The most common
Indian bridle, known as the war bridle,
was made of a length of rope with a
so-called lark's-head knot in the
middle. The knot, tightened around
the horse's lower jaw, formed the bit;
the rope ends served as reins.
To break a horse for riding, the Indians occasionally used a halterlike bridle. The nose loop and single rein gave the rider a strong contact with the horse's head, and a hard pull on the rein cut the animal's wind, bringing it to a halt.