Flash Bridles
The flash bridle is a snaffle bridle that takes its name from the type of noseband it features: a French caveson/crank noseband that has a flash strap (usually removable). Preferred by dressage riders and those in jumping disciplines, the flash noseband keeps a horse's jaws aligned and prevents the horse from opening its mouth to avoid bit and rein aids. It transfers some of the pressure of the bit from the bars to the nasal bone.

The flash strap further reduces the ability for the horse to open its mouth or cross its jaws and prevents the horse from yielding to the bit through the lower jaw instead of through proper bending at the poll. A properly adjusted flash strap should not compress the horse's nostrils. The buckle should not rest against the horse's lips, where it could pinch or rub.

The crownpiece of a flash bridle can be either single or traditional. A single crown has the noseband hanger incorporated into its design, and it buckles on each side of the horse's face. A single crownpiece is usually contoured around the horse's ears and discreetly padded for comfort. A traditional crown allows for left-to-right adjustment of the noseband, as it is a continual piece, while on the horse's head. The noseband buckles only on one side.

Flash bridles come in brown and black leather. Styling on brown leather flash bridles, typically seen with jumping saddles, can be plain raised or fancy-stitched and may have a browband with simple decoration, such as a clincher. Styling on black leather flash bridles, typically seen in dressage, is usually plain raised. Browbands can be embellished by a variety of decorative elements, from clinchers to beads or crystals. The types of reins most commonly used with a flash bridle are web reins (especially in dressage) or rubber reins (especially for jumping).

How to Clean Your Bridle

Properly caring for your bridle and reins supports maximum performance, longevity your horse's comfort.

After every ride, you'll want to wipe any grime, sweat, saliva and ring dust from your bridle and reins and use either traditional glycerin soap and water or a specially formulated leather cleanser.

Pay particular attention to cleaning areas of your bridle that are typically under pressure during riding and exposed to saliva, such as the ends of cheek pieces and reins where they come in contact with bit rings.

For a traditional and economical method, glycerin soap, a small bucket and a sponge or cloth works great. Barely moisten the sponge with cool water. Unfasten hook stud closures and buckles to remove debris caught by the hardware and to smooth creases in your leather.

After washing, and when the leather feels smooth and clean, rub a nearly dry sponge or rag against the glycerin soap bar. Apply a thin layer of glycerin soap (no suds during this step) to your leather to seal its pores and keep it soft, but not sticky.

Newer methods of cleaning your bridle involve convenient and easy-to-use tack cleaning and conditioning products. Almost every tack manufacturer has a recommendation or product preference for cleaning and conditioning its products, and some manufacturers produce their own. Always follow manufacturer's guidelines when considering commercial leather cleaners and conditioners.

One-step leather cleaners also condition your leather as you wipe away grime. Two-step cleaners usually advise following cleansing with a conditioner that will soften and protect the leather.

How to Attach a Nameplate to a Halter, Bridle, Martingale or Breastplate

Required Tools: will need a leather hole punch, hammer and pencil.

Steps:
1. Unwrap your nameplate and identify the rivets as having two posts and two caps.
2. Center the plate where you would like it ; mark its holes with pencil.
3. Use the hole punch centered on the pencil marks. A good quality hole punch with appropriate pressure applied should be able to penetrate even thick leather halters.
4. Push the rivet posts through the back of the tack so the posts are pointed toward you.
5. Put the nameplate on rivet posts.
6. Place rivet caps onto the posts, and tap the caps with a hammer.

Note: If you do not feel comfortable installing your own nameplate, we are happy to help. Bring your plate and tack into your local Dover Saddlery store for assistance. Your local leather repair professional or cobbler may also be able to assist you.

For a properly fitted bridle, a caveson noseband should sit just below the horse's cheekbones - generally no more than the width of 2 fingers from the bottom of the cheekbone to the top of the noseband (this does not apply to drop or figure 8 nosebands). Figure 8 nosebands should sit above the bottom of the cheek bone only if they have a ring that allows movement connecting the noseband to the cheek piece. The browband should never be gaping or flopping. Click Here for more information and examples.

Properly adjusted cheek pieces will cause the bit to create two gentle wrinkles at the corner of the mouth on each side. Cheek piece buckles should generally be at the level of a horse's eye, and on a bridle that fits a horse's head very well, all buckles will generally be at the same level as each other. These cheek piece guidelines are just a suggestion, as finding a perfect fit on all horses is near impossible. Multiple holes are given on cheek pieces to allow for vast adjustment. Keep in mind that the proper position of the bit is a priority over buckle placement. Click Here for more information and examples.

Some horses can be difficult to fit in a stock size bridle. For this reason, additional bridle pieces can be bought in a variety of sizes and it is never a problem to mix and match sizes of individual pieces to get the proper fit.

For a bridle size chart, please refer to the "Size Guide" link that appears on the product page.