Horse & Pony Browbands
A browband is the strap across your horse's forehead that stops the bridle sliding back — and swapping it is the quickest, cheapest way to give a whole bridle a new look. This collection holds 76 products: everyday plain and raised browbands from £3.62, padded and clincher styles between £8.10 and £27.13, and diamante, crystal and pearl show browbands up to £50.00, in sizes from Small Pony through to X-Full. A handful of bridles that come with a browband included are listed here too.
In a hurry?
- Cheapest plain option in stock: Kincade Classic Plain Raised Browband, £3.62 (Pony, Cob and Full).
- Everyday schooling: Shires Aviemore Plain Browband or Velociti Rapida Flat Browband, both £7.20.
- Comfort pick: Velociti Rapida Padded Browband, £8.10 in Pony to X-Full.
- Best seller for sparkle: John Whitaker Lynton V-Shaped Diamante Browband, £21.29.
- Show ring, no bling: Shires Blenheim Leather Polo Browband £8.10, or Rhinegold Veneto Show Bridle Clincher Browband £27.13.
- Statement piece: Eco Rider Freedom Grace Browband with inlaid pearl detail, £50.00.
Which browband style should I choose?
Style is mostly about where you ride and how much shine you want. Use the table below as a starting point, then check the individual product page for the exact sizes and colours in stock.
| If you want… | Look for | In this collection | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| A plain everyday replacement | Flat or raised leather | Kincade Classic Plain Raised, Shires Aviemore Plain, Velociti Rapida Flat | £3.62 |
| More room around the ears | Curved, V-shaped or U-shaped | Velociti Rapida Padded Curved, Whitaker Raised Squared Curved, John Whitaker Lynton U-Shaped Diamante | £11.70 |
| Padding against the forehead | Padded leather | Velociti Rapida Padded, Browband | Premier Equine Padded | £8.10 |
| Traditional showing smartness | Clincher, plaited or polo bands | Shires Blenheim Leather Polo, Shires Aviemore Plaited, Shires Velociti Rapida Clincher, Rhinegold Veneto Clincher | £8.10 |
| Sparkle without a big spend | Diamante | Kincade Curved Diamante, Shires Aviemore Wide Diamante, Shires Velociti GARA Black Diamante | £7.31 |
| A proper showstopper | Crystal, mixed stones or pearl | Premier Equine Trovare Crystal, Shires Velociti RAPIDA Micro Mixed Diamante, Premier Equine Bergamo, Eco Rider Freedom Grace | £23.40 |
How do I get the size right?
Browbands are sold in the same size names as bridles — Small Pony, Pony, Cob, Full, X-Full and, on a few Collegiate lines, Warmblood. The quickest check is to take the browband already on your bridle, lay it flat and measure it from one outside edge to the other, then match that length to the product page. If you are fitting a new bridle instead, measure across the forehead just below the ears and add a little slack so the band never pulls the headpiece into the base of the ears.
What if it sits between two sizes?
Go up rather than down. A browband that is slightly long simply sits a touch lower; one that is too short drags the headpiece forward and rubs behind the ears. Sizing is not standardised across brands, so a Cob in one range can be a different length to a Cob in another — always check the size guidance on the product you are buying.
What is the difference between a straight, curved and V-shaped browband?
A straight browband is a simple flat strap. A curved (sometimes called shaped or dipped) browband is cut so the centre dips and the ends sweep away from the ears, which gives more clearance for horses that object to pressure at the ear base. V-shaped and U-shaped browbands, such as the John Whitaker Lynton pair at £21.29, take that idea further with a pronounced dip at the centre that also flatters a plain head. Choose on fit first and looks second.
Are diamante browbands allowed in the show ring?
It depends entirely on the discipline and the society running the class. Some showing and dressage classes expect a plain or clincher browband, while others are relaxed about sparkle, and rules change between seasons. Read the schedule and the current rulebook for your society before you buy. If you compete across several disciplines, a plain leather browband plus one diamante browband covers most eventualities — and at £7.20 for the Shires Aviemore Plain Browband, keeping a spare is cheap.
Do magnetic browbands do anything?
The Premier Equine Magni-Teque Magnetic Browband (£19.80, one size, black) holds magnets against the forehead, and magnetic tack of this kind is sold as an everyday accessory rather than as a remedy. Magnets are not a treatment and should not be relied on to fix a behavioural or physical problem. If your horse is head-shy, resistant in the bridle or shaking its head, speak to your vet first — discomfort, teeth, tack fit or a medical cause should always be ruled out before you change an accessory.
Which sizes and colours are in stock?
Availability moves daily. At the time of writing, black and havana brown dominate the everyday ranges, with Shires Velociti GARA Two Tone Browband (£18.90) adding blue, cerise and green options, and Shires Blenheim Leather Polo Browband (£8.10) offering multi-colour woven combinations. If you need a specific size and colour together, get in touch and our team will help you check what is on the shelf.
Browband FAQs
What size browband do I need?
Measure your existing browband flat, from one outside edge to the other, and match that length to the size on the product page. Sizes run Small Pony, Pony, Cob, Full and X-Full, with Warmblood on some Collegiate lines. If you fall between two sizes, choose the larger one — a slightly long browband sits lower, while a short one pulls the headpiece forward and rubs behind the ears.
Will any browband fit my bridle?
Most standard bridles use a browband with a loop at each end that the headpiece threads through, so browbands are widely interchangeable within the same size. The things to check are the width of your headpiece (a chunky headpiece will not pass through a narrow loop) and any brand-specific fastening — some Eco Rider browbands use a brand quick-release clasp. If you are unsure, get in touch and our team will help.
Are diamante browbands allowed in competition?
Rules vary by discipline and by the society running the class, and they are updated from time to time. Traditional showing classes often expect a plain or clincher browband, while other classes permit sparkle. Always check the class schedule and the current rulebook before you compete rather than relying on what you saw in the ring last season.
What is the difference between a padded and a plain browband?
A plain browband is a single flat or raised strap of leather. A padded browband, such as the Velociti Rapida Padded Browband at £8.10 or the Premier Equine Padded browband at £17.10, has a cushioned layer behind the leather so the strap spreads its contact over the forehead. Padding is a comfort choice rather than a performance one, and many riders combine it with a curved shape for extra clearance at the ears.
Can a browband help a head-shy or head-shaking horse?
A better-fitting browband can remove one possible source of discomfort: a short or straight-cut band pulls the headpiece into the base of the ears, and a curved or longer band relieves that. It is not a fix for head-shaking or head-shyness on its own. Those signs can have dental, veterinary or saddlery causes, so ask your vet to check your horse before assuming it is a tack problem.
How much should I expect to spend?
Plain everyday browbands in this collection start at £3.62 for the Kincade Classic Plain Raised Browband, with Shires Aviemore Plain and Velociti Rapida Flat at £7.20. Diamante starts at £7.31 for the Kincade Curved Diamante Browband, mid-range sparkle sits around £18.00 to £27.00, and the top of the range is the Eco Rider Freedom Grace pearl browband at £50.00. Bridles supplied with a spare browband, such as the Whitaker Lynton Snaffle Bridle, are £68.03.
Free UK delivery over £50 · 90-day returns · Expert help
Last reviewed 2026-07-26 by the Just Horse Riders team.