| Understanding what all those Straps are for | | | | browband, circling around one ear, the purpose is the |
| While most horse people are familiar with what parts | | | | same. |
| make up a bridle, it is remarkable how few truly | | | | Another strap that sometimes seems useless is the |
| understand what goes into it. With so many parts, it is | | | | throatlatch. While it seems obvious that it is there to |
| no wonder that people don't consider the reasons for | | | | hold the bridle on, generally the bridle will stay in place |
| them. In fact, it is not unusual to see someone throw | | | | without the throatlatch at all. Basically it acts as a |
| together a simple bridle that does little more than hold | | | | safety net, to hold the bridle in place should something |
| the bit in the horse's mouth, and ride off without a care. | | | | happen that threatens to pull the bridle over the horse's |
| So what are all those straps, and what are they for? | | | | ears. |
| Probably the most often misunderstood part of the | | | | The cheek pieces have another obvious use. They act |
| bridle is the noseband. Many people believe that the | | | | as the connection between the crown piece and the |
| noseband is there to hold the horse's mouth closed. Of | | | | bit. But why do they need to be separate from the |
| course, if you look at the positioning of the noseband, it | | | | crown piece? Without separate check pieces it would |
| is quickly evident that no matter how tight you fasten it, | | | | be difficult to adjust the length of the bridle for different |
| the noseband could never hold the mouth shut. | | | | horses. With two adjustable cheek pieces, it is possible |
| Interestingly enough, the noseband is the least | | | | to fine tune the tightness of the bit in the horse's |
| necessary part of the bridle. In fact, many western | | | | mouth. A single buckle on the side would not allow for |
| bridles skip it altogether. With very little actual | | | | this fine tuning. |
| functionality, the cavasson noseband is purely there for | | | | Of course the reins require no explanation. But, do |
| looks! With varieties ranging from broad to narrow, and | | | | most reins have a braided appearance? Is this more |
| from raised to flat, riders choose a look that best suits | | | | fashion? No. The laced part of the reins is there to |
| their horse. While there are specialty nosebands that | | | | offer the rider a better grip. When a horse becomes |
| are more than just decoration, the average bridle's | | | | sweaty, the reins can become quite slippery. Some |
| noseband isn't really necessary at all. | | | | reins have alternate forms of grips such as rubber |
| So if the noseband is useless, what about the | | | | coating, small crosspieces or actual braiding of the |
| browband? While it often makes a fashion statement, | | | | leather. It is possible to find smooth reins, but they are |
| much like the noseband, the browband is an essential | | | | uncommon. |
| part of the bridle. Without the browband, the crown | | | | So now you know the basics of what makes up a |
| piece would slip back down the horse's neck, pulling on | | | | bridle. Each strap has its unique purpose, even if it is a |
| the bit, and making the bridle uncomfortable for the | | | | frivolous one. |
| horse. While some western bridles only use a half | | | | |