Very serious, very important post for Friday, guys. I need to decide what Presto will wear for FEH Championships. We have the option of halter or bridle for yearlings, and he’s shown in both now. I can’t quite decide which one is my preference.
The halter is a Kavalkade Ivy, black with a unique shape, white stitching, and chrome hardware. I have a black leather with chrome hardware lead shank that goes with it (not in the photos, obviously). I do like the simplicity of a halter, as does Presto. It gives me a tad bit less control when it comes to handling, but not enough to where I think it makes much of a difference.
His bridle is dark brown with dark brown stitching, very plain and simple, from the Lund Saddlery eventer series. It’s a bit tight at the crown/brow but totally workable. With this I’d be using a dark brown newmarket shank like this, or I could use reins. He can sometimes get a bit chompy in the bit, but with how distracted he’ll be in the ring, I doubt that would be an issue.
I’m pretty torn. They both have their pros and cons, and I can’t really decide which looks better. His ears look freaking GIANT in both. Oh wait, that’s because they are.
If it makes a difference, I’m wearing a black polo/helmet/gloves with khakis.
Which would you pick?
breedrideevent.com 
Aesthetically I think he looks better in the halter
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I was inclined to say halter at first, but after looking at both for a while, I say bridle. However, I can see why you’re torn.
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Both the halter and bridle look really pretty! But I think Presto looks really handsome and grown up in that bridle.
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Just judging by the photos I would say halter. It seems to fit better and he looks relaxed and softer. The bridle looks snug and too grown-up for his baby face. He also looks stiff and has a worried eye, at least in those pictures.
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Mmm well the food guy was literally RIGHT BEHIND ME feeding breakfast while I was trying to get pictures, soo… LOL
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I say bridle. It’s more traditional for warmblood youngsters to be shown in hand with the bridle.And he’s so big he looks like a real horse who should wear a bridle. 🙂
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Hmmm I’m trying to think of how clean a leather lead with a shank will look with the halter. I went ahead and watching some of the videos from the FEH Championships at Twin Rivers in 2017. Definitely a mix of halters and bridles. I noticed that the halters tended to move around the horse’s faces more as they were being handles, vs the bridles which stayed put and were, in my opinion, less distracting. Both are great options tho!
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Good observations!
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I personally like the bridle better. I think it looks more polished. Will you be braiding? If so I would definitely go for the bridle.
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Yes definitely braided for a championship. That’s why I tried to twist his forelock up, to give a better idea of how it might look.
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I like that halter more than that bridle so I’d vote halter.
Something about the look/fit of the bridle is off…
Halter looks more comfy, suits his head better and I love the unique shape of it.
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I would probably lean toward bridle. Maybe you should switch to your brown helmet, gloves, etc though so you can match him 😉
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I only have a black WTW polo though!
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Well you better get a brown one made up quick!
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Alternately, I could do all navy.
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That could work.
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I’m a bit hesitant on the all brown outfit because his coat is still a little mottled with leftover sunbleaching, so I’m not sure if the brown would make it look even more obvious lol.
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That’s a good point. Plus, navy goes with everything!
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I’m team halter.
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Hmmm. I can see why you’re torn, but I’d go with the halter. I do like the bridle on him – the cob fits him nicely and makes him look grown up, but….I dunno I think aesthetically the bit draws my eye and it ends up looking too big on his dainty face. The halter fits him well, and I think the fancy stitching and dark color are fancy enough and really show off the white on his face. But that’s just me 🙂
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So tricky! Presto would look cute even if you tied a piece of bailing twine around his face 🙂 But I think I like the bridle better bc it lets him shine more. My eye kept getting pulled to the fancy stitching and chrome buckle on the halter (which is gorgeous) but for the bridle I found myself looking at just Presto.
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I am team halter, it outlines better his head. The bridle looks a bit clunky on him, especially the white bit.
But to be honest, it does not really matter, he is GORGEOUS!!!!
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I vote bridle. I think it makes him look more grown up and if you think you’ll have more control with it, that’s never a bad thing really. I feel like the cheek pieces on the bridle give his face a more refined look vs. the more scooped cheeks on the halter?
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I think the bridle gives me a bit more control over his feet when it comes to the conformation part of things, like it’s a wee bit easier to stand him up and keep him still/straight. At least it is when I have reins, because I can have a hand on each rein.
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That makes a lot of sense to me. Controlling the wiggle in the wiggly baby is relatable. lol
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Team halter. Let them know he’s a yearling 😛
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Oh, there’s no mistaking that he’s a yearling. He’s super awkward in the way that only yearlings can be!!
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No preference, but I think Presto’s head is about as big as Eli’s at this point.
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Honestly, it probably is.
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I vote bridle. I think the brow band draws the eye away from the ears a little bit.
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I think yearlings should be in halters. But that is only because I have seen some babies do really stupid things and then get jammed in the mouth as the handler tries to get them back under control.
I like the bridle look, but only if you aren’t handling a baby kite. It does give better control. But I also prefer them to be super solid with the bit and taking them for a lot of walks and off property with it before trying it.
Either way he will look good. It is a lovely stable looking halter, and a bridle he can carry well.
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Well he’s already shown in the bridle/bit once and been off property in it, plus he’s ponied in it. He’s definitely not a kite for in-hand showing. If those things make any difference!
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Team halter!! The bridle just looks slightly off to me.
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I’m team bridle and team navy outfit. The important decisions in life.
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Team halter for sure. To me the bridle looks bulky and makes his head look small and very “toddler in its mothers high heels”, whereas the halter seems to show off his face and really compliment him to the point of looking more refined and mature.
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He looks adorbs in both. I lean halter because he is only a yearling. I think it makes a wholesome picture. So think about what you want to look back on, cuz you know you’ll have pictures.
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I think the bridle looks best. Halter screams I am a awkward yearling.
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Halter! I love this halter. I wanted the bridle but alas it didn’t fit June’s head.
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I have both, the bridle isn’t fitting Presto’s head very well yet either. The noseband is big! I’m hoping he’ll grow into it a bit more, but I’m not so sure.
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Yeah neither cob or horse size fit June, cob was too small in the noseband and horse too small in the browband. It’s a bummer because its a beautiful bridle at an amazing pricepoint. Maybe I’ll treat myself to a halter instead lol
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Maybe together we could make workable bridles, because Presto’s cob is a bit tight up at the brow/crown but HUGE in the noseband. LOL
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Bridle as I think it will do for this show then you should package it up and send it to Presto’s uncle Remus. Thanks 🙂 HA HA HA
I do like him in the halter too.
I would totally do Navy over Brown for the reasons you stated 😉 HA
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Weird, uncle Remus told me he’s retired…
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he can still dress up and look pretty 🙂 Plus it might fit Tate 😉 HA HA HA
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Team halter.
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Team halter! The bridle looks good, but sort of looks busy on him, taking away from the cuteness just a bit
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The Young Horse Show series I did with my girl, yearlings were allowed to show in a halter. I think if he behaves well in it, let him be a baby just a little longer.
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He looks so handsome in both! I prefer the bridle, especially where he’ll be braided.
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I vote bridle.
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I like the big boy bridle 🙂
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I like the halter. If the browband on the bridle is snug and he has to wear it for awhile it might get uncomfortable for him.
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As an Arab person, personally I like the bridle better. It’s a nice dark color and seems (at least in the pics) to blend in well into his coat color. The halter being so dark just stands out. Also for you, depends on how he would react in either or. We won’t be the ones on the other side of the shank. 😀
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Halter
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Could you try a Bradoon bit in the bridle? That might fit his face a bit better.
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No. I won’t put anything but a Nathe in his mouth at this point.
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I vote bridle. It seems to make his head look more refined, and he looks so mature for his age!
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Team Halter!
The bit on the bridle just looks very big (not that it doesn’t fit, but the rings are quite large).
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I agreed ^^ that’s what I was trying to say.
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Halter. The bit ring on the bridle looks awkward to me; while the halter just looks well-fitted and appropriate. I think if you can expect him to behave in a halter, go with that. Unless you think he will “lose points” for not wearing a bridle.
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I’m on Team Halter. It’s very elegant so it gives that sophisticated look, it seems like it fits him better and I think overall it’s less distracting. I agree with the person who said the bridle feels a bit too much like “toddler in Mother’s heels.” But they’re both quite lovely so if you decide you need the control and polish of the bridle, have at it!
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Halter here, as well.
To me the bridle looks like a kid sitting in the driver’s seat, rocking the steering wheel back and forth, “driving”. 🙂
Whichever, though, he’s gonna be so handsome! Presto, remember to use your grown-up manners! 🙂
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Bridle. Bridle says the hunterland lady
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Team Halter! He looks more handsone in the halter…oddly more mature. In the briddle he looks like a toddler wearing mums shoes!
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