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Browbands are designed to keep a horse or pony’s bridle in place. This essential piece of tack is available in several different types, from straight to curved or anatomical, with many styles, colours and materials to choose from (bling or no bling, for example?).
Buying a new browband is a more affordable way of updating a horse’s wardrobe than buying a whole new bridle. Whether you need to replace a broken browband or are just looking to add a little more sparkle or interest, good fit is essential for your horse’s comfort and to make sure the bridle sits on their head properly.
Fitting guide
Bear in mind that browbands aren’t adjustable, so it’s important that you buy the right size for your horse.
It should be big enough to allow the headpiece to lie comfortably behind the ears. The browband should also lie just below the base of the ears, without cutting into them, but not so low that it is close to the horse’s eyes.
You’ll find more information about the different types of a bridle and bridle fit here.
If you compete, check your membership body’s rule book if you are unsure if a style of browband is permitted at events.
For instance, British Dressage stipulates that while a browband must be worn, bridles must be “predominantly black, brown, grey or navy and may not be decorated with tassels or any additions to the normal configuration”.
Shop for a browband
Here’s our pick of some of the many browbands on the market. Please note that we haven’t used any of them and so the following is taken from the manufacturers’ websites. We are working on a tried and tested.
Collegiate Plain Browband IV
This classic browband is made from the “finest quality” European leather and is 2cm wide.
Colour: Black or brown. Sizes: Pony, cob, full or warmblood
Shires Velociti GARA Plain Browband
A budget-friendly option, this plain browband features elastic within its loop ends. Shires says it will fit most bridles. Also available in diamante and plaited leather style.
Colour: Havana or black. Sizes: Pony, cob, full or extra full
Montar UK Classic Curved Contrast Leather Browband
This curved browband has contrasting cream stitching and features snap buttons making it easy to take on and off. It comes with a protective sleeve.
Colour: Black. Sizes: Pony, cob, full or extra full
RRP £45
Dy’on Collection New English Anatomic Browband
This anatomic browband has cream stitching and brass Dy’on pin. A matching anatomic noseband is also available.
Stampede Equestrian Unicorn Crystal Browband
This blingy browband features a curved design and sparkly, Iridescent crystals. I’ve used Stampede Equestrian browbands in the past and they are even more eye-catching in real life.
The leather is also very soft and supple, so they offer good quality as well as beautiful designs.
Colour: Leather: black or brown; Crystals: unicorn 2 row, unicorn 3 row, or unicorn ab/opal
Sizes: Cob, full or extra full
RRP £50
Whitaker Lynton V-shaped Diamante Browband
This v-shaped browband from John Whitaker has an edge-to-edge diamante design.
Colour: Black or havana. Sizes: Pony, cob and full
RRP from £25
Countrypride Sparkly Bling Browband
This leather browband is 100% handcrafted and features a curved shape with five rows of turquoise and clear crystals.
LeMieux Ice Crystal Browband
This is LeMieux’s signature detachable style browband with an ice white crystal chain. It is a narrow band with a shallow U-shape designed to contour the horse’s face.
Colours: Black or brown. Sizes: Pony, cob, full, Xfull
