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Gray Horse Leatherworks, Mint Hill, NC (2026)

06/04/2026

Bridle Fit Check #5: Crown Piece Type

IDEAL FIT:
Crown pieces should lie perfectly flush with the horse. This means no excessive shaping or stiff padding.

WHY?
These modern anatomically shaped crown pieces pull at our heart strings - promising improved pressure distribution and added comfort for our horse.
Unfortunately, the shaping leads to gaping/twisting/tilting which does the opposite of what is intended. Often this means pressure along the back edge of the crown at the poll, and the front edge of the crown at the base of the ear.

Stiff padding adds bulk behind the ears and makes the leather less flexible, which means it doesn’t sit flush with the horse. This also does not maximize pressure distribution.

TRY IT:
When your bridle is done up, run a finger beneath the crown piece and feel where the pressure is greatest. Run your finger along both edges and feel if there is a difference between the front and back. If your crown piece fits well, there shouldn’t be a difference!
Now run your finger between the ear and the crown piece. There should be space and flexibility for you to do so without pinching.

WHAT ABOUT POLL RELIEF?
We know the horse’s poll is sensitive, so There are all sorts of fancy poll relief bridle designs on the market today. Most bridge the poll or avoid it all together by placing the crown piece further back on the neck.
However, the surrounding areas are just as sensitive and these designs are simply displacing the pressure, often creating pressure points, instead of evenly distributing.

Instead, If you want to actually relieve pressure at the poll, do the following:
🔹 Remove or considerably loosen the Noseband
🔹 Use a snaffle instead of a gag or curb
🔹Use a Baucher snaffle
🔹If bitless, use a bosal or sidepull instead of a Hackamore or cross-under

CORRECTION:
You know the saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? Well the old fashioned bridles with 1” plain leather crowns are truly my favorite. As long as the leather is supple and the size is appropriate for your horse, you can’t go wrong ☺️

05/06/2026

Bridle Fit Check #1: Cheek Pieces

🔸IDEAL FIT:
These should be resting about eye level on the horse, not near the TMJ, and should not be stacked with other buckles/straps.

🔸WHY?
Google “equine cranial nerve map” for a key visual that shows why we don’t want to apply pressure to the poll and TMJ. There is a reason horses are extra sensitive here. The brain is the nerve center, so there is an incredible volume of nerves branching out near these two areas.

🔸WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?
When your horse is tacked up, slip your finger between the horse and your cheek piece buckles. Feel the pressure applied to the pad of your finger from the seat of the buckle. It doesn’t sit flush against the horse as you might expect!

Now try applying very light pressure to your temple (closer to the eye than the ear) with your fingernail. Wait until you feel a throbbing. And then attempt to continue (again, lightly) until you begin to feel pain or a light headache. You will be shocked how quickly this develops and can linger 😮 It will be sooner than your arm tires!

You can now imagine how this constant pressure from the buckles near the TMJ can make the horse uncomfortable and distract them from performing their best!

🔸CORRECTION:
Purchase shorter cheek pieces, order a full or semi-custom setup, or purchase a bridle with buckles on top of a padded crown (check out Finesse bridles).

I wish I had a dollar every time a client said “my horse is a mix of sizes”. It’s very likely they are average - manufacturers are just terrible at sizing bridle components appropriately ☹️
There are only a few brands that make reasonably proportioned components, unfortunately…

Unsure if your cheek pieces are the right size? Suspect your bridle is bothering your horse? Reach out for a consultation or a quote for a custom bridle 🙋🏼‍♀️

05/04/2026

Laced “reins” belt - makes a great gift for an equestrian friend! 💙

04/24/2026

There’s no shame in not knowing what the correct setup for your horse is! BUT, honestly, there is shame in knowing better and doing it anyway, to the detriment of your horse.

The second someone books a consultation with me it is a 100% judge-free zone. The fact that you are asking a specialized professional for advice and want to learn more and ensure you’re doing right by your horse, you have WON 👏🏻

Try not to put blinders on due to peer pressure and trends. It is so easy to do, trust me, I know! I used to ride in a flash Noseband and 3 ring Pessoa gag bit with zero idea why or how I was supposed to properly use it. My trainer at the time suggested it and I had seen them used in the jumper rings for so long I didn’t give it a second thought.

While your trainer is a great asset and is knowledgeable in so many areas, you wouldn’t use them as a replacement for a specialist like a saddle fitter, vet, farrier, or body worker. It stands to reason you should consider adding a certified bit/bridle fitter to your “team” of professionals that keep you and your horse at their best 🌟

04/13/2026

Custom neck strap with a saddle attachment 👌🏻

04/09/2026

DOUBLE DROP NOSEBAND

This is a cavesson Noseband with a permanent drop Noseband in a fixed position below it. It has (unfortunately) become a fad in the jumper ring.

Besides being an excessive means to shut the horse’s mouth, This is nearly impossible to fit properly. This is primarily because the drop (lower strap) is a fixed distance from the cavesson (upper strap).

So, when the cavesson is in the correct placement (about 2 fingers width from the facial crest), the drop is sitting far too low on the nose and is at risk of damaging nasal cartilage or the fragile nasal bone. And when the drop is in the correct placement (at the approximate level of the bit at rest), the cavesson is too high, pressing against the facial crest. 👎🏻

If the cavesson is adjusted more snugly than the drop (this is ideal), the horse will meet the resistance of the Noseband only from the cavesson, but the drop is still at risk of restricting the airways/breathing. 😣

If the drop is fastened more snugly than the cavesson, the horse will meet the resistance of the Noseband only from the drop, which will apply poll pressure, risks damaging the nasal bone/cartilage, and restricts airways/breathing ⚠️

See my post on drop nosebands to understand why these can be harmful to your horse. I am surprised to see these in the jumper arenas as drop nosebands are well known to restrict airways and impact performance, and there are studies correlating tight nosebands to reduced stride length…

Please remember that just because your peers or your heroes are using a piece of equipment on their horse, it doesn’t mean it is right for you and your horse 🙏🏻

Have a strong horse, and thinking about adding stronger equipment? Reach out for a consultation! 🙋🏼‍♀️ 💻

04/02/2026

MIKLEM STYLE BRIDLES

What is it❓
It’s a unique bridle design (becoming less-so now with many knock-offs) originally developed by William Miklem based on anatomical research to avoid sensitive areas of the horse’s head.
It has admirable intentions and for the most part does set out to do what it claims, but has considerable drawbacks as well, unfortunately.

What’s good about it❓
🔹It does not apply inward pressure along the molars
🔹Avoids pressure on facial crest
🔹Shape of noseband avoids some facial nerves
🔹Well padded and typically made without raised/rolled/patent leather which makes them more supple and flexible
🔹The jowl strap provides far more stability to the bridle than a throatlatch
🔹The Miklem “multi bridle” can easily be converted to a bitless bridle

What’s bad about it ❓
🔺Very difficult to adjust and properly fit. Bit adjustment is very limited so the height in mouth is prioritized which very often leads to improper fit of the rest of the bridle
🔺Permanent pseudo-flash Noseband
🔺Even when fit properly, the flash-type closure can push the bit higher in the mouth
🔺Often seen sitting far too low on the nose due to the difficulty of fit.
🔺Limited bitting options for proper mechanics

What are these limitations ❓
🔸Not to be used with a full cheek or filmed bit (Cannot properly attach keepers, and risk cheeks getting caught in the bridle)
🔸Should not use with a curb bit, as the flash-type closure blocks the curb chain from sitting in the curb groove
🔸A Baucher snaffle or bit with a large cheek/purchase will likely sit too low in the mouth due to limited adjustability of the bridle. Additionally, any poll relief that a Baucher can offer will be negated by a snug Noseband fit

Thoughts❔
Overall, I love the concept but find the ex*****on and practicality of the design problematic. I have seen these adjusted well in the past, but generally speaking would not recommend these.
Nearly every one of the issues this bridle claims to fix can simply be resolved by taking a noseband off of a well-fitting bridle.

Suspect your horse is uncomfortable in the bridle? Reach out for a consultation! 🙋🏼‍♀️ 💻

03/30/2026

FIGURE 8 NOSEBAND

What is it❓
It’s a Noseband makes a figure 8 shape around the head that has two points of closure for the jaw.

What does it do❓
It provides another point of forced closure of the mouth/jaw via jowl strap and flash strap.

What’s good about it❓
🔹It does not apply direct pressure to the infraorbital or facial arteries/nerves
🔹The leather is in a semi-continuous loop, so in theory pressure distribution between upper and lower closures is equalized
🔹If fit properly, will have less restriction to the nasal passages (compared to a flash or drop Noseband)
🔹The higher point of closure (jowl strap) may help discourage jaw crossing.

What’s bad about it ❓
🔺 If fastened snugly this can still restrict breathing (see photo)
🔺 The top of the Noseband applies direct pressure to the facial crest (cheek bones) and often with the O-ring hardware directly
🔺 Pressure from the Noseband is concentrated on the top of the nasal bone

Why would you want to use this ❓
1️⃣ It’s popular in eventing and jumpers.
Not a great reason to choose it, but we have all fallen prey to conformity at some point. I even had this reasoning years ago 😬

2️⃣ To prevent the horse from opening the mouth.
I’ve spoken in many other posts about nosebands and why this is so problematic. Forceably closing the jaw is going to create far more problems than it solves.

3️⃣ Prevent jaw crossing.
Yes, if the jaw is clamped shut, the horse cannot evade the bit by opening its mouth. But as we know, there are MANY other ways the horse can evade the contact - jaw crossing being one of them. No Noseband will fully prevent this. It is stemming from an uncomfortable bit, training issue, rider issue, or wellness/fitness issue. None of these are solved by a tight Noseband.

Suspect your horse is evading contact due to an uncomfortable bit? Reach out for a consultation! 🙋🏼‍♀️ 💻

03/23/2026

More “oh crap straps” out the door! Stay safe out there! 🫡

03/13/2026

FLASH NOSEBAND

What is it❓
It’s a circular strap attached to a crank or cavesson Noseband that encircles the nose and lower jaw in front of the bit.

What does it do❓
It provides another point of forced closure of the mouth/jaw.

COMMON MYTHS DEBUNKED:
1️⃣ The only way a flash will stabilize the bit is if you have a loose ring bit that easily pulls through the mouth, and forceably closing the mouth helps prevent this. But this is remedied with a fixed cheek bit and no, it will not “support” the bit unless it is fixed so high that the bit is forced up the lips (which is no good).
2️⃣ No matter how tight you fasten a Noseband, the horse will still want/need to move their jaw. These, and even figure 8s, do not prevent jaw crossing. In fact, if the horse is so restricted from opening their mouth by the Noseband, they may resort to jaw crossing as an attempt at relief.
3️⃣ No matter how tight the Noseband, a horse can put its tongue over the bit (because it can do so with its mouth closed). However, it can make it extremely difficult for the horse to get their tongue back under it. And during that attempt, the bit can do some damage to their bars.
4️⃣ While it shouldn’t restrict breathing as much as a drop Noseband, it will still press into the nasal passages when the horse opens their mouth against it.
5️⃣ True acceptance of the bit does not come from shutting the mouth around it. Period. A closed mouth does not equal softness and willingness.

Why would you want to use this ❓
One reason - to prevent the horse from opening the mouth. I’ve spoken in many other posts about nosebands and why this is so problematic. Forceably closing the jaw is going to create far more problems than it solves.

Yes, if the jaw is clamped shut, the horse cannot evade the bit by opening its mouth. But as we know, there are MANY other ways the horse can evade the contact. And masking this with a flash/crank/drop Noseband is not solving the issue. It is usually an uncomfortable bit, training issue, rider issue, or wellness/fitness issue. None of these are solved by clamping the mouth down.

Suspect your horse is evading contact due to an uncomfortable bit? Reach out for a consultation! 🙋🏼‍♀️

Gray Horse Leatherworks

06/04/2026

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05/04/2026

04/24/2026

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