They consist principally of a headstall, a collar, a breast-ornament, and a sort of huge tassel pendent at the horse's side.
The headstall was formed commonly of three straps: one was attached to the bit at either end, and passed behind the ears over the neck; another, which was joined to this above, encircled the smallest part of the neck; while a third, crossing the first at right angles, was carried round the forehead and the cheek bones.

At the point where the first and second joined, or a little in front of this, rose frequently a waving plume, or a crest composed of three huge tassels, one above another; while at the intersection of the second and third was placed a rosette or other suitable ornament.

The first strap was divided where it approached the bit into two or three smaller straps, which were attached to the bit in different places.

A fourth strap sometimes passed across the nose from the point where the first strap subdivided.

All the straps were frequently patterned; the bit was sometimes shaped into an animal form and streamers occasional floated from the nodding plume or crest which crowned the heads of the war-steeds.
The collar is ordinarily represented as a mere broad band passing round the neck, not of the withers (as with ourselves).