How To Put Together An English Bridle: Types of Bridles, Fitting Your Bridle, and more

Help! I just cleaned my bridle and have no idea how to put it together again. We’ve all been there. Don’t worry, we’ve assembled this flawless guide to help you get your bridle together in record speed.

Different types of English bridles

There are several different types of English bridles which all work a little differently. The most common are snaffle, Weymouth, and bitless bridles. 

• Snaffle bridle — The snaffle bridle has one set of reins and one bit. It can be used with many types of bits, including snaffle bits and Pelham bits. It’s the most commonly used type of bridle, due to its functionality and versatility, so you’ll see it in most English riding disciplines. This is the bridle best described by the steps below. 
• Weymouth bridle — Also called a double bridle or a full bridle, this is used in upper dressage levels. There are two bits — a Bradoon and a Pelham or Weymouth bit — and two sets of reins. When assembling a Weymouth bridle, remember that the Weymouth should be positioned lower than the snaffle so they don’t interfere with each other. You’ll have a set of reins attached to each.
• Bitless bridle — Also called a Hackamore bridle, this is sometimes used for a horse with a mouth injury or one being retrained due to behavioral issues or from working with a heavy-handed rider. The reins will be attached to the hackamore and the fit of the noseband is most important to the correct function of the bridle. Check out our guide to learn more about how to fit bitless bridles.

How do I put together my English bridle?

1. Take the crown piece with the throatlatch facing away from you. When you connect it, the buckle should be on the left side of the horse.
2. Grab the browband and thread each side through a side of the crown piece, pushing the browband through to where the leather splits.
3. Attach the noseband by its long side to the crown piece, starting with the side of the crown piece that has the throatlatch. Thread the noseband up through the crown piece and back down through the other side.
4. Take the far side of the noseband and buckle it to the same piece you threaded it through. 
5. Add the cheekpieces by buckling them onto the front strap of the crownpiece on both sides.
6. Attach the bit to the cheekpieces, making sure it’s curved to the shape of the horse’s mouth, so it’s facing the right direction.
7. Attach the reins by looping both ends through and buckling them, making sure the reins aren’t twisted.

Top choices for new English bridles

We love the Renaissance by Prestige Hunter Bridle because it is super comfortable, padded, and lightweight. This is an English bridle with quality embroidery and fine European leather. The headpiece is anatomically shaped for a better fit so the pressure applied to the most sensitive area of the poll is distributed over a wider area. 

Nunn Finer’s Event Bridle offers a classic design made of high-quality leather. It’s made of superior quality leather with 5/8″ cheeks, padded browband, padded cavesson, and buckle billet ends. This bridle knows how to do classic style with modern innovation!

The HDR Pro Fancy Raised Bridle with Laced Reins offers fancy stitching and show-ring appeal. It’s made from quality, imported leather with classic fancy stitch details. It’s durable enough for everyday use and beautiful enough to serve as your go-to show bridle. 

How do I know if my English bridle fits?

To determine the right size for your horse’s bridle, you’ll take four measurements with a soft measuring tape. Once you have these measurements, you are ready to determine if your horse wears a pony, cob, full or warmblood. Alternatively, you can bring these measurements in and let us help you find the perfect fit. 

1. Measure the horse for the crown piece and cheek pieces. Start by measuring from the corner of the horse’s mouth along the line the cheek pieces would follow. Then, continue up over the ears and around to the opposite corner of the mouth.
2. Measure for the browband. Measure starting at the back edge of the horse’s ear, around the forehead, to the back edge of the opposite ear.
3. Measure for the noseband. Measure a circle around the horse’s nose, roughly one inch down from the cheekbone.
4. Measure for the throat latch. Last, measure from behind the horse’s ear, running under the throat to the back of the other ear.

Read more in our Ultimate Guide to English Bridles

As with most things, practice makes perfect! The more you take apart your bridle and put it back together, the easier it will become. You can even make it a challenge with your barn besties to see who puts their bridle together the quickest. The first couple of times you give it a try, assemble along with our YouTube tutorial! And don’t forget to explore our full inventory of English Bridles on our website or at one of our stores.

If you ever need any assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out… we are here to help!