Bridles and their function at Puur Paardenkracht Ruitersport
Puur Paardenkracht Ruitersport, not a standard equestrian store. At Puur Paardenkracht Ruitersport, your horse comes first, you second, and then the rest. Because you want the best for your horse, but also for your wallet! Because you know that only with the right equipment can you achieve ultimate performance and hours of enjoyable riding with your horse!
A bridle is just as important as a well-fitting saddle! Various important nerve pathways run across your horse's head. A poorly fitting bridle or a bridle where the straps or buckles are positioned incorrectly can cause discomfort and problems.
A well-fitting bridle not only means more comfort for your horse, but also better communication between you and your horse. That's why you'll find an extensive collection of bridles here, both bitted and bitless, suitable for every type of horse. We carry top brands such as Kavalkade, Horka, HKM, BR Equestrian, F.R.A., YHR and HB Showtime, which guarantee quality and style while also being affordable!
Bitted Bridles
1. Low Noseband
The low noseband (also known as a Hanoverian or breaking-in noseband) is often used for horses at the beginning of their "riding career". It is also suitable for horses that open their mouths to escape bit pressure (in this case, it's important to check why the horse is trying to escape bit pressure!). This noseband sits low on the nose and ensures that the mouth stays neatly closed, without hindering the horse or causing pain. It is important to ensure that this noseband is not worn too low, as the nasal bone is delicate!
2. High Noseband
Classic and multifunctional, that's the high noseband, also known as the English noseband. This noseband sits higher on the nose and runs under the cheekpieces. The high noseband is ideal for daily use and suitable for many horses and disciplines.
3. Combined Noseband
Essentially a combination of the low and high noseband. In this case, the low noseband is called a flash strap. You can use this type of noseband without the flash strap, making it a high noseband bridle.
4. Mexican Bridle
A Mexican bridle is used by riders due to its design and functionality. This bridle is often used in show jumping and eventing. Due to the placement of the noseband just below the cheekbones, the horse's airways are not obstructed. However... this is also the drawback of this bridle, as the action can become very sharp when the horse opens its mouth. This type of bridle requires a very experienced rider's hand!
5. Weymouth Bridle
This is a bridle for higher levels of dressage, and when used correctly, it allows for even more refined aids. This type of bridle requires a lot of experience and a very gentle hand! A Weymouth bridle is used with two bits (a curb bit in combination with a bradoon (snaffle) and double reins. A curb chain with a chin guard is also essential when using a Weymouth bridle! The fitting of this type of bridle is very precise.
6. Anatomical Bridle
Our favorite! This type of bridle, when fitted correctly, spares the horse's sensitive nerve pathways while allowing the rider to communicate with the horse in a fine and friendly manner. The headpiece is cut back to prevent pressure behind the ears (think of sunglasses that are too tight).
The Horka Nox bridle and the various Kavalkade bridles are our favorites when we have a bridle fitting. It helps reduce pressure points and improve communication with your horse.
7. Combination Bridle for Both Bitless and Bitted Riding
A versatile bridle offers you the best of both worlds. Use it with a bit or choose to ride bitless directly. Perfect for riders who like to vary or who want to gently accustom their horse to the bit.
Bitless Bridles
We have various bitless bridles from F.R.A., YHR (Yellow Horse Revolution by Josepha Guillaume), Horka and BR. We have test bridles available for types 2 through 5, so you can make an informed choice for bitless riding. The types 1 to 5 are primarily named by F.R.A., see also the accompanying image.
We can supply all F.R.A. bitless bridles. However, only those listed on our website are available as test bridles .
1. Neck Rope
A neck rope also falls into the bitless bridle category, even though it's not a bridle. With a neck rope, just like with a bridle, you give aids to your horse.
2. Hackamore and Bosal
The hackamore uses leverage with pressure on the nose without the use of a bit. A hackamore can be finely adjusted by choosing a specific type of shanks. Because a hackamore directly affects the delicate nasal bone, this type of bridle is only suitable for very experienced riders!
3. Side Pull
Usually the first choice when starting bitless riding. Rope halters with reins also fall under the sidepull system. A sidepull works by moving the hand away from the neck, creating pressure on the opposite cheek. And by applying and releasing pressure in combination with your other aids such as seat and leg. Simple and effective and suitable for almost any horse and rider combination! Especially for sensitive horses, horses with bad experiences, and for beginner riders!
4. Cross Under (Chin)
The cross-under (chin) straps apply pressure to the opposite side from where the aid is given, in combination with seat and leg aids, allowing you to give more refined aids. The release (releasing the rein aid) is important with this type of bridle to make the aid clear to the horse. Particularly suitable for sensitive horses.
5. Cross Under (Jaw)
Just like the cross-under (chin) bitless bridle, the cross-under (jaw) bitless bridle works with pressure on the opposite side. Not on the chin, but on the lower jaw. Equal pressure on both reins simultaneously affects the jaw, nose, and poll. Suitable for both sensitive and insensitive horses.
The Right Bridle
Is different for every horse and every combination. As mentioned earlier, a well-fitting bridle is just as important as a well-fitting saddle! We have a wide range of sizes available: from mini pony, Shetland, and pony, to cob, full, xfull, and even xxfull, so you can always find the perfect bridle for your horse! Also for sensitive horses, horses with a large head, we have all kinds of bridles in stock and available for a bridle fit! And if a standard bridle doesn't work, we also have all parts available separately. This way, we can custom-fit a bridle perfectly. This ensures that we always have a suitable bridle in the right size, regardless of your horse's build or breed. Our brands such as Horka, HKM, BR Equestrian, F.R.A., YHR, and HB Showtime are synonymous with quality and durability.
Make it Personal
What one person finds nice or beautiful doesn't have to apply to another! So if your bridle is still good, but you'd rather go for a patent leather noseband or a white-lined noseband, that's possible. You don't have to replace the complete bridle! We also have a wide range of browbands. Click-on browband, plain browband, or a browband with diamonds? The choice is huge!
Advice for Your Bridle
We are proud to be certified bit and bridle fitters. This guarantees you quality, and we stand behind our products! Curious what others think of us? Check out the reviews on Google.