I have a chestnut and hate the way Havana tack looks on her. Anyone know of affordable brands that still sell lighter color bridles. She is also tb with a petite face so looking for something less bulky.
What is your budget?
And do you have a color swatch example of the color you’re thinking of? Chestnut seems to vary from vendor to vendor.
HDR has a fancy stitch line that is pretty orange - almost Pessoa orange.
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What kind of Chestnut are you looking for? If it’s like Oakbark (reddish brown), Aramas still makes one if that’s in your budget, and I believe there are also a few Americana bridles like that (as well as in a lighter “Oak” color, which is the one I have and is very pretty; they are harder to find, but seem to still be available AFAIK).
Ovation used to make some nice ones in those colors as well, though it seems almost all of their bridles are Havana now. There is also Pessoa, which I believe are very similar, though more expensive.
There are still a few Exselle bridles available online though it seems they’re no longer made, so if you can find one in the size, style, and color you’re looking for, that would be a great bridle at an excellent price, since they were made by the factory that originally made Crosby bridles back in the day.
I definitely feel your frustration about being able to find tack that isn’t Havana. I prefer bridles that don’t start out dark (as they never have the same nice feel or rich patina of a bridle that has darkened with oil/use/etc.), plus I am a big fan of the Oakbark and rich mahogany colors, as well as the lighter/medium browns. I’m not a big fan of tack that is so dark it’s almost black most of the time, but it seems that is mostly what is being sold these days. I really miss when there were more light/medium colored bridles with slightly lighter padding (like my Americana), as I have always loved that look! I’m really hoping some lighter and medium colored tack comes back “in” and becomes more available soon!
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I don’t personally care for them but the Red Barn line by KL Select comes in chestnut colored leather.
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Bobby’s English Tack still seems to make lighter colored bridles, though they’re hard to find in that color now outside of their actual website. You could try ebay too! I have a Bobby’s bridle in their lighter color for my chestnut that I bought several years ago. It’s their higher end line (Signature series?) and it’s a nice bridle for the price, the leather is decent.
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Do these lighter bridles stay light? In my experience everything eventually ends up dark muddy brown, including black tack and tan tack.
Oakbark usually gets a reddish patina, versus havana which gets very dark.
Newmarket gets an orange patina and doesn’t darken too much even with hydrophane.
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If you can find a used Vespucci, I’ve found they keep their color pretty well! I’ve got a pretty old one and the color hasn’t changed
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Aramas in the $200-300 range. Edgewood in the $400 range. Both get dark with time, but “red bay” dark- they keep their red tones.
I would recommend either to a friend. Be warned Edgewood stretches like crazy. If your horse can fit in two sizes, buy the smaller one. I’ve had mine for more than 15 years.
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I bought a Butet “Gold” that is a chestnut color and stays that way. Big reason why I decided not to keep mine. It just doesn’t suit my horse well as a dark bay.
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The Bridles and Reins bridles are actually good quality for the price and the “oakbark” color is definitely a more red hue.
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