Bridles - Love, hate, set on fire.

[Ghazzu]

Love:

Old old (like when the Powers brothers owned one store in Wellesley) Dover bridle, with multiple spare cheekpieces to fit anyone.

Jerry’s Harness black dressage full bridle–finest black leather I’ve ever seen.

Nunn Finer cob size raised hunt bridle for my little Arab stallion.

[asb_own_me]

I’ve been following this thread with more than passing interest, as I need to replace a hard-worn Pessoa bridle that has seen 12 years of use as the bridle for first my mare (now retired) and then my gelding who took her place in the show ring. I’ve seen many posts panning the Pessoa bridles and I’m thinking they are newer models, because this one (purchased in 2002) has worn extremely well, has all the original parts/keepers and feels like butter. Sadly, the cavesson has seen better days and I feel the pony deserves a nice new bridle.

During the Thanksgiving sales, I ordered two bridles to compare. An ADT Imperial and a Beval Heritage. Just looking at and holding each bridle, there are things I like about each one and things I don’t like about each one.

ADT - the leather is (not sure the terminology for this) “finished”? on both sides, as in it’s not rough on the underside of the crown, the underside/chin area of the cavesson, and the underside of the reins. But…the cheek pieces are wider and the hardware bulkier, the stitching less fancy, and the padding less substantial.

Beval - the leather has those rough areas on those underside parts, and the reins are much stiffer. However, the stitching is fancier, the cheek pieces and hardware are finer, and the padding is more substantial.

Any thoughts on these two bridles specifically compared to each other?

[mvp]

[QUOTE=PonyRider;7924938]

Not sure what brand I would buy either. The Jeffries brand you mentioned do they come from Jeffers Equine? Wouldn’t mind looking into that brand if they are made well.[/QUOTE]

No relation between Jeffers Equine and E. Jeffries Company, a standard, Walsall, UK-type saddle/tack maker.

Check 'em out: http://www.ejeffries.co.uk

Also, Jeffries makes some tack cleaner in a tub that is the perfect balance of oil/glycerine for folks working in freezing conditions. There, glycerine doesn’t work so well. You’d want to use the Jeffriess soap during that last, finishing phase of care on your bridle that you’d normally do with glycerine (or similar) in warmer weather. Just sayin’… since we are on the topic of Jeffries.

Also, for you dressagists: Jeffries’ versions of the trendy patent leather bridle is very pretty and well-made.

I’d pay less for a Jeffries black leather bridle than I’d have to for a Passier, Schumacker or similar, and I’d have comparably quality.

ETA: There’s a race horse supply store in Pleasanton (northern), CA that stocks Jeffries stuff. I’m not sure where another supply can be found in the US.

[Sueby]

Love my Dy’on, Vespucci and schooling M Toulouse. HATE HATE the stupid mondega (greenhawk) oversize. The oil pooled on it, it was barely big enough for a regular horse and the reins were hard. Worst bridle ever for $250 (incl tax). Don’t know what I was thinking when I got that…

[Lucassb]

[QUOTE=HLMom;7924744]
I know the “OP” said not the house brands, but I would like to know if anyone has any opinion on Dover’s Showmark hunter bridles. I have two and am considering getting a third. I like them… but maybe I just don’t know what I am missing with other brands!

Also, when we talk low-range, mid-range, and high-end, what price ranges are we talking about? Related question: what is the minimum you would expect to spend to get a decent bridle?[/QUOTE]

No one seems to have addressed your question about prices yet. I am admittedly a tack snob and prefer to spend the money for nicer strap goods; in addition to looking and feeling quite a bit nicer, IME, the quality and thus safety are also typically better.

I am not a fan of the Dover showmark brand. The leather is plastic-y, IMO, and the overall fit and finish are not that great. If you compare one to a higher end brand, you will immediately see the difference. Check out a Jimmy’s bridle (one of the old, 20th Century ones if you can find one.) Or one of the Legacy line, made by Wayne Rasmussen at the Country Saddler.

If you want similarly delicious leather in a stock product, check out the Antares strap goods. Smartpak has their hunter bridle for $520. I personally prefer the more traditional style of their older bridles for the hunters (rather than the monocrown) but the quality is impeccable. I just got their double (dressage) bridle which lists for $590, but got lucky and found a brand new one at one of my favorite online tack sellers at a $100 discount (merry christmas to me!)

I would say those are high end bridles/prices although you can certainly find more expensive models. When I sold my Hermes snaffle - which was in absolutely pristine condition, close to new, I got $1500 for it, including reins. That’s obviously a significant discount to what one would cost new, but still a rather expensive piece of tack.

You can usually find the standard Edgewood bridles for the low to mid $300s, less reins. The fancier/trendier models (wider nosebands, etc) are obviously more. I would consider that one of the nicer mid range bridles. And of course, there are plenty of sites where you can buy used bridles - often in show condition, for much less.

I would expect to pay a couple hundred bucks for a decent bridle, and I’d shop used in order to maximize the quality I got for the price.

[Kat]

I personally really like the Dover Showmark bridles. I have the wide noseband and the normal noseband. I’ve had the normal noseband bridle for 7 or 8 years and used it as my everyday bridle and show bridle pretty consisently. the Noseband broke on a trail ride with a particularly strong horse in June, but I feel like the thing has stood up to more abuse than pretty much any other piece of tack I’ve ever owned. It fit pretty much everything and looked nice.
the wide noseband has only lived as a show bridle, although since my pelham has lived on it for a while, I use it occasionally for schooling as well. Its very handsome and looks as nice (maybe nicer) than a lot of the more expensive bridles I’ve seen and used. I’ve had it for 4 ish years and it still looks beautiful and is soft and supple as can be.
I also have an ADT bridle which I love, although I havn’t had it for that long, but it looked amazing on my chestnut and was soft to boot.
I also school in the Pessoa wide noseband and have shown a bit in it when I was in a bind. I really like it for the money. I prefer a classic crown and a wide noseband without too much padding and except needing to put more holes in the noseband, it fits nearly everything.

I hate my tredstone bridle something fierce and don’t particularly like the look of five star tack although I could come around to it.

[Lori]

I love the quality and feel of the high end leather tanned in England.
The next favorite would be Stubben.

Other brands hanging around:
I have a Bobby’s high end bridle that is very nice, but I don’t think it will hold up like the 2 above, so it was purchased as a show only bridle.
I am not overly impressed by Edgewood. The USA tanned leather is nice, but I am not a fan of floppy soft, so I don’t even use it for my own leatherworking.
I have a newer Rodrigo and really, I hate it. The leather is not the quality that I would have expected for the price. It looks nice, but, ugh, the leather.
I have made repairs to many different brands and even the expensive Vespucchi does not wear as well as I would expect. I think it goes back to that noodle feel of the softer leather that I don’t like.
I also am not a fan of a gagillion stitches per inch. It looks lovely, but weakens the leather. I would rather stay at 12spi max (fancy stitching can be more as it is just decoration).