Portuguese bridles

In the primitive times, horses were used for various purposes, essentially for transporting people and goods over long distances. With the rise of new principalities, which strengthened themselves with time, the powerful rulers took to warfare in order to establish their authority over the weaker kingdoms. In such cases, horses came handy as in those early times, the king's army mounted on horses to travel long distances chasing the enemy and fought on horseback. Today, times have changed. Ancient modes of warfare have been replaced by advanced weapons and armaments. But the art of horse riding has remained alive in the form of equestrianism and in Portugal it is much wanted means of spending one's leisure times amidst the diverse landscapes of the Portuguese countryside.

Equestrian activities in the country of Portugal are very significant and because of their historical importance, the art of horse riding needs to be accompanied by the conventional apparels, saddles and bridles unique to Portugal. It is in the closing decades of the 18th century around 1790 that evidences regarding the conventional Portuguese bridles can be found in the book by Manoel Carlos de Andrade called 'Luz da Liberal, e Nobre Arte da Cavallaria'. The traditional Portuguese bridles like the Baroque bridle and Portuguese bridle are made even today in the same way as the 18th century replicas designated in the book by Manoel Carlos de Andrade. These Portuguese bridles are hand made and manufactured with the same ingredients as in the medieval times. However, with the advancement of time, Portuguese bridles have also been modified by merging with other forms forming Portuguese-German and Portuguese-English bridles. These are extremely important requisites during horse riding and equestrian activities as the use of traditional gears and apparels are of immense significance in Portugal because of their historical origins.