About Cathryn

I'm Cathryn. Bereiterin FN — a German professional rider and trainer qualification — dressage rider, and the person behind every bridle that leaves this shop.

If you've landed on this page, you probably want to know who's actually behind CR Harmonyequestrian. That's a fair question, especially if you're considering spending a few hundred euros on a bridle. So let me tell you.

Where I come from

I've been in the saddle since childhood and have held the Bereiterin FN qualification since 2007 — Germany's professional riding instructor and trainer certification. Trained in classical horsemanship, at home in the dressage arena, competing at advanced level. I know the world where performance is often bought with pressure: a sharper bit, a tighter noseband, more hand. I also know the feeling when a horse goes quiet on the inside instead of becoming truly relaxed.

At some point it was clear: I want to do this differently. Not softer in the sense of vague, but finer in the sense of clearer. Everything you find here grew out of that.

Why bitless

Riding bitless isn't a trend or an ideology to me. It's honest feedback. Without a bit, the option of holding a horse through its mouth disappears — and suddenly you see very precisely what your seat can actually do. Many riders experience that first as uncomfortable, then as liberating.

I work with horses that can't carry a bit for medical reasons: cervical spine findings, dental problems, scarred mouth corners. And I work with riders where nothing hurts at all, who simply sense there's more available. Both groups need equipment that's anatomically thought through, not just good looking.

The Crharmonybridle

The Crharmonybridle is my core product and the reason this shop exists. A bitless bridle with three configurations in one: sidepull, crossover and chin. You decide which action suits your horse, without having to buy three separate bridles.

The crownpiece is anatomically shaped and takes pressure off the atlas and the facial nerves. The noseband sits so that it leaves the infraorbital foramen on the upper jaw clear — the point where a nerve exits and where many standard bridles press uncomfortably. The leather is soft, holds its shape and adapts to the head rather than forcing it.

Available from pony to draft horse, in several editions and colours.

What handmade means here

Every bridle is made by hand. That means leather is cut individually, edges are worked, hardware is set, stones are applied by hand. It also means quantities are limited and it sometimes takes a while before an edition is back. I know that's frustrating. I still do it this way, because otherwise I couldn't stand behind it.

When a parcel arrives at your door, I packed it. That's not a marketing line, that's simply the size of this business.

CR Dressur — the other half

Alongside the shop, I teach. On location, at clinics, and online through video analysis. That matters to me, because equipment alone solves nothing. A bitless bridle doesn't turn a fixed hand into a quiet hand — it just shows you very clearly where you currently stand. The rest is work.

If you're unsure about making the switch, write to me. I also advise people who end up buying nothing.

What you can expect from me

Personal advice before you buy — on sizing, on configuration, on whether bitless makes sense for your horse at all.
14-day right of return — if the bridle doesn't fit, we'll exchange it. It happens, horses' heads differ.
Honesty about shipping — I no longer ship directly to EU countries outside Germany. Why that is, and how you can still get your bridle, is explained on the page Shipping to the EU.
Help with measuring — there's a step-by-step guide, and if you're unsure, send me a photo.
Real reviews — every review in the shop comes from a verified purchase, collected through Loox. Average: 4.9 out of 5.