The quality looks nice but something just looks off to me about the bridle photos. I think it’s the stitching!? Too big/thick prominent? Looks like stitching on a halter not a bridle? Maybe it’s that the noseband is wide but not even a little raised? I’m not sure. I’m reserving judgment when there are better photos but the ones they posted look a little odd to me.
I am not sure if I can comment or not but happened upon this thread today and wanted to share my small business that carries reasonably priced high end bridles and strapgoods. Custom made for me by a high end strap goods manufacturer using Sedgwick leather (from one of the oldest tanneries in the UK). I have both Havana and Australian nut and carry several bridles and reins including rubber lined laced reins. I have been selling these for about 8 years and work hard to provide customer service. I am hoping I am not breaking any rules posting this. I am the owner of the company and designed all the products myself.
My company is called Black Diamond Designs LLC.
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Did you have a booth at Lake Placid last summer? There was a new company with nice tack and nice people, and I can’t remember the name.
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The In Gate was at Lake Placid this year.
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Ah, that’s it - thanks!
Thanks- no sadly I don’t get to travel to the shows but that’s what helps me keep my price point down! The In gate has lovely tack! Their highest end bridle is the same leather as all my bridles. My entire line is Sedgwick leather from the oldest tannery in the UK. All of my headstalls are $150. With reins $235. I can do that because I don’t travel to the shows and it’s just me. No other employees. 
I’ve been selling this line for about 8 years but recently started to expand it to include both Havana and Australian nut colors along with pony sizes and working on an unpadded wide noseband version now.
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How do you do everything yourself??? Very cool!
It’s been a process 
But when my second child was born we decided I would retire from nursing and stay home with them. I began doing more with my leather work hobby and began restoring sidesaddles for others. Then making strap goods for others including hunt bridles because they can be hard to find! I began fostering a relationship with one of the high end strap goods manufacturers (because hand making each order was slowing things down) and the rest is history. Since then I’ve expanded my line to include suggestions from friends and customers and really enjoy it!!! I’ve got a business I’m proud of. A website I poured my heart into, and I’m just a regular adult amateur who likes to show and hunt and takes lesson and care for my 2 horses that live in my backyard with my kids 4H dairy goat herd. While I would love to travel to the big shows and promote I’m sadly caring for a parent with dementia and can’t get away for long periods of time. But I love talking to customers and ride with a big name trainer who is great at giving me feedback and letting me know what’s desired etc. I do get to visit some of the bigger shows (Pa national, Devon, Upperville) when I compete in the ladies sidesaddle division which I am hoping to do again now that my young horse is going. 20 years ago if you had told me I would be running a tack shop and leather shop instead of being the charge nurse in a large busy ER I would have called you crazy
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Wow!!! That is very cool and really admirable. I think I’m allowed to ask for your website here. If not, my apologies.
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Thanks! I’m not sure but I’ll post it for you and can take it down if needed. There is a big education component to it for sidesaddle riders that I am working to expand so love when I can share it.
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Gorgeous ! Question to a leather maker. Why do the bridles I’ve bought over the last 5+ years. Even high end ones $300-$500 seem rippled in spots? Quality of the leather ? My ancient tack feels so different. Less plasticy.
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This is a VERY common question. I get!!! And yes I wish we could get the leather of my childhood. The old Crosby ones were my favorite. It has everything to do with the tanning process. Those old hides were pit tanned but due to environmental concerns that process is no longer used. Look for English leather if looking for the highest quality. Sedgwick is the oldest tannery in the UK and to be honest probably to best product out there. From someone who works with the leather and is often rebuilding 100-150 year old sidesaddles that is what I use. I have tried so many other tanneries and have wanted desperately to find an American domestic hide that is comparable but they do not exist 
It would make my life so much easier if they did. My average shipping and tariff bill from the UK when I order leather is $400 just for shipping and tariff.
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Thank you so much for your reply! 
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Thanks so much for all the info and knowledge! Your bridles are beautiful and I will be contacting you when my baby is past the “we love to eat the reins” stage!
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Just chiming in with a first hand review of Black Diamond Designs. I read Breed.Ride.Event’s review (thanks Amanda) of the Show Hunter Bridle, Wide Noseband. It was (is) exactly what I was looking for. I was excited to buy from a woman-owned, small business. Amy was great to work with. The transaction was easy and my bridle came 3 days later. It is absolutely beautiful. I’m looking forward to breaking it in. In the future, I will absolutely be treating myself to a Amy Hunt bridle - maybe a Christmas present to me!
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Thank you for this review! This is exactly what I’m looking too I think!
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I bought this and have to say that the leather is sub-par and doesn’t darken with oil - And the size is wonky
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I was ref the ADT bridle
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I am so sorry to hear you weren’t happy with it. To be honest you are one of the first unhappy customers I have had. I wish you would have reached out to me directly. I offer a build a bridle option that allows you to mix and match size pieces for a custom like fit, but very few customers need to take advantage of that because my stock sizes typically fit very well. I am sorry you didn’t have that experience. Please message me and let me know when you placed your order and I can look it up and see if we can make it right. It’s the highest quality leather available right now. It doesn’t take oil like French leather does, but that is why it wears like iron, and lasts so long. It’s takes oil on the flesh side of the product which is what you want- the leather pores to fill with nourishing oil, not drying horse sweat 
I did start carrying Havana colored products since that was a big suggestion customers gave me
If you are oiling Sedgwick to change the color that won’t happen. But that is why they sell hides from London tan to ebony and all shades of brown in between. The two most popular colors are Australian Nut, and Chocco (which is Havana) and that is what I carry and matches most of the saddles on the market now.
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