Bridle Styles: what will be next?

[see_u_at_x]

I’m with poltroon - I think plaited reins are beautiful and I, too, get frustrated with the lack of quality reins that seem to come with most bridles. I might even still have a pair of plaited reins somewhere, though mine are brown, which would actually go beautifully with my brown dressage bridle. (Bridle is brown w/ black padding.) The reins that came with my bridle are quite decent, actually, in that they’re plain brown leather with rein stops. Much more preferable than the web reins that I usually see.

As someone else posted above, I’m not really a fan of the hook studs, either. I think the PS of Sweden bridles are pretty, but I hate that they all have hook studs instead of buckles. I’m also not a fan of plain cavessons - I much prefer the crank with the padding under the buckle. I do really wish, however, that more dressage bridles came with a different type of flash loop attachment that’s removable vs. the sewn in loop one.

[Dutchmare433]

Agreed the quality of reins that come with most bridles, even expensive ones, really sucks! They’re invariable too thick for my taste and too short for my horses’ necks. So I always end up buying reins separately. About to buy a pair of Jerry’s reins, but might take a look around the website to see about a bridle.

Things I like:
-padded/shaped crown
-moderately thick noseband (not crazy thick like some, but not thin like some of the hunter bridles)
-padded noseband with padded crank, not that it matters much, I keep it super loose, the marketing has got me there.
-hook studs instead of buckles, looks cleaner
-I do wish I could find a plain cavesson without flash so I don’t have to get the loop removed.
-I add my own browband, always blingy to a degree, but suited to the horse’s face…takes a plain face or a symmetrical blaze to pull off a swoopy browband, and a horse who is really solid in the contact to pull off anything really sparkly. I’ve also never found a bridle off the rack to have a big enough browband!
-some horses can pull off the patent noseband, my horse is not one of those

As for all the other bling, I keep it to a minimum at shows, but I do have a few pairs of lightly blingy breeches and belts for at home. Saddles and boots I keep plain, as I intend for both to outlast trends.

[Libby2563]

All these bridle threads are timely as I’m not much of a tack collector but I’ve been browsing for a new bridle for my 3.5-year-old. He’s currently going in a $40 POS since I figured he would probably destroy it one way or another.

I’ve been drooling over bridles that are black with brown padding or vice versa. How do we feel about pairing those with an all-black saddle?

[SendenHorse]

I switched to rubber reins of varying thicknesses. I never use reins that come with bridles anymore. I love Eventa.

[MysticOakRanch]

[QUOTE=SendenHorse;9001267]
I switched to rubber reins of varying thicknesses. I never use reins that come with bridles anymore. I love Eventa.[/QUOTE]

I love the KL Select pimple grip reins (horrible name, but nice reins) - agree, I have never found a pair of reins that came WITH a bridle that I like…

[Xanthoria]

I had laced reins too, and love plaited ones. Seems a bit strange since they have similarities, but laced ones feel cheap and plaited ones luxurious?

Anyway, I think that for ease of use and speed of cleaning someone needs to start doing sewn in bridles again - the bit is sewn into the cheeks and reins, so no - you can’t change it. But cleaning is a snap - I wash bits every use and don’t allow gunk to build up, and my guys wear the same bit all the time so removing the bit is a non issue for me.

So old fashioned - we used to use them for show pony and best turned out classes in the UK with a sewn in double or pelham.

I’d especially like one with adjustment at the crown only, nicely padded and properly cut back around the ears too (many I see aren’t - they need proper cut outs at the right places and lots of padding)

With the savings on hardware and fiddling with inserting buckles or hook studs I would expect this headstall to come in cheaper than a standard one too.

If you hated sewn in reins you can always do loop in reins - removable, no hardware.

[Thylacine]

plaited reins?
ugh - not good on anything xc, especially anything with a bit of steamtrain in its breeding unless one wants ones gloves and hands rent asunder.

Xan, you made me remember my Garryownen days with the sewn in bit and bridoon - sigh so long ago now. so stoopid, so wasteful, so elitist, so EVERYTHING! LOL.

thems were the days

it makes my eyes bleed when i see the quality of bridles they want top dollar for in tack shops, never mind the quality - rather lack thereof, of the reins. better to find a good saddler then just go custom and be done with it as far as i go.

[outerbanks77]

I just purchased a Fairfax bridle because I liked the drop noseband design. My mare is just being started, so I don’t know if the drop will be the best choice for her, but I’ve read the advice about starting in a drop from several trainers. Also, Hilda Gurney discussed starting all horses in a flash to head off mouth fussiness at a clinic I audited, but I am not a fan of the flash, so went with the drop.

At first I was going to try to just order the browband, but after reading about the rest of the bridle design, decided to just buy the whole thing. It has a piped, curvy black browband, which I think I’ll stick with, but I do think I’ll change out the hook stud cheeks for buckle ends.

So as far as trends, I don’t know - I kind of like seeing the variety between crystals, patent, printed leather, colored padding and so on. For myself, I’m going to keep it simple and just do a fly bonnet with a few rhinestones sewn in if I want a bit of sparkle (my mare has a poofy thing that will never yield to braiding, though she claims it is a forelock).

[DressageChic2]

i am a serial bridle buyer lol!

i really liked rolled leather but flat suits my older fashioned KWPN better so we ent back to flat.

wide and patent nosebands are still my fave, sometimes white padding sometimes not-i have both so i can change easily!

padded headpieces are here to stay i think and as much as i didnt want to get suckered in to the fairfax trend he does go the best by a long way in the fairfax headpiece.

[mvp]

[QUOTE=MysticOakRanch;9001393]
…I have never found a pair of reins that came WITH a bridle that I like…[/QUOTE]

Bridle makers should just omit reins if their plan is to sell me cheap web reins with the better bridle. And price accordingly. I’ll never ride in those POSs.

[Forte]

[QUOTE=Libby2563;9001205]

I’ve been drooling over bridles that are black with brown padding or vice versa. How do we feel about pairing those with an all-black saddle?[/QUOTE]

I have an all black saddle (except for a very subtle dark red welt on the cantle) and I use a black/brown padding bridle and I think it looks smashing!

[MsM]

My late Morgan always required a Frankenbridle! He had a wedge shaped head - wide across the forehead and small muzzle. I had to cobble together a horse-sized crownpiece and browband with cob-sized cavesson and cheek pieces. I liked some bling in his browband. Couldn’t find a padded noseband that didn’t overwhelm his face. Hook in studs for less hardware.

[keysfins]

[QUOTE=mvp;9002275]
Bridle makers should just omit reins if their plan is to sell me cheap web reins with the better bridle. And price accordingly. I’ll never ride in those POSs.[/QUOTE]

The only web reins I ever loved are those by Passier. They are not stiff cotton web, I think they must use rayon or some other soft material. They are very nice in the hand, and feel completely different than the cheapo web reins.

I have calfskin reins on my bridles. They are grippy and don’t have raised rein stops. I’ve never had plaited reins, but would love to feel what they are like.

[RedHorses]

[QUOTE=mvp;9002275]
Bridle makers should just omit reins if their plan is to sell me cheap web reins with the better bridle. And price accordingly. I’ll never ride in those POSs.[/QUOTE]

Agreed! I buy the reins I like. I bought a bridle for my last youngster to show in because I knew his head would grow and didn’t want to make his custom bridle until it did. The reins were still in their twist tied, folded up, purchase state when I sold the bridle a couple of years later.

[KyrieNZ]

I HATE laced reins. I can’t hold them, and have no idea how others do it.

I don’t like white padding, or patent. Why highlight a big head, or an unsteady head?

I like plain, flat leather, with studs/billets.

I like fine reins as I have little hands, love the reins that have the pimple grip on the inside

[Ceylon_Star]

On the topic of reins - It’s freaking HARD to find pony length curb reins! Even harder to find hook stud end pony length curb reins that aren’t buckled in the middle. Come on, bridle makers. Not all ponies are ridden by kids in pelhams with converters. Some of us need double reins for our bridles!

[Xanthoria]

Ceylon Star I have had flat curb reins from Bobby’s that had hook studs and no center buckle. They come in pony size: http://www.tackzone.com/catalog/flat-reins-p-350.html

[Ceylon_Star]

[QUOTE=Xanthoria;9003700]
Ceylon Star I have had flat curb reins from Bobby’s that had hook studs and no center buckle. They come in pony size: http://www.tackzone.com/catalog/flat-reins-p-350.html[/QUOTE]

Ooh, thanks so much!!

[Xanthoria]

Email them to double check on the buckle tho - and Ardeshir the owner will get right back to you

[keh]

Quote Originally Posted by Libby2563
I’ve been drooling over bridles that are black with brown padding or vice versa. How do we feel about pairing those with an all-black saddle?

There are a lot of pictures of Steffen using a black bridle with brown padding & a black saddle. I think it looks really sharp! Not sure of the bridle maker - maybe Stubbem?