Bridle Vs Halter: Which One Will Make You Look Like a Pro?

Suppose, you are about to get ready for a party and decide which dress would be suitable for this occasion…Then you pick out a designer gown that seems perfect for party wear. 

Although you are comfortable with a casual outfit for daily activities due to this special event you need to wear this party outfit. 

Exactly the same scenario is true in the case of selecting a headgear for your horse. You can use a bridle for some specific riding requirements but a halter is applicable as a regular wearing headgear because it is much more comfortable and easy to handle. 

There are some mysterious facts about bridles and halters that are still unknown to many horse enthusiasts. 

In this article, we are going to discuss all of them and provide you with the best advice on whether a bridle or halter will make you look like a pro. So, stay with us…

Let's Talk About Halters First

Halters or head collars are straps or ropes that can be used around the head and neck of horses to tie them in place or to move them from one place to another as directed by the owner. 

Halter Types: Which One Suits Your Equine Buddy?

There are different varieties of halters available to handle the horse. They are basically made up of nylon, rope, or leather. Let's examine those versatile types of halters and identify which one would be best for your horse:

Rope Halters: Suitable for groundwork. So, you can use this halter for different training purposes. As you have to lead the horse by holding the rope, this rope halter needs to be strong enough so that it can not break easily while applying pressure to it.
 

Nylon Halters: These halters are way lighter than others and are a breeze to clean and take care of. But, rope and nylon halters aren't good for turnout – that's when your horse moves from its stall to the paddock or pasture.  

Stalls are cozy homes for horses, keeping things organized. Halters are handy for leading them on the go. Want a better pasture? Read How to improve pasture for horse?

Breakaway Halters: These types of halters are prepared from nylon and cotton and used for newly purchased horses that have never trained before. 

Shipping Halters: It is a special type of halter made up of leather or nylon and a woolen coating of sheepskin to protect the horse's mouth from any kind of injury. This type of halter absorbs moisture or sweat from the horse's skin while exercising in hot weather. 

Grooming Halters: This type of halter helps to clean the horse easily during grooming due to the loose fitting of the halter, which allows for easy access to cleaning brushes through the halter. 

If you are interested in knowing the steps of horse grooming with detailed information, you can read this article: Order of grooming a horse.

Leather Halters: Leather halters are considered the safest halter and you can break it off in any emergency situation when the halter gets tangled with the horse's neck or shoulder.

If you use a halter that is prepared from leather material, it can provide a polished texture. So, the surface portion will not cause any harm or injury to the horse's mouth and bring comfort to it. 

You can customize the polished surface of the leather by stitching it with various designs, which makes it more appealing. 

Padded Halters: These halters are prepared with neoprene padding to achieve additional comfort. This padding is added to the leather or nylon halter to obtain greater convenience and safety. 

So, what if you could get all the desired benefits at a very low price? The good news is, the leather halters are available at an affordable cost. If you are able to take regular care and maintenance to this halter it will be longer lasting without losing the quality.

When and Why Should You Use a Halter for Your Horse?

Halter is basically used for leading a horse. Leading is very important to increase the knowledge of your horse and make it familiar with your cues or instructions. When you are going to start the training session for the newcomer horses, it is very unsatisfactory when they can not obey your instructions and guidance for various activities.

You can make good communication with the horses by leading them using a halter. Building a friendly relationship with your equine partner is very important to make them follow your cues and respond accordingly. Sometimes you can give them treats as a reward for their positive behavior. 

If you want to know more about horse treats you can read this article: What do horses like to eat as a treat?

You can use halters to tie your horse safely during leading, grooming, grazing, or roaming freely in the paddock or pasture and for turnout. 

Are Halters All Sunshine and Rainbows, or Are There Downsides?

The role of different halters in performing different equine activities related to guiding the horse can not be described in words. Although halters are very important for the management of horses, it has some downsides as well.

• Nylon halters are so sturdy that you can not break them in case of any emergency situations. 
• Because of having a loose fitting, grooming halters are not suitable for turnouts.
• Some rope halters contain twists or knots on their surface, which may cause painful lesions to the horse's mouth area. Since the knots apply stress to their pressure points, this sensation translocate into their central nervous system and causes huge pain in their mouth. So, make sure to select knot-free rope halters before purchasing. 
• Halters from rope material are prone to abrasion in case of a bit too much pulling.

Bridles: More Than Just Fancy Horse Bling

A bridle is a type of horse headgear that is attached to the horse's mouth and head to control the horse while riding. So, ever wondered why people call it a bridle? 

Well... the term "bridle" came from the former English word "bridel", which means movement-controlling tool. According to the meaning of this word, a horse's headgear "bridle" does the same thing.

Saddle Up, Let's Explore Different Bridle Varieties!

Bridles are broadly classified as English bridle and Western bridle. Both of them have a variety of subclasses. Let's have a closer look at different bridle varieties:

English Bridle: These bridles are applicable to the English riding discipline, arising from England, where both hands are used to hold the reins (Through which the rider communicates with the horse and gives it direction) such as dressage, show jumping, cross country, eventing, hunter, equitation, etc.

      Subclasses of English Bridle:

• Snaffle Bridle or single Bridle: Contains a single piece of bit (which is placed into the horse's mouth to control it while riding) with a single pair of reins and used for beginner-level horse riders. 
• Double Bridle: It contains more than one bit and four reins.
• Dressage Bridle: These bridles have broader nosebands (The part of the bridle that goes over the horse's nose and its lower jaw) and are used for riding contests or exhibitions. 
• Grackle Bridle: This type of bridle prevents the horse from opening its mouth. 
• Bitless Bridle: This type of bridle has no bits and is used temporarily if there is a dental issue or any problems in the mouth of your horse. Bitless bridles are considered hackamore. If you want to know more about hackamore, read: Pros and cons using a hackamore.
• Ergonomic Bridle: These bridles are prepared to induce additional support while riding. 

Western Bridle: These types of bridles are applicable for western riding discipline where only one hand of the rider is used to hold the reins, such as performing in the rodeo events, roping, trail riding, etc.

Subclasses of Western Bridle:

• One Ear Bridle: These bridles are suitable for horses with very sensitive ears, and are used by incorporating the headstall to a single ear of the horse. It helps to reduce ear discomfort by reducing pressure while performing heavy activities of western riding.
• Two-Ear Bridle: Used to allow additional security of ears while riding by introducing two headstalls into both ears of the horse. 

Why and When Do Horses Need Bridles Anyway?

Horses need bridles to guide the horses with proper directional signals while riding and protect them from getting injured. So, bridles are mainly used to ensure safety during versatile activities of riding. 

Although bridles can help you to handle your horse properly, still you need to be conscious of the abnormal behavior of different breeds of horses. Read this article to know more about those horse breeds: Quarter Horse Bloodlines to Avoid.

Bridles - The Pros and Cons You Gotta Know

Pros of using bridles:

• Easy to control the horse while riding.
• Different variations of bridles are available to perform different types of riding.
• Best tool for making the horse familiar with your cues or commands.
• Ensures better support and security while riding.

Cons of using bridles:

• Bits of the bridle sometimes may injure the horse's mouth.
• Made with lighter substances, which causes it to break easily. 
• Create dependency.  
• Only skilled riders can use a bridle. 

Bridles vs Halters

The biggest similarity between a bridle and a halter is that both are used as headgear to control a horse. But there are some noticeable differences between them, which play a big role in choosing the right headgear as per your specific needs.

Differences between Bridle and Halter: Provide appropriate cues during training

Let's have a closer look at the differences between bridles and halters in detail:

Choosing the Right Headgear

It is a very challenging task of choosing the right headgear alone, which can fulfill your specific requirements. Let's examine the factors that can help you to choose the right headgear for your particular horse:

Saddle-licious Tips for Finding the Right Headgear for Your Particular Horse

Some effective strategies you must follow to find out the correct headgear for your particular requirement. Let's specify those saddle-licious tips in detail:

1. Choosing the perfect headgear: If the reason for purchasing a headgear is only for horse grooming, providing training in the field or leading the horse anywhere you can choose a halter. On the other hand, if you are looking for a headgear for riding purposes you can go for bridles.
2. Material verification: During choosing the perfect headgear you must pay attention to the material of construction of that particular bridle or halter.
3. Durability: You must justify how long this headgear will last, by checking its quality and taking reviews about this particular brand from the users. 
4. Pressure tolerance: Check the headgear's sturdiness and its ability to tolerate pressure or shock without causing any harm to the horse in case of any sudden accident. 
5. Breathing capacity: Make sure that there is a capacity to promote adequate airflow that ensures comfort. 
6. Requirements of additional features: If your riding or leading area is very rough or bumpy which may cause abrasion, then you should select a padded headgear that can increase your horse's comfort.
7. Fitness: Check how well the particular headgear is fitted to the horse's neck and shoulder.
8. Regular maintenance: Regular monitoring and taking care of the headgears can sustain their lifespan while maintaining quality. If you find any damage to the headgear, you can repair it immediately by getting professional help.
9. Customization: In case of any required change in the headgear, you can go for the customization option. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to ride a horse without a bridle?

Yes. If you are experienced enough, you can easily direct the horse without a bridle. But bridle can provide better support while riding in rodeo events or other racing contests. 

Can you use a bridle and halter together?

Yes you can.

The halter is used on the upper portion of the horse's mouth and the bridle is used over the lower half of the nose. Both of them provide better support and coordination while leading and riding a horse. But horses may feel discomfort using two headgears at a time.

Is it right to tie the horse with a rope halter?

It's not a good practice to tie the horse by using a rope halter. Since this halter is sturdy enough and does not break easily, it is used for different training sessions. 

Moreover, the rough and sharp surface of the rope may cause harm to your loving horse if you tie. 

Should horses wear bridles while eating?

No. It's not recommended to make the horse wear bridles while eating. Since the bit of the bridle is placed inside the mouth, which may cause difficulty in eating by causing serious injury. 

In Conclusion

Halters and bridles are essential tools of equine discipline that are highly required for the better maintenance of the horse during performing various activities like leading, grooming and riding. 

This article has described all the necessary information about bridles and halters with their drawbacks. Moreover, it has provided the best decision of choosing the right headgear based on your requirements and convenience. 

If you have any opinion regarding this article please leave it in the comment box and you are highly encouraged to share this article with those, who are truly looking for a halter or bridle and concerned about which one they should purchase for their equine companion.