Headline image

Product Testing: QHP Cavesson Bridle

We asked our Facebook followers to apply to be a product tester to put the QHP Cavesson Bridle through it's paces. We'd lots of great entries and chose Amanda and her 13 year old Welsh/Connamara Cross, Flemingtown Joey to put the cavesson to the test.

Here's Amanda's review of the product.

Product Testing: QHP Cavesson Bridle

First Impressions

My first thoughts when I unpacked the bridle was that the leather was of a good quality & was soft. The buckle holes were a bit stiff & took some loosening up (I poked the end of the buckle through the back of the buckle holes to loosen the holes). The bit attachment I found fiddly & the buckles were very tight when going though the buckle holes as the leather was stiff but after a few attempts, the buckle went through the hole & I was able to fasten the buckle with the bit in place. I liked that there was plenty of adjustments on the bridle but was sceptical as to whether there would be enough adjustment for the bit attachment (I put the Cavesson together at home first). The nose band was padded with lovely soft leather & there was a padded piece underneath the jaw where the buckle fastened. The headpiece was padded & cut away behind the ears which appealed to me as I like to avoid pressure on Joeys ears. Even the browband was softly padded. The Cavesson wasn’t heavy either unlike the old nylon types & the stainless steel buckles felt a good quality.

For first impressions I give the Cavesson 9/10.

Fitting the Cavesson Bridle on Joey

I used a 135mm (5 1/4 inch) Bombers Loose Ring bit that had 75mm rings with the Cavesson. The bridle was fully adjustable so I was able to get the perfect fit. I had to shorten the leather attached to the bit clips which was not easy as the buckle didn’t want to go through the buckle hole as the leather was so stiff. I used the Cavesson on the middle hole of the bit attachment but I doubt that I could have used the tightest hole as I struggled to get the buckle to fasten as there wasn’t enough length left on the leather section for any further adjustment. The cheek piece adjustment for the noseband fit well with the buckle fastening in the middle of the holes & came above Joey’s eye. The noseband & throat lash were both on the last but one hole so this Cavesson may not suit a horse with a very chunky head. The padded noseband fit snuggly without any big gaps showing.

For fit I give the Cavesson 9/10.

Testing the Cavesson Bridle

I like to do a lot of in hand work with Joey, as we compete at in hand & ridden showing. For the review, I chose to work Joey with the Equiami training aid. This Cavesson bridle is really suited to this training aid as for the Equiami to work correctly a Cavesson is recommended so that the lunge line fastens to the Cavesson rings & not the bit ring. I walked Joey out in hand on a quiet country road doing lots of transitions from walk to trot & back with halts included for variation. I was also able to back Joey up 4 strides in walk & then halt. I had full control & as the lunge line wasn’t on the bit, I found Joey worked really well. Joey didn’t seem bothered by the two rings on the noseband that were not in use. The noseband didn’t move which was pleasing as in the past I’ve found that nylon Cavessons can move around on the horses head & rub. When I got back to the stables I quickly unclipped the bit off the Cavesson & worked Joey in the field both lunging & walking in hand over raised poles. The noseband moved slightly when lunging but stayed in place better than the nylon Cavessons that I’ve used in the past. 

For ease of use I give 9/10 (the only reason I didn’t give a 10 was because the noseband moved slightly when lunging). 

Overall I give this Cavesson bridle 9/10. The QHP Cavesson leather bridle is a useful addition to any tack room & the flexibility to use with or without a bit is appealing & makes it versatile. I will definitely be continuing to use this for in hand & lunge work. 

Thank you so much for allowing Joey & I to test the Cavesson bridle.

 

Posted on:

Last Updated on

Read More Articles