If youre in the market for a new bridle for your horse, youve come to the right place. Your Horses testing panel has used and reviewed a selection of bridles to help you decide which will be the most suitable for your horse. A bridle is an essential part of your horses tack, because it is a critical line of communication between you and your horse. So ensuring it fits well is crucial a poor-fitting bridle will put pressure on sensitive facial areas and can affect the way a horse moves and behaves.Bridle design has evolved over time, with the core focus now firmly on ensuring comfort for the horse and a correct fit. Optional bridle features include anatomical headpieces and nosebands that are designed to complement the anatomy of a horses head, avoiding delicate facial nerves and structures.Buying an off-the-peg bridle is the option for most of us and this brings some potential limitations on fit, as all horses are unique in their head shape and many arent symmetrical. These factors all add to the potential issues of getting a good and comfortable fit.How we testYour Horses testers used a selection of off-the-peg bridles over at least three months and assessed them for fit, performance and value for money. Each tester has considered these three areas when writing their review, to help you work out whether it might suit you and your horse before you buy. We arent paid to test these products, so you can be sure the reviews youre reading are honest and without bias.EquineTree Bridle Mela with T-StrapAn exceptional eco-friendly productTester Julie Harding, Your Horses print editor who has four veterans, says: I first discovered this company and its bridle two years ago at the BETA trade show. It caught my attention because it isnt made of leather but of Uppeal, or apple skin, which, as a lifelong vegetarian, found favour with me. First impressions were good as the packaging was plastic-free and the bridle and reins (sold separately) came wrapped in cotton bags and felt like excellent quality. I particularly like the white stitching on the brown apple leather, which gives it a touch of pizzazz without it being blingy. For those who prefer less embellishment, there is a classic black version. During the test, I got the bridle very wet, and the water simply ran off, while I was surprised by how supple it became when cleaned with LindGrow vegan Joveg saddle soap that the lady from Equinetree provided. I requested a cob size, but for owners of cobs with seriously big heads, a full would offer more adjustment. Ultimately, this is an exceptional eco-friendly product and my mare goes well in it, so it gets a huge green thumbs up from me.Colours: Black or brown with decor stitching. Sizes: Cob or fullRRP 198Buy NowPremier Equine Verdura Anatomic Snaffle BridleA lot of thought has gone into the designTester Antonia Brown BHSI, who produces and sells horses for dressage and eventing, says: This is a very smart looking, albeit plain bridle which fits our usual full-sized horses very well. You can tell that a lot of thought has gone into the design, all with the horses comfort in mind. I really like the shape and additional padding on the headpiece, which sits neatly around the horses ears. The browband is shaped and complements the horses face, while the noseband fits neatly and is anatomically shaped and padded, too. The Italian leather softened up well with use and cleaning and the rubber reins offer a good feel in the hand. Overall, Im impressed with the quality of the Verdura Anatomic Snaffle Bridle. It has good billets and keepers, and the fit is extremely good. My horses who have worn it appear to be comfortable and work well in it. I would certainly recommend this bridle to my friends and clients who are looking for a smart but plain bridle. It offers good value for money, but bear in mind that the reins need to be bought separately.Colours: Black or brown. Sizes: Pony, cob, full or extra fullCollegiate Comfitec Vogue Anatomical BridleIve noticed a big difference in my horses way of goingTester Emily Hanlon, a chartered surveyor who competes in showjumping and dressage, says: This is a lovely bridle that looks smart when on. It fits well and the leather felt soft and good quality right from the start. The anatomical headpiece has soft padding and is wider between the horses ears and over the poll. It also sits neatly around my horses ears. The noseband is shaped differently to other bridles I have used. It sits nicely on the face and the flash strap fits neatly, bypassing sensitive facial nerves and offering ultimate comfort and protection. I have noticed a big difference in my horses way of going since using this bridle. She appears to be more comfortable and is much more consistent in the contact. This bridle cleans up well with minimal effort. It is smart enough for competition wear, as well as everyday use. I would recommend it it is good quality, fits nicely and my horse goes well in it, too.Colours: Black or brown. Sizes: Cob, warmblood or fullShires Velociti Rapida Ergonomic Curved Flash BridleThis bridle has been a game changerTester Melanie Tate, who owns two home-bred horses and competes in dressage up to medium level, says: This leather bridle has been a real game changer for me and my horse. I have a sensitive, stroppy ex-hunter who has never really been still and settled in the contact. I have tried many different bits and bridles, but they have made no real difference. However, in this bridle my horse seems a lot more settled in the contact. I noticed this change from the first time I used it. He was light and relaxed, and has continued to be. I love the fit of this bridle. I also really like the headpiece, which is wide and cushioned, and features a poll gap and is cut away around the ears. The curved noseband also enhances the look and ensures that it sits neatly. This bridle is made from lovely soft leather with anti-shock padding on the headpiece, browband and noseband to give a smart look. It has many design features to ensure that the horse remains comfortable. Another bonus is that this bridle comes with a pair of Signature Velociti RAPIDA rubber grip reins, which I have found offer good grip and give a nice feel. This bridle looks a lot more expensive than it actually is and it is super eco-friendly the leather is vegetable tanned. I like it so much and I wouldnt hesitate to recommend it.Colours: Black or havana. Sizes: Pony, cob, full, extra fullLeMieux Arika Drop BridleIm now a convert to a drop noseband rather than a flashTester Allison Lowther, a freelance writer who owns two veteran horses, says: This is a smart bridle made from lovely leather that had already been oiled when I received it. It fits nicely, with plenty of room for adjustment. The headpiece is padded, but it doesnt have much shaping to it. I found that it was a little narrower compared to other bridles I have used in the past. The browband is shaped and complements my horses face well. It sits neatly without pulling the headpiece forwards onto the back of her ears. The modern-style drop noseband on this bridle has a nice amount of padding to it, and the shape and fit of it ensures that it doesnt sit on any of the sensitive structures of my horses head. D-rings on the noseband allowed for greater adjustment and ensured that it sat in place neatly and smoothly against my horses skin. I cant say that I noticed a huge difference in my horses way of going, but Im now a convert to a drop noseband rather than a flash. I feel that I can get a much better fit with this style, which I believe makes it more effective and more comfortable for the horse. This bridle is easy to clean and takes very little conditioner to restore it to like new. Overall, this is a lovely, quality bridle for a very good price and it is definitely worth considering for anyone looking for a new bridle.Colours: Black/silver or brown/silver. Sizes: Pony, cob, full, extra full. Also available with flash, grackle and cavesson nosebandsFelix Bhler Bridle Anatomical Vision SpaceAll areas in contact with the face are well paddedFelix Bhler Bridle Anatomical Vision SpaceYour Horses tester says: This bridle fits nicely with plenty of adjustment. Its a little different from other bridles, as the height of the noseband is adjusted at the top of the headpiece. The bit is fitted on to straps that hang off the noseband and cut-back cheekpiece, and theres no throatlash, which took a bit of getting used to. It took time for the noseband to mould to the shape of the horse. The wide, shaped and padded headpiece fits well around the ears. All three of my horses that wore this bridle went well in it. Two seemed happier and accepted the contact better in this bridle than in their usual one. All the adjustment options, including buckles, are set away from the horses face and sensitive areas, especially the headpiece buckles. All areas in contact with the horses face are well padded. The leather is good quality and cleans up nicely. I think this is a lovely bridle which is sold at an excellent price.Colours: Black or brownSizes: Cob or fullRRP 99.90 Buy NowCathedral Ludford Snaffle Bridle with Flash Noseband & Crystal BrowbandAn eye-catching bridleCathedral Equine Ludford Snaffle BridleYour Horses tester says: This is a great-fitting bridle with plenty of adjustment and it fitted my three test horses nicely. The headpiece is nicely shaped so that it fits neatly around the back of your horses ears. Its also padded for additional comfort. The browband is a good size and slightly shaped too. This bridle is definitely eye-catching, with a clear crystal browband and a crocodile and patent noseband. It looks really nice on the horse. It did take a few wears for the noseband to mould. Im not the biggest fan of webbing reins, but I think Im converted. I really like these; they are easy to hold and give good grip too.The bridle cleans up well apart from the leather on the back of the browband, which is a little rough and grease is tricky to remove. If you like bling you wont go wrong with this bridle. I was pleasantly surprised by the price tag too, as I thought it would be more expensive.Colour: BlackSizes: Pony, cob, full, x-fullRRP 108.99 (including webbed reins) Buy NowThe Centre Line Badminton Anatomical Flat Double BridleA quality bridle designed to comfortLuxe of London Badminton Anatomical Flat Double BridleYour Horses tester says: This bridle fits beautifully theres plenty of adjustment so you can get the best possible fit for each individual horse. The headpiece and noseband are reinforced with a Luxesorb gel that moulds to your horses head shape. The leather is so soft no breaking in or moulding required. It sits nicely on all the horses that wore it during my test. The crystal browband and patent noseband are a smart combination. Two of my horses work in a double bridle, and both seemed comfortable and worked well in this bridle. It takes little cleaning a quick wipe over and the grease is gone and it looks great. It also arrives in a lovely presentation box. Theres no doubt that this is a quality bridle with features that are designed to add comfort. All this comes at a price. Its expensive, but if youre looking for a quality double bridle, you wont go wrong with this one.Colours: Black or London tan.Sizes: Pony, cob, full, x-fullRRP 395 (US$690)Buy NowBuying in the USA? Purchase hereCollegiate Comfort Crown Padded Raised Flash BridleGood value for a smart bridleCollegiate Comfort Crown Padded Raised Flash BridleYour Horses tester says: This is a good fit and true to size. Theres enough adjustment lengthwise, although the height of the noseband is adjustable on only one side. Also, the noseband fastening was a little short for my horse I could only get it onto the second hole. The browband is a good size and doesnt pull the headpiece forward onto the horses ears. The throatlash is a generous length and is only adjustable on one side, and it proved long on the two Thoroughbreds I have been using this bridle on. Overall this is a smart looking bridle that didnt take long to soften and mould to the horses head shape. It cleans up well. My horses went well in it with no signs of discomfort or resistance whether hacking out or schooling. Its nicely padded on the headpiece and the rubber reins are good quality and are comfortable to use. I think this is good value for a smart, quality bridle.Colours: Black or brown Sizes: Pony, cob, full, WarmbloodEquipe Emporio Flash BridleIt still looks like newEquipe Emporio Raised Flash Bridle Your Horses tester says: This bridle is true to size and fitted all three of my horses well. The leather is soft and supple, so it moulds instantly to the horse. Theres plenty of adjustment, so a full-size bridle like the one I tested fits a variety of different horses. There are no standout special features on this bridle its a classic style. The noseband and browband are well padded but not too bulky, which looked good especially on my lighter framed horse. There is no padding to the headpiece and the noseband strap passes under the headpiece again a more traditional style but the headpiece sits neatly over the top of the horses head. I used this bridle on three horses and they all appeared to be happy wearing it and showed no signs of resistance. The leather is excellent quality and easy to keep clean. It still looks like new after plenty of use. This is a good value, classic, quality bridle, but it doesnt come with reins.Colours: Black, brown, Newmarket, red brown. Sizes: Pony, cob, fullWhat to look for when buying a bridleMaterial Do you want a leather horse bridle, or might you prefer one that is synthetic?ColourLeather typically comes in brown or black. Synthetic colour choices are vast.Price Know what your budget is and search according. The bridles for less than 100, and many that go way above this.ChangeabilityWhen buying a horse bridle off the peg, you might find your horse needs to wear a mix of two sizes. So make sure the straps can be swapped the noseband and cheekpieces, for example. Or maybe you want to change a plain leather browband for one with a bit more bling.SizeMeasure your horses head so that you know how long the cheekpieces, noseband and brownband needs to be for a comfortable fit.Related contentThe physiological advantages of using a bitless bridleBridle fit and horse head anatomy: everything you need to know *VIDEO*Six bridle bags to safely store your tackParts of a horse bridle, different styles and useful insight into choosing a nosebandThe post We have tried and tested these horse bridles for fit, value and performance appeared first on Your Horse.