The Fairfax bridle - what's all the hype about?

I am fascinated by the lack of knowledge we have on the effect that the bridle and bit have on our horse's way of going, and am always on the look out to find out more.  I get extremely frustrated by companies who make unsubstantiated (or equally bad, poorly substantiated) claims about how their particular design of bridle or bit will improve your horse's performance.  Owners are continually explaining to me that they have the right thing for their horse by quoting the 'spiel' that's on the packaging, without realising that there's little or nothing to back this up, other than clever marketing.  The most important thing of course is the effect the tack has on the horse, but the lack of knowledge (as opposed to long held beliefs) means it can be the horse that suffers - and the owner's pocket!

So I'm really excited that Fairfax have done extensive research, the results of which have been published in a good quality peer reviewed journal (and believe me, that's not easy to achieve!), in developing their new bridle.  I'm waiting of course to hear from owners what the horses think of it, and I realise that at around £400 (more for the double), most happy hackers and riding club competitors will need to be thoroughly convinced before they buy.  I thought I'd start though, by asking Fairfax themselves to tell me about the new bridle, so that at the very least, I have a greater understanding of what and why it's different.

Kitty King using the Fairfax bridle

Here is their response, from Angie Garton of Fairfax Saddles Ltd:

10 REASONS TO BUY A FAIRFAX BRIDLE

1 Based on scientific research

 The Performance Bridle is unique in that it has been developed using independent pressure mapping and gait analysis. Vanessa Fairfax, the product designer spent two years looking at traditional bridles, identifying common pressures and assessing whether pressure affects the horse.

The Fairfax bridle has been designed based on scientific research

 2 Pressure affects the horse’s way of going and the Performance Bridle helps eliminate pressure

Gait analysis consistently recorded significantly better hock flexion, knee flexion and forelimb protraction when bridle pressure was relieved.

Comfort factors built into the Performance Bridle help eliminate the six key areas of pressure identified by Fairfax. They include Prolite pads which lift the bridle clear of pressure points below the browband and pads on the noseband to lift it clear of the nasal bone, relieving pressure on the sensitive areas either side. A shaped headpiece relieves pressure at the back edge of the skull.

3 Stability is essential for comfort

Fairfax’s research shows that the more movement there is around the crown of the horse’s head, the less comfortable he is. The Performance Bridle remains stable against the horse’s head. This stability is consistent even as the horse is in motion. This bridle moves with the horse, not against him.

4 Articulation improves stability

Articulation rings mean that the components of the bridle move independently as the horse moves. Instead of being a fixed and rigid item against his face, the bridle pressure remains stable and therefore is effectively reduced.

5 Symmetry is significant

Fairfax proved a significant decrease in knee flexion when there was asymmetry around the horse’s head. So in the Performance Bridle there are equal buckles each side and the bridle is fitted so that the cheekpieces, noseband and throatlash all buckle at the same level.

6 Fairfax claims are proven!

The Journal of EquineVeterinary Science published a scientific paper about the results of Fairfax’s research. This is recognition that the testing was carried out under controlled scientific conditions with little or no room for misinterpretation. It is confirmation that the research is proven and can be trusted.

7 Top riders agree

The science is being proven ‘in the field’. Top riders such as Kitty King, Gareth Hughes and Spencer Wilton are achieving their best ever results with the Fairfax Performance Bridle.

8 Fairfax has pedigree

The Performance Bridle comes from the same designer and production team that brought us the Performance Girth – still referred to as the 2012 Team GB’ssecret weapon!

9 Try before you buy

The Performance Bridle is not available on line or mail order. It has to be fitted by a trained bridle retailer. This way, you can feel the difference it makes to your horse for yourself before parting with your cash.

10 Made in England

Fairfax is one of the few companies to make bridles in England. Each Performance Bridle is entirely made in Walsall by craftsmen using the finest bridle leather. The bridle is cut, stitched, assembled and finished in England from start to finish.

To find your nearest retailer and book a Performance Bridle fitting click here.

The Fairfax bridle is made in England

A significant finding was that most bridles exert hardly any poll pressure at all.  "Pressure is actually higher each side of the poll, behind the ears and under the browband".  This is particularly significant to me from a physio point of view, because a large percentage of horses that I treat have some level of muscle tension and sensitivity behind the ears and under the browband - is this caused by / contributed to / nothing to do with wearing a conventional bridle?  My guess would be that it is not caused by the bridle (I say this largely because I can often cause long term relief of tension and sensitivity using appropriate treatment techniques), but that it would certainly be irritated by the bridle, and that this would have a significant effect on the horse's way of going.

The Fairfax bridle relieves pressure, leading to greater limb range of movement 

One of the things I find most fascinating is the evidence in relation to the noseband pressure.  Who would have thought that a cavesson noseband would exert more pressure than a grackle noseband?!  The damning evidence on flash nosebands doesn't surprise me though, I've been trying to persuade riders not to use those for a long time now!  There's more fascinating info on the Fairfax website here.

A couple of things from the website that I found particularly interesting:

"Pressure exerted on either side of the nasal bone by a’normal’ cavesson noseband is four times higher than that we measured under a saddle. The cavesson pressure we recorded was so high, we thought the pressure mat must be faulty and we sent it back to the manufacturer. It wasn’t."

"Drop and grackle nosebands perform better in terms of pressure reduction and freedom of movement compared to any other conventional noseband we tested."

"Flash nosebands cause the most pressure and have the most detrimental effect on a horse’s movement. A flash stap dragging down the lower edge of the cavesson part is the most antagonistic high-pressure noseband design we tested."

I have a few clients who have tried the Fairfax bridle - some have loved it, others haven't.  To me, it makes sense - and if I had my own horse, I'd definitely be trying it.  I'd love to hear what you think, so if you've got any experience of the new bridle, please leave me a comment below!