Still looking at bitless bridles, but also trail halter/bridles for a different horse. What are your thoughts on beta bio thane verses leather or nylon
Me, I love the stuff, but I loathe cleaning leather. I have used nylon,but prefer the biothane. I think it aggravates a horse a little less. The stuff is very strong and low maintenance–pick a day when the DH is far away and run it through the dishwasher, bit and all.
I love the tack this lady makes
http://www.mossrockendurance.com/view_product.asp?category_ID=3&prod_ID=4
and will give her a plug every time someone asks me about my eye-popping neon orange tack. It looks really pretty on my dark bay horses and adds a certain amount of safety for road riding.
Biothane is the only way to go. It is SO easy to clean and doesn’t rub the horse like nylon can. It doesn’t get stiff in winter, either. I used to take it into the shower with me to clean it. And you can’t beat all the colors it comes in.
Beta is nice as well. I have a biothane teal halter/bridle that I got in '96 and it still looks brand new after years and years of use.
I would be lost with out my Biothane halter bridle. I hate cleaning tack!
Beta is just a hair softer than regular biothane. I have a slight preference for beta over biothane, and strongly prefer either over nylon.
I like my leather bridles for lots of things, but for trail riding, nothing beats a good synthetic!
Moss Rock is great, and if you want something a little different, check out Taylored Tack - http://www.tayloredtack.com/
I’ve also been really happy with the Zilco halter/bridle combos.
I have a biothane halter/ bridle and breastplate for one of my horses and a beta for the other. I am very happy with both. Nylon, however, I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole- YUCK! I do have some leather but in general I hate cleaning it and with the beating I give tack (and how much water I cross) beta or biothane work much better. I got my original one from Sportack (which I think has gone out of business?) and the second one from Maple Grove.
I have a sidepull bridle from Running Bear and I love it. I can go bitless when I want to or clip a bit on. It takes 5 seconds to switch from sidepull to bit and back again.
I love the bio. I use it for most day to day stuff just because it’s so easy to clean. Dunk it in water, wipe it dry and it looks new again.
Biothane has a glossy finish, and Beta has a matte finish – if you get it in brown or black, people have to look pretty closely to see that it’s not leather. Beta is also a little softer than Biothane. They’re both durable and easy to clean, just hose them off or swish in a bucket. Another plug for Taylored Tack – beautiful work, the quality can’t be beat, and you can get any color/pattern combination in any size you want. I get complimented on mine everywhere I go 
I love the Beta halter I got for my clyde-X. We hang halters right on the gate to the pasture, just in case someone has to grab on the fly. Nylon just faded, got coarse & dry-rotted hanging there in the weather & sun. Leather would have been wasted in the weather too. The green/red beta halter is still as brightly colored as the day I got it 9 months ago.
Thanks everyone. I just got sold on the bio thane. I was secretly hoping that every body like the stuff. I’m going to check out the shops that were mentioned.
Beta for me… Have two halter/bridles we use for trail riding. They’re 8 years old now. Had to replace the headstall piece when 1250 pounds of horse decided to pull back from the trailer he was tied to. Oh, used that bridle with damaged head stall for 2 seasons before replacing it. Stuff is tough !
[QUOTE=jeano;6244729]
Me, I love the stuff, but I loathe cleaning leather. I have used nylon,but prefer the biothane. I think it aggravates a horse a little less. The stuff is very strong and low maintenance–pick a day when the DH is far away and run it through the dishwasher, bit and all.
I love the tack this lady makes
http://www.mossrockendurance.com/view_product.asp?category_ID=3&prod_ID=4
and will give her a plug every time someone asks me about my eye-popping neon orange tack. It looks really pretty on my dark bay horses and adds a certain amount of safety for road riding.[/QUOTE]
Jeano - Thank you for that link!!! I’ve been looking into those converter styles for a while but it seemed like people wanted an “arm and a leg” for what they were selling, and not nearly the same variety of colors.
My SO has been wanting a new bridle for his beefy Pusher-bred TWH. . .I think I just found it. :yes:
