The best bridle for your horse won’t be the same as the best option for his field mate – it all depends on the size and shape of his head, what discipline you do, how he goes and what works for him. Whether you’re looking for an anatomical bridle or something a bit more traditional, one of the best flash bridles in this selection might catch your eye.
A flash noseband is similar to a cavesson but with a bottom strap that fastens below the bit to prevent the horse from opening his mouth wide to evade it. You can also use a flash converter to add a flash strap to an existing cavesson noseband for a quick and economical fix, although this isn’t as smart. Some newer, more anatomical designs are stitched together rather than attached via the loop on the cavesson.
How to choose a bridle
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a bridle. Most importantly it should be a good fit so that your horse is comfortable – most horses fit comfortably in a standard size as there’s usually plenty of room for adjustment. But if your horse has an unusual head shape you might find that you need to mix and match pieces – for example, a cob-sized headpiece and cheekpieces with a full-sized browband – or opt for a made-to-measure bridle. If you compete, consult your governing body’s rulebook before you make your purchase – particularly when it comes to selecting a noseband.
Ideally you would choose a bridle in the same colour as your saddle and a style that suits his head – for example, wide flat leather would more likely suit a cob or hunter, while narrower leather would complement a horse or pony with a finer head. It’s worth remembering that bridles do not come with a bit and only some include reins, so it’s best to double check exactly what you need to budget for.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up a selection of the bridles with flash nosebands. Different types of nosebands have different actions, so if you’re not sure which noseband might suit your horse it’s a good idea to do a bit of research or consult your trainer.
Best flash bridles for horses
LeMieux Kudos Work Bridle
Colours: Black or brown | Sizes: Pony, cob, full or extra-full | RRP: £99.95 |
This bridle has a raised and padded browband and noseband with a removable flash. It has clips on the cheekpieces, which means you can change the bit quickly and easily, and clips on the throatlash, which make it removable. It’s made from soft oiled leather and features an anatomically shaped headpiece with soft padded cut away around the ears and poll to help distribute pressure and maximise comfort.
The black bridle is complete with silver fittings, while the brown has brass. Reins sold separately.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or equus.co.uk
Shires Velociti Rapida Ergonomical Flash Bridle
Colours: Black or brown | Sizes: Pony, cob, full or extra-full | RRP: £75.99 |
This bridle has been shaped to ensure it avoids all the sensitive facial nerves. The positioning of the flash position allows air to more easily flow to the nose, and the wide, cushioned headpiece with poll gap is designed to relieve pressure over the most sensitive parts of the head. It is finished with stainless steel fittings and reins are included.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, equus.co.uk, gsequestrian.co.uk or naylors.com
In the US? View now at statelinetack.com
Collegiate ComFiTec Vogue Anatomical Bridle
Colours: Black or brown | Sizes: Cob, full or extra-full | RRP: £116.99 |
Made from high quality European leather, this bridle has an anatomical and padded headpiece that is shaped around the ears to distribute pressure evenly and comfortably. The curved noseband is designed to bypass the sensitive facial nerves.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, gsequestrian.co.uk or equus.co.uk
In the US? View now at amazon.com or statelinetack.com
Whitaker Ready To Ride Flash Bridle
Colours: Black or brown | Sizes: Pony, cob, full or extra-full | RRP: £70 |
Made from pre-oiled leather, which is water- and crack-resistant and easy to look after, this bridle has a raised browband and noseband with tonal stitching. The flash strap is removable and the noseband sits over the headpiece to avoid irritation on the sensitive poll area. It has stainless steel hardware and reins are not included.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, gsequestrian.co.uk, equus.co.uk or naylors.com
Rhinegold Softee Padded Leather Pro-Anatomical Bridle
Colours: Black or Havana | Sizes: Cob, full or extra-full | RRP: £98.50 |
This super-soft leather bridle has a fully padded leather crown that is shaped around the ears for comfort. The noseband and browband are also padded, and it’s shaped around the cheekbones to eliminate pressure points. Reins included.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk
In the US? View now at amazon.com
Mackey Legend Athena Bridle
Colours: Black or brown | Sizes: Cob or full | RRP: £125 |
This bridle has a wide padded headpiece that has been cut away around the ears. The padded noseband has been designed to reduce pressure with a removable, wide-set flash strap. Reins are included and the headpiece is also available separately.
In the UK? View now at viovet.co.uk
Mark Todd Padded Flash Bridle
Colours: Black or Havana | Sizes: Cob or full | RRP: £134.98 |
The Mark Todd Padded Flash Bridle is made from premium Italian soft and supple leather, this bridle is designed for comfort, with a padded headpiece and a wide, padded flash noseband. Features include stainless steel buckles and removable flash attachment. Reins not included.
In the UK? View now at gsequestrian.co.uk
LeMieux Kudos Competition Flash Bridle
Colours: Black or Havana | Sizes: Pony, cob, full or extra-full | RRP: £179.95 |
Made from soft leather with a lightly padded noseband and browband, this super-smart bridle is designed to maximise comfort and evenly distribute pressure. The removable flash incorporates roller buckles for ease of use and has a protective piece of leather under the buckle to prevent rubbing.
Both the black and Havana bridles are complete with silver fittings. Reins not included.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or equus.co.uk
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