Bridles are very varied in size, quality, use and cost. Bridles are adjustable and most commercial manufacturers make a pony, cob and horse size. The pony bridle is only suitable for a very small pony.

The width of the straps are 10 mm, 15 mm and 20 mm. As a general rule the narrowest is for show purposes, the next for other disciplines and the widest for working. Only the reins are chosen to suit the rider. They are plaited for grip, ­rubber-covered to counteract slippery effects from rain or sweat, or extra short.

The best bridles are made of leather. Nylon bridles are only suitable for trail-riding.

The bridle head is not the difficult part to choose. The physiology of the horse's mouth and the stage of training and the discipline ­determines the bit you must choose, and there are an enormous variety of bits. Their purpose is control, so you must know your horse's needs. For the first-time owner, advice is ­absolutely essential.

The mildest bit for the most ­cooperative horse is a flexible straight-bar snaffle, ­sometimes made of polyurethane. The jointed metal snaffle closes on the side of the jaw and pushes the joint into the roof of the mouth when pressure is applied and tends to raise the head. A less severe mouthpiece has two joints and a plate flat on the tongue. The thinner the mouthpiece, the more severe the bit.

Curb bits have an external chain called the curb chain, which tightens on the chin groove when pressure is applied. The longer the shank, the more severe the bit. The mouthpiece has a port to prevent the tongue pushing the bit off the bars of the mouth.

The Pelham is a combination of the curb and snaffle or Weymouth and Bridoon. The Hackamore has no mouthpiece at all but a nose band and chain on the jaw which tightens with pressure on the reins.

There are a number of bits with very ­specific uses such as the Gag which tightens from behind the ears with a rein through the bit to the hands for absolute control such as in Polo, but this will join the next section on tack-gadgets.

(For more information on the various bits, refer to the October 2006 issue of SA Horseman) SAH