Gray Horse Leatherworks

Another custom snaffle bridle 🖤
Made to measure and all done 100% by hand from scratch using traditional methods

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Neck strap with saddle attachment 💜

These are my most popular items on my Etsy shop!

Bridle Fit Check #9: Jowl Straps on Bitless Bridles

IDEAL FIT:
All bitless bridles should have a jowl strap fit on the underside of the jaw, *just* snug enough to keep the bridle from moving but not so snug that it is pulling down on the crown piece.

WHY?
Without a jowl strap, bitless bridles are quite unstable. They will shift around on the face, causing rubs and the cheek pieces can shift up into the eyes 😣

CORRECTION:
If your bitless bridle does not have a jowl strap, you can have one added by a leather worker (you can reach out to me for a quote!) or buy a Hackamore cheek piece set (although these are hard to come by and are often too long, putting buckles on the TMJ).

Jowl straps high up on the cheek piece (at or above the eye) are going to keep the cheek pieces away from the horses eyes, but don’t do much in the way of stability.

Placed too low on the cheek piece, the bridle will be extra stable, but may cause rubs.

I recommend somewhere in-between, just below eye level (see photo for ideal fit).

Unsure if your bridle is the right size for your horse? Reach out for a consultation or a quote for a custom bridle 🙋🏼‍♀️

Bridle Fit Check #8: Ear Clearance

IDEAL FIT:
The crown piece should not restrict the ears or apply point pressure. Cut-backs for the ears are good as long as they don’t cut back in at the base of the ear.

WHY?
Horse’s ears can rotate 180 degrees and there are many sensitive muscles/nerves/tissue here that can be irritated and pinched by an ill-fitting bridle.

CORRECTION:
A plain, straight crown with supple leather is typically the best option. It won’t gape, tilt, apply point pressure, or add bulk. It will flex with the horse, and can be easily modified to give a little more cut-back for the ears if desired.

“Anatomically” shaped crown pieces are often achieving the opposite of their intention due to poor sizing/shaping. Overly shaped crown pieces also tend gape/tilt and apply uneven pressure. Again, the opposite of what they are marketed for.

Unsure if your bridle is the right size for your horse? Reach out for a consultation or a quote for a custom bridle 🙋🏼‍♀️

Bridle Fit Check #7: Crown Piece Splits

IDEAL FIT:
The “splits” of the crown piece (where the billets split in two off the main crown) should start just below the level of the browband.

WHY?
If the splits are too high, the throatlatch can push the browband up to pinch the base of the ears (see photo).
This effect is less likely to occur if your throatlatch is adjusted properly, but is still possible when the horse is in motion and the leather breezes back.

CORRECTION:
Buy a larger size crown piece so the splits are just below the level of the browband.
If the splits are lower than the TMJ, that is a sign the crown piece is too large for the horse, but on its own isn’t much of a concern.

Unsure if your bridle is the right size for your horse? Reach out for a consultation or a quote for a custom bridle 🙋🏼‍♀️

Bridle Fit Check #6: Throatlatch

IDEAL FIT:
The throatlatch should be adjusted loose enough to fit a fist between the leather and the jaw.

WHY?
A tight throatlatch will pull down on the crown piece and apply constant poll pressure. This can increase when the horse flexes at the poll (pictured) or opens their jaw.

Additionally, if the crown piece is not the right size and the throatlatch is tight, it can push the browband up, pinching the base of the ears.

WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE?
The throatlatch is designed to help the bridle stay on the horse in the event of an emergency / swift movement. Historically this was added to prevent opponents in battle from ripping the bridle off.

CORRECTION:
I most commonly see these adjusted too tight on bitless bridles or bridles with leverage bits. I believe riders are attempting to gain stability for the bridle by doing so - but it is not designed/attached in such a way to achieve this.

Instead, a jowl strap added to the cheek pieces of the bridle will provide all the stability you need so the throatlatch can stay nice and loose.

Of course, you don’t want it (or any part of the bridle) so loose that a leg could fit through it or it becomes a high risk of getting caught on something.

Unsure if your bridle is the right size for your horse? Reach out for a consultation or a quote for a custom bridle 🙋🏼‍♀️

Bridle Fit Check #5: Crown Piece Type

IDEAL FIT:
Crown pieces should lie perfectly flush with the horse. This means no excessive shaping or stiff padding.

WHY?
These modern anatomically shaped crown pieces pull at our heart strings - promising improved pressure distribution and added comfort for our horse.
Unfortunately, the shaping leads to gaping/twisting/tilting which does the opposite of what is intended. Often this means pressure along the back edge of the crown at the poll, and the front edge of the crown at the base of the ear.

Stiff padding adds bulk behind the ears and makes the leather less flexible, which means it doesn’t sit flush with the horse. This also does not maximize pressure distribution.

TRY IT:
When your bridle is done up, run a finger beneath the crown piece and feel where the pressure is greatest. Run your finger along both edges and feel if there is a difference between the front and back. If your crown piece fits well, there shouldn’t be a difference!
Now run your finger between the ear and the crown piece. There should be space and flexibility for you to do so without pinching.

WHAT ABOUT POLL RELIEF?
We know the horse’s poll is sensitive, so There are all sorts of fancy poll relief bridle designs on the market today. Most bridge the poll or avoid it all together by placing the crown piece further back on the neck.
However, the surrounding areas are just as sensitive and these designs are simply displacing the pressure, often creating pressure points, instead of evenly distributing.

Instead, If you want to actually relieve pressure at the poll, do the following:
🔹 Remove or considerably loosen the Noseband
🔹 Use a snaffle instead of a gag or curb
🔹Use a Baucher snaffle
🔹If bitless, use a bosal or sidepull instead of a Hackamore or cross-under

CORRECTION:
You know the saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? Well the old fashioned bridles with 1” plain leather crowns are truly my favorite. As long as the leather is supple and the size is appropriate for your horse, you can’t go wrong ☺️

Bridle Fit Check #1: Cheek Pieces

🔸IDEAL FIT:
These should be resting about eye level on the horse, not near the TMJ, and should not be stacked with other buckles/straps.

🔸WHY?
Google “equine cranial nerve map” for a key visual that shows why we don’t want to apply pressure to the poll and TMJ. There is a reason horses are extra sensitive here. The brain is the nerve center, so there is an incredible volume of nerves branching out near these two areas.

🔸WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?
When your horse is tacked up, slip your finger between the horse and your cheek piece buckles. Feel the pressure applied to the pad of your finger from the seat of the buckle. It doesn’t sit flush against the horse as you might expect!

Now try applying very light pressure to your temple (closer to the eye than the ear) with your fingernail. Wait until you feel a throbbing. And then attempt to continue (again, lightly) until you begin to feel pain or a light headache. You will be shocked how quickly this develops and can linger 😮 It will be sooner than your arm tires!

You can now imagine how this constant pressure from the buckles near the TMJ can make the horse uncomfortable and distract them from performing their best!

🔸CORRECTION:
Purchase shorter cheek pieces, order a full or semi-custom setup, or purchase a bridle with buckles on top of a padded crown (check out Finesse bridles).

I wish I had a dollar every time a client said “my horse is a mix of sizes”. It’s very likely they are average - manufacturers are just terrible at sizing bridle components appropriately ☹️
There are only a few brands that make reasonably proportioned components, unfortunately…

Unsure if your cheek pieces are the right size? Suspect your bridle is bothering your horse? Reach out for a consultation or a quote for a custom bridle 🙋🏼‍♀️

Laced “reins” belt - makes a great gift for an equestrian friend! 💙