Bridle sizes: pony, cob, horse and oversize, which one is mine?

WeatherBeeta's bridle-fitting guide says it plainly: there is no hard and fast industry standard for what size each piece of a bridle will be in each size. So a cob from one maker can differ from a cob from another, and you will judge which one fits best.

The names change too. WeatherBeeta lists pony, cob, full and warmblood. Pony Magazine's piece on bridle fitting, which quotes a trade-association expert from the British Equestrian Trade Association, says most bridles come in pony, cob and full, with extra-small and extra-full also made. On our own listings and in riders' questions you will also see 'horse' used for full and 'oversize' at the top of the range. They all describe the same idea: a step up in every strap for a bigger head.

Height is only a loose guide. WeatherBeeta's examples: a 16 hh Thoroughbred will probably wear a full, a 15.1 hh Quarter Horse cross will probably wear a cob, a small Welsh pony will probably wear a pony, and a 17.2 hh Irish Sport Horse with a Roman nose may fit a warmblood size better. Note 'probably' and 'may' in all of them. Head shape matters as much as hands.

Then compare each number with the maker's chart for the bridle you want. Pony Magazine's advice is the same in spirit: measure the head before you buy a new bridle.

A common way to take them: for the headpiece and cheekpieces, run the tape from one corner of the mouth, over the poll, to the other corner. For the browband, measure from the back edge of one ear, across the forehead, to the back edge of the other. For the noseband, measure around the muzzle just below the cheekbones. For the throatlatch, measure from behind one ear, under the throat, to behind the other.

Neither WeatherBeeta nor Pony Magazine gives measurement targets for each size, which is why the chart matters. Many horses are a little uneven side to side, so it helps to measure both sides and write the numbers down. Bring a helper who knows your horse, keep your hands clear of his teeth, and stop if he objects. A horse who resists having his head or mouth handled is a question for your vet or equine dentist, not something to work around.

Pony Magazine says the names can mislead, and that cob is often a good fit for fine-faced ponies. So the label that fits the head is the one to buy, even if it sounds too small.

Riders tell us the same thing. One wrote that her mare has a smaller head and that the cob size fits her perfectly. Another needed an oversize for a big cob-type horse who had grown through her large Arabian-sized gear.

Questions like these come to us all the time: 'would a cob fit my medium pony?' 'Is oversize the same as a draft size?' We can't promise either from the name. WeatherBeeta's point that there is no industry standard is the reason. Check the actual measurements on the product page, and when the chart doesn't list the piece you care about, ask the maker.

Pony Magazine says you may have to mix and match sizes of each piece, since sizing can vary by piece. That is a normal way to solve it, not a workaround.

Riders ask us questions like 'do you sell a larger browband that will fit my bridle?' Some pieces are sold on their own, so if one piece pinches and the rest are right, replace that piece rather than the whole bridle. Check the product page for what is offered.

Use the buckle holes as a guide. WeatherBeeta says straps should buckle on the middle hole when the bridle is first fitted, which leaves room to adjust for a different bit or for changes in the horse's shape. A strap that has to go to the very first or last hole may mean a different size, or a different piece, would suit him better.

Pony Magazine adds one more trick for cheekpieces: if they are too long, have a saddler adjust them or buy shorter ones, since the buckles should sit level with or just below the eyes.

The two sources we read agree on the broad picture but not on every number, so here are both.

Browband: WeatherBeeta says it should sit about half an inch, one finger width, below the base of the ear, with two stacked fingers fitting under its front edge. Too large and the bridle can slip; too small and it pinches the crownpiece into the base of the ears. Pony Magazine's check is that you can easily slide a finger under it, and the headpiece should sit well behind the ears.

Throatlatch: both say four fingers should fit between the throatlatch and the throat. Noseband: Pony Magazine says two fingers fit under the front and two fingers of space sit between it and the cheekbones; WeatherBeeta puts a plain cavesson two fingers below the cheekbone, and warns that fitting it higher presses on a nerve bundle. For flash, figure 8 and crank nosebands, see our nosebands explained page.

Cheekpieces and the bit: WeatherBeeta calls the familiar 'two wrinkles' rule a guideline, not a rule, and says the bit should sit just in front of the first molars. For bit width and thickness, our page on what size bit your horse needs covers it. For bridles shaped around the poll and ears, see what an anatomic bridle is.

WeatherBeeta says they should be long enough for your horse to stretch down on a loose rein, but short enough that a rider's foot can't catch in the bight when you take up contact. Too-long reins can be shortened by a professional. Too-short reins can't be lengthened.

Pony Magazine gives a simple test: if the buckle on the reins sits near the stirrups, switch to a shorter pair. Riders ask us about both ends of this: cob-size reins that came up a little short, and what length to expect on an oversize bridle for a long-necked horse. Look at the length on the product page and don't assume.

Browse our bridles and reins to compare, and check each listing for what comes with it.

Pony Magazine says a poor fit can pinch nerves in the head and rub the skin, and that it can make a pony uncomfortable and less willing to work. Head-shaking, rubbing his head on you, resisting the bridle going on, or a sudden change in how he goes are reasons to check the fit, and also to call your vet or equine dentist, since the mouth and teeth can be the cause. A new bridle or a different size won't diagnose anything.

A bridle fitter, a saddler, or an experienced trainer can look at the whole picture on your actual horse. Take photos of the bridle on him from the front and the side, and the numbers you wrote down.