3, Sidecue bridles

Sidecue bridles, well this term actually describes the action rather than a particular bridle. As the word sidecue says it gives the horse a cue from the side.

First of all I think the most simplest form of a sidecue would be to use a headcollar! How many of us have tied the leadrope onto the other side and hopped on board? I might not be able to do that easily now days but back in my youth it was a common thing! Izzy models this option below, not using the leadrope but a nice matching set of clip reins.

There are many bridles which offer this option. you can buy a whole bridle or if you prefer you can buy just the nose part which will then attach to a bridle you already have and they come in all materials, leather, beta biothane, webbing, braided cord and probably others I cant think of just now, and of course all colours.

Some brands which offer a sidecue action are Orbitless, Transcend, Lightrider. Ill be writing about Orbitless and Transcend in future blogs.

A light cue on a rein will communicate to the horse. I find there's a light pressure all over the head but depending on the angle/position of the rein it could be a little more on the nose. I've found that some horses are really happy with this set up, its gentle and subtle so for some it may take a little practise to refine but many take to it straight away.

Some people prefer a bridle with a different throat lash arrangement as it helps to keep the bridle in place and can prevent the cheeks moving too close to the eye. The other thing Ive seen is that the fleecy noses can sometimes slide round a little even with a light rein pressure, infact I saw this with my own so I use a beta biothane bridle and nose as below (this is an orbitless).