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Bitless Bridle Comparison: The Corbin

To find more about the Corbin Combination Bridle, please visit their website here.
Star Rating:

Please note rankings:
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Comments:

The Corbin is a unique design- allowing the rider to choose one of four bridle styles- a bitted bridle, a transitional bit to bitless bridle, a bitless cross under (not available in the U.S.) and a bitless side pull bridle. This makes the bridle ideal for training or those unsure which bridle design would best suit their particular horse. Its appearance is classy and very show-like, though the many buckles and straps take some time to get used to.

Testers appreciated that the bridle incorporates elastic into the noseband, allowing the horse to comfortably work its mouth. A great addition, which increases control over standard side pull bridles, is the noseband insert, which none of the horses seemed to mind. Another bonus with this bridle is the shaped crownpiece. This prevents rubbing against the horse’s ears, a very nice feature for the horse’s comfort.

The Corbin is lightweight with keepers comfortably fitting the straps. Hardware on this bridle is an ideal size. Weld marks on the hardware prove that the rings are not one solid piece, possibly limiting its durability. Otherwise, leather, Beta Biothane, and hardware included, the Corbin seems to bear your average durability.

The Corbin cleans up well, but care must be taken to avoid getting leather cleaners onto the beta Biothane. Even after much use, with regular maintenance, the Corbin shines like new.

The Corbin is very adjustable, and we found we could fit horses about a size up or down of the marked size- very convenient if you must share your bridles between horses, or have a horse with an awkward sizing.

Overall, the Corbin is a very stylish bridle crafted with the competitor in mind. No doubt should bitless riding become universally accepted, we will see more of this bridle in the show-ring. This is the ideal bridle for the fashion minded equestrian that also wants good bitless control.

In Use:

Transitional Bit to Bitless: The Transitional bridle attachment proved to be a huge advancement to helping horses (and their riders!) along the way to bitless riding. Horses, tense in a bit, would begin to relax their topline and begin to listen instead of fighting the bridle. This feature alone, makes the bridle a must-have to any training program using bits. We saw dramatic increases in performance potential when using this feature as compared to a standard bitted bridle.

Cross-Under Bridle: The cross-under attachment is not as effective as specific cross under bridles (such as the Nurtural or Dr. Cooks) but it is adequate nonetheless, especially for occasional use. Our main dislikes were that the straps had the ability to slide around and cause uneven pressure over the poll and from rein cues. Provided the cross-under straps remain even, the cross-under attachment is effective, and a wonderful option for those days when the horse is fresh or during jumping sessions. However, we feel if the cross-under would be your main ‘option’, that it is better to go with a cross-under only bridle.

Side pull Bridle: The side pull on the Corbin is a fantastic advancement to traditional side pulls. The added noseband ‘grip’ increases control, and rein cues are transmitted accurately with good release. The side pull version is especially effective for lateral and dressage work. Even ‘hot’ horses responded and listened attentively to the bridle.

Bitted Bridle: The results are the same as with riding in a regular bitted bridle, except the horses appeared more comfortable, likely because of the elasticized noseband.

Individual Rider Stories to Come

Conclusion:

A great, highly effective and well-made bridle, the Corbin is also fairly priced. The unique design and adjustability means it is perhaps one of the most versatile bridles on the market, and can be suited for nearly any horse. For the english competitor, this is a great find.

The Corbin Bridle Retails Between: $104-145 Canadian Dollars