When it comes to horse browbands there is one for every type, size, shape, and colour of horse head.
Blingy, bland, black, brown, or even boring…!
Indeed, for the new horse owner, choosing the right browband for your horse can be a confusing array of colours, sizes, types, and materials.
Which one do you choose, and how do you know which one is right for your horse?
Did you know: horse browbands are more than just a functional part of your horse’s bridle!
A good browband adds style and personality to your horse’s appearance.
In this post, we take a look at the humble browband, an essential part of your horse’s headgear and also possibly the ultimate equine fashion accessory!
What Are Horse Browbands And What Is Their Purpose?
The browband is the strap that goes across your horse’s forehead, underneath the forelock. It has a large loop on each end for the headpiece (the strap that goes around the back of the head) to thread through. Its job is to keep the top part of the bridle on the horse’s head just behind the ears, and stop it sliding down. However, browbands also offer an ideal opportunity to make a fashion statement, display individuality, and set off the horse’s head.
How Do You Measure Your Horse For A Horse Browband?
There is a ridge of bone located half way between the horse’s eye and the base of its ear. The browband sits in the gap between this bone and the ear. To measure your horse for a browband, start below the base of the ear (the browband must be long enough to allow the headpiece to sit snugly just below the bulge at the base of the ear) and measure straight across the forehead to the same point on the opposite side of the head. Your measurement includes the loops on each end of the browband. Whatever this measurement is in centimetres (or inches) is the length of the browband you need to get.
What Are The Different Types Of Horse Browbands Available?
Horse browbands come in various styles so you can choose one based on your preference or what suits your horse. The most common types of browbands include:
Leather Browbands
The classic browband; timeless, popular, available in different widths, leather colours, and a range of finishes. Popular leather browbands can be flat, rolled, or braided.
Padded Browbands
These browbands are padded to provide extra comfort for the horse.
Zilco Browbands
Zilco is made from heavy duty webbing coated in flexible PVC.
The harness used in harness racing is usually made from Zilco and some eventers and show jumpers also use Zilco bridles because it’s easy to clean and maintain. These bridles have Zilco browbands.
Bling Browbands
The ultimate fashion accessory, ‘bling’ browbands come in many styles and colours.
From simple ribbon browbands to diamante browbands for an extra bit of bling, these browbands can be colour matched with your favourite showing outfit or toned to suit your horse’s colour.
They usually come with matching rosettes for the sidepieces.
What Colours Do Horse Browbands Come In?
Leather browbands are generally black or a shade of brown. Which you choose depends on your horse. Chestnuts for example look good in brown leather gear, whilst bays suit black.
Bling browbands come in as many colours as there are satin or velvet ribbons available to make them from! Typically, they are a combination of 2 or 3 colours, with matching rosettes.
They can also have coloured diamantes or beads for added flair.
What Are Some Popular Materials Used In Horse Browbands?
Most horse browbands, apart from Zilco, start out as a leather browband. Some stay that way (the classic leather browbands) whilst others are covered in satin or velvet ribbon to create bling browbands.
Diamantes, beads, and various other materials may then be added to the ribbon to create the super blingy browbands.
Can I Customize Or Personalise My Horse Browband?
Yes you can. Many browband makers take special orders from clients with respect to colour, shape, patterns, (sharks tooth, squares etc) and added bling like diamantes.
How Do You Attach A Horse Browband To A Bridle?
Browbands have a loop at each end. The headpiece that goes around behind the ears threads through these loops and is then buckled to the cheek straps on the bridle, keeping the browband firmly in place.
How To Clean And Maintain Horse Browbands?
How you maintain your browband depends on what it’s made of.
Plain leather and padded browbands can be cleaned with leather soap and then conditioned to keep them supple.
Velvet and satin ribbon browbands are more difficult to clean so are often worn just at shows and similar events.
They can be carefully spot cleaned but usually a gentle wipe over with a soft cloth after every use will help keep them clean.
Are There Any Specific Rules Or Regulations For Horse Browbands In Competitions?
Some types of competitions recommend horses wear coloured browbands (show hacks and ponies for example) whilst hunter classes require plain leather browbands.
Dressage competitors are advised to use plain leather browbands for competition. In pony club competition, competitors often wear browbands in their pony club colours.
However, it’s best to check with the governing body for the equestrian sport you’re competing in for specific rules and guidelines about allowable browbands in competition.
Key Takeaways About Horse Browbands
Horse browbands serve both a functional and aesthetic purpose, keeping the bridle in place while allowing riders to express their style and individuality.
Understanding the different materials, sizes, customisation options, and maintenance requirements will help you choose a browband that suits your horse.
Generally though the plainer or bigger your horse’s head is, the more subdued your browband should be.
Likewise, the more white markings (bling) your horse has, the more understated your browband should be.
