My new bridle has no headstall, but it’s the ultimate old-school, American piece of tack.
I received a new bridle to try the other day.
There are no shanks, no port, but it’s not a snaffle. There’s no metal mouthpiece, but it’s not a hackamore.
Did I mention that a headstall for this is completely unnecessary?
The bridle is basically a piece of rope with a small metal ring on each end (which attach to reins), and a braided rawhide slide creates a loop in rope. It’s a modified Native American war bridle.
I’ve seen war bridles in different movies and history books—and in plenty of Remington paintings of Apache scouts riding skinny horses—but had yet to ride a horse in one. Once in a great while I’ve seen someone use a war bridle in real life, and it always causes me to do a double-take. It’s rather unusual to see a horse ridden with no headstall.
Native Americans usually rode their ponies with a hide-based cord that looped around the horse’s lower jaw. As they were exposed to more explorers, settlers and horsemen, they eventually adopted a more traditional European saddle and bit, and the war bridle became a thing of the past.
As with any bit, the war bridle can be a severe instrument when utilized incorrectly. It puts the rider in very direct contact with the horse’s mouth and allows for only limited left and right motion. Those who I have talked to about using one have recommended riding a horse that’s used to packing a bit with leverage and is broke to neck reining.
My mare was smooth with the transition and took to the war bridle really well. To be honest, it didn’t feel much different to me in her mouth than a traditional Spanish bridle with a headstall and reins. We moved some colts around, practiced a little reining pattern, performed our turnback duties for Luke and even got a double-take or two from visitors.
I’ve enjoyed using my new piece of equipment. I don’t think it will replace anything that I already use, but it’s a fun and different addition to my ever-growing collection of gear. It’s probably not for everyone to utilize in every situation imaginable horseback, but I must admit the war bridle was fun for me to try.
I felt like I’d just set down my tomahawk, escaped the white men and trotted right out of a Remington painting.
I mean, with a better-fed horse, of course.
6 Comments
I have always wanted to try a War Bridle! I’ve been researching it and this was the first article I clicked on. Very informative and interesting. Thank you! There aren’t a lot of article about WB’s out there., so this was great!
About 40 years ago I made myself one out of some braided leather – it only had one rein. But I used it on a good horse and he was fine with it. The only problem that I remember was that he could spit it out. But he didn’t once he got used to it. Rode him bareback too, just to make it more interesting. I don’t do stuff like that anymore 😂
Its very rare to see at rodeos but I’ve seen a Native American Sioux/Assiniboine use one at an INFR 2020!
I found 2 antique native ones that clearly had seen a lot of use at an antique store about 5 years ago. One had an eagle feather tied into it. They didn’t know what they were,, I’d only seen them used in antique photos prior to finding these two. Prized possessions for sure.
https://www.hippostcard.com/listing/blackfoot-native-american-at-bow-river-in-1926-by-edward-curtis-modern-postcard/15223143
I’m doing a sculpture and I’m going to use the war bridal which. I would appreciate a photograph of The bridals you purchased. I tried to find an antique one on website’s with no luck except for the few black-and-white old photos which did not show very well.
I couldn’t afford a bridle or saddle after buying my first horse so i tied a jump rope around his lower jaw and rode bareback… I guess it was a war bridle! And he was an app pony!!! So fitting.