Crownpiece (headstall)The main strap, over the head just behind the ears. It sits at the poll and holds the rest of the bridle in place. Called the headstall in the US and the headpiece in the UK.
BrowbandRuns from under one ear across the forehead to the other. It stops the bridle sliding back behind the poll.
ThroatlatchRuns from the right ear under the throat to the left. It stops the bridle coming off over the head. Called the throatlash in the UK.
CheekpiecesRun from the crownpiece down along the cheekbone to the bit rings. Two straps, one each side.
NosebandIt encircles the nose. It is often used to keep the mouth closed or to attach other gear. A cavesson is an English noseband with its own headstall.
BitThe mouthpiece that sits in the horse's mouth on the bars. The bars are the gap between its teeth. The cheekpieces and reins fasten to its rings.
ReinsThey link rider and horse. They fasten to the bit below the cheekpieces.
How this list was compiled: Read 2026-09-27. Wikipedia, Bridle, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridle , Parts: the crownpiece (headstall in the US, headpiece in the UK) over the head just behind the ears at the poll, the main strap that holds the rest in place; two cheekpieces from the crownpiece down the side of the face along the cheekbone to the bit rings; the throatlatch (throatlash in the UK) from the right ear under the throat to below the left ear, to stop the bridle coming off over the head; the browband across the forehead from under one ear to under the other, to stop the bridle sliding behind the poll; the noseband round the nose, often used to keep the mouth closed or to attach other equipment, the cavesson being an English noseband with its own headstall; the reins, the rider's link to the horse, attached to the bit below the cheekpieces; the bit in the mouth, resting on the bars, the gap between the teeth. Licence: own work
The drawing: Drawn for this site by script, 2026-09-27. Own work, nothing traced. Licence: own work
How it works
The parts of an English snaffle bridle, fitted on a horse's head seen from the side. Tap each strap to read what it does, then find them all.
Read the full guide
The straps that hold it on
The crownpiece goes over the head behind the ears and carries everything else. The browband across the forehead stops it sliding back, and the throatlatch under the throat stops it coming off over the ears.
The parts that steer
The cheekpieces run down each side of the face to the bit, which sits in the mouth on the gap between the teeth. The reins fasten to the bit and run back to the rider's hands. The noseband goes round the nose.
Headstall, headpiece and crownpiece are the same strap: headstall is the American name, headpiece the British one.
Questions and answers
What are the parts of a horse bridle called?
The crownpiece (headstall), the browband, the throatlatch, the two cheekpieces, the noseband, the bit and the reins.
What is the strap across a horse's forehead called?
The browband. It runs from under one ear to under the other and keeps the bridle from sliding back behind the poll.
What does the throatlatch do on a bridle?
It runs under the horse's throat and stops the bridle coming off over the head if the horse rubs its head on something.