have a specific reason, such as a dental issue, retraining, or personal preference, is it also worth checking your discipline's rules, since not every bitless design is accepted in every competition.
Can I mix and match browbands, nosebands and reins between bridles?
Often, yes, since many brands sell these components separately, but check compatibility, strap width, and loop size in particular before combining pieces from different models.
What if my horse seems uncomfortable in a standard bridle?
Consider an anatomical design like Micklem, built specifically to avoid pressure on the poll, the nerve under the cheekbone, and the bars of the mouth.
How do I know what size bridle to buy?
Measure your horse rather than guessing from a previous bridle, since fit can vary between noseband styles, even within the same labelled size.
You'll find the full range of horse bridles at Emmers Equestrian.