Who has a Bartville hunt bridle?
Likes dislikes?
My old Radnor bridle broke on me and I was looking for something that will last, and hold up to hard use, with proper care.
I like my guy in flat leather, and hope to hunt him in the future.
Pictures of your bridles greatly appreciated. 
I don’t own any of their bridles, but worked for a woman who ONLY had Bartville leather several years ago.
All of it was very nice, and beautiful. Good, sound, serviceable leather. I did not love their buckles (big and clunky, hard to polish when you’re a WS 
) but they all cleaned up beautifully and were always complimented.
Definitely very sturdy too. I would not hesitate to order one if they had different buckle options.
ETA: not my horse[s], but these are the bridles - did a google search - i’d know their tack ANYWHERE
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=29vgm50&s=6
http://s175.photobucket.com/user/dbadaro/media/Romeo/DSC01629.jpg.html
http://www.irealm.org/horseplay/getimage.php/med/203/IMG_0267.JPG
They are VERY customizable, and will pretty much make anything you need.
Bartville is our “local” so we are in there quite a bit. I see their name come up in this Forum from time to time. From what I have read every once in a while there seems to be a bit of misconception about their tack and other things they offer. A lot of the leather goods/tack they offer are NOT made “in house”. They are resellers.
Next time I am in there I am going to inquire/check out what they actually make when it comes to English tack. We get a lot of stuff repaired there. They do a good job but their attention to “detail” can be a bit lacking. Like using the same “type” of leather and matching color. It’s annoying when we take an expensive halter to them for repair and they just slap any old leather that is close in color and or style and type.
Their expertise is in their name “harness” because that is a lot of what they make and service to their Amish community. Which they are in the heart of.
Don’t get me wrong it is a great place. They have a ton of stuff. Pretty much a one stop for just about anything. Stuff you would be hard to find anywhere else under one roof.
I have one and the lady I groom for has a barn full of them. Great tack, will last you for years. Cleans up beautifully, and is very durable. Completely customizable. The only thing I don’t like is that the hardware is a bit clunky, but other than that, no complaints! Classic hunt tack.
I have one that I like, but the sizing is bit weird (horse size was small). Make sure you get measurements before you buy. I think mine looks nicer than the ones in Beowulf’s pictures. It looks the most like the last one (except for style of course).
Thanks everyone. I’ll Google and hopefully find a few more photos, but looks like sometime this spring I may order one.
I own a few bridles from Bartville. If you are having something repaired, emphasize show quality or they will not worry about matching leather. If you are buying a bridle, they tend to run big so we always ask for cob size cheek pieces- regular bridle with cob cheek pieces seems to fit right.
That being said, the quality is excellent. I have a bridle that I bought as a show bridle in about 2004 and has been relegated to a schooling bridle for two to three horses at a time. It is cleaned maybe two or three tines in the summer and pretty much never in the winter. The leather is still soft and it is in very good condition.
My boa k show dressage bridle, light chestnut show bridle and light chestnut with blue trim show bridle are all Bartville. Pretty much the entire barn has at least the two Colorado custom bridles and most of my trainer’s bridles are Bartville.
Some custom girths came from there as well.
Price plus quality is definitely worth it.
Most of my bridles and reins are Bartville…Dressage Eventing and Show my leathers won t buy any where else, all most all my halters…agree about repair.
In there several times a month and a major designated Must Stop for all my out of town horse guests
My hunting tack is all from Bartville. After getting a few pieces years and years ago I liked the value for the product for my hunting needs. It’s not the luscious English leather but it’s strong, supple enough and correct for hunting. Over the years I’ve collected bridles, wire cutter case, breastplates in two styles, halters, stirrup leathers and a sandwich case from them. I really should put it aside during the off season and use something else but it’s holding up fine to year round use.
Good luck shopping around!
Our bridles are custom made from Bartville and beautiful.
Love them. Great quality and can’t beat the price. I don’t like the grippy reins I have though. Leather is too thin and they get slick when sweaty. I should have stuck with laced or the older style rubber or rubbery canvas type.
And they do run small! Particularly in breastplates. Anything over 16hh they recc going to Oversize. My TB and TB paint fit great in horse size bridle (usually H size is almost too big) but anything heavier go OS. I’m on the last holes on the H sized breastplate, should have gone OS.
Love the place, and love the fact they have 1" laced reins in a variety of lengths.
Here it is brand new, horse sized on a 15.3hh paint who normally fits in a cob bridle or the smallest holes on a horse size. We’re solidly on the middle holes of this one. The breastplate is also horse sized. It’s on the very last shoulder hole on my 16.3hh TB but the part that goes between his legs is plenty long.
How are the prices on the flat bridles without reins?
You can call and request to have a catalog mailed to you, in there are photos with measurements of every bridle piece. It states how long each piece is and the different measurements from cob, horse and oversize.
[QUOTE=MelanieC;7972799]
How are the prices on the flat bridles without reins?[/QUOTE]
$112 horse sized.
I finally got mine figured out, be careful with sizing! The catalog list seems about .5" off from what you actually get and that was enough that I had to send the oversize cheek pieces and browband back for smaller sizes. Horse size cheek pieces worked out for us, I think the browband was a non-standard size. He’s 16.1.
Careful with sizing, but they’re lovely!
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