Bridles

[goodkarma]

Hi all!

I got a new mare with a large head and am bridle shopping. Ideally I would like either a bridle that can hold up to schooling and showing, OR a cheaper schooling bridle that is still decent quality (so I don’t cringe every time I touch it), and save up for a show bridle. I don’t love the look of buckles either and prefer the hook. Needs to come in oversize.

I’ve narrowed it down to… several… and welcome any suggestions!
Bobby’s- http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Bobbys_Tack_Padded_Crank_Dressage_Bridle_with_Rein s/descpage-BPCD.html

SmartPak- https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/harwich-padded-crank-noseband-dressage-bridle-by-smartpak-7222

Used Kieffer- http://www.ebay.com/itm/KIEFFER-Dressage-Bridle-Bk-Padded-Crank-Noseband-w-Crystal-amp-Stone-Browband-WB-/252648008987?fromMakeTrack=true&autorefresh=true

Passier Aquarius- https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/passier-aquarius-snaffle-bridle-with-crank-noseband-11657

KL Select Levade - http://www.vtosaddlery.com/product/KLSLB.htm

Some of these DO have buckles but… if they are awesome I would consider it.

[keysfins]

I have a Bobby’s snaffle for my mare, an older Kieffer snaffle for my gelding, a KL select snaffle with drop noseband, and Vespucci and Passier for double bridles. I am not necessarily devoted to a particular brand, as you can tell from this list.

I’m not sure how the quality on the current Kieffers are, simply because my older ones have not needed replacing. You might want to get some “hands on” to see and feel the leather, unless someone else can provide current feedback on that. I think Passier and KL Select are very good quality, and both would hold up to schooling and showing.

The Bobby’s bridles are a very good value, I also like them quite a bit. The Signature line is the highest quality, with extra nice leather and padding, and the fancy rounded buckles. I keep spare Bobby’s parts in my tack collection, like flash straps, cheeks, crank straps, keepers, and so on. (Your link for the Bobby’s bridle is incomplete, I get an error message when I clicked on it.)

I typically have the same bridle for schooling and showing, because I want to be sure I don’t change anything before a show. I take good care of my tack, and usually just give it a good cleaning and polish the buckles before shows or clinics.

If you do decide on the Bobby’s, I can highly recommend Rockhorse Ranch Tack for excellent customer service and competetive pricing. Nancy will be able to find the right bridle with hook stud ends, since you prefer that. She can make a custom bridle with the cheeks, noseband and crown that you need, if your horse is hard to fit in standard Pony/Horse/Warmblood sizes. She also gets in new or nearly new KL Select bridles and occasionally a new Passier.

She is on eBay, too, store name is Rockhorse Ranch Tack.

[Kolsch]

I second Rockhorseranch Tack. I just bought a double from her.

I like Bobby’s bridles and they’ve become my go to bridle because of the leather.

[MysticOakRanch]

It has been several years since I bought a bridle, but I have had Kieffer and Passier bridles and they were awesome! I have had KL Select reins, and they were really nice quality too. I think the only one of your group I would “shy away” from would be the SmarPak brand - I think you’d be better off buying a used “name brand” bridle. Over my (many) horse years, I’ve found good quality leatherwork lasts and lasts and lasts. The other stuff looks great for a couple of years, then doesn’t.

[kashmere]

Passier bridles are lovely, and will last you forever.

[Farys]

I just bought a double bridle from Belle Equestrian. Superb customer service and excellent quality. Absolutely lovely bridles. They do not come in O/S but the full is quite generous and fits my draft cross well. They go on sale often and I was able to snap mine up on a 50% off sale before Christmas.
http://www.belleequestrian.com.au

[beowulf]

I have had each of those bridle brands - I’m somewhat of a tack/strapgoods hoarder.

Skip the Smartpak bridles. Not impressed with the leather for the quality - if you want to spend in that price-range, look at Eponia (www.eponiaequestriansport.com). I purchased one in November after visiting their booth in Equine Affair. The leather is very strong but supple, and the small attention to details (the stitching is excellent and the ‘fancy stitch’ patterns are unique) make this bridle really stand out for me. For the price, you are getting a bridle that IMHO rivals Passier and Kieffer. I came home with this one, but in brown/black:
http://www.eponiaequestriansport.com/produkt/dressage-bridle/

Kieffers run small – so if your mare is a true oversize make sure that the seller will accept returns if it doesn’t fit. I love Kieffer; I have 2 bridles and will never part with them. Great quality. Mine are abused and used - from long trail rides in the rain to going to the beach – and they still clean up with polish for when I show.

Passier, I think, is a tiny step down from Kieffer but not by much - the leather quality is just as good, but the craftsmanship is not as meticulous… IE, my small quibble with Passier is the attention they pay to the little things – not uncommon for their keepers to become unstitched with minimal use, or for there to be a small flaw in the stitching on the nosebands and cheekpieces. Not a deal-breaker for me because no one can see the stitching flaws from the ground, but when you’re cleaning it’s more obvious. I have an Ingrid Klimke Bridle - it was not cheap – it’s hook/stud, fancy browband, padded to the nines and brass hardware - it’s absolutely gorgeous. It broke in better than any other bridle I’ve had and it’s a staple in my showing rotation.

KL Select - pass, pass, and then pass. For the money, not worth it. I wouldn’t pay more than $60 for a KL. Leather quality is so-so but the dealbreaker is their lack of craftsmanship: glue everywhere, uneven stitching, perpetually bleeding glue from nosebands… I have a KL I repurposed as a hackamore bridle; it does the job but the difference in quality is obvious when you compare it side-by-side with a Kieffer… and the price difference is minimal. The tanning/dyeing process is different with KLs and I don’t find they are as supple; my KLs always get cracks/ripples/distortions in the leather by the hook/stud loop of the cheekpiece (the part that curls around the bit)… even with lots of conditioning.

Bobby’s I really like… but don’t like as much as other brands. I’d say Bobby’s is on par with Eponia; good quality, attention to detail, etc. I like my Bobby’s, but it is for schooling - it doesn’t have enough pizazz for me to be show-worthy… but it’s a great bridle.

[MissAriel]

I have a Bobby’s and I really like it for the price point. Will it have the staying power of a really nice Kieffer, maybe not - we will find out. It was a bit stiff out of the bag, but broke in quickly. It feels good in my hand, and while I haven’t shown in it yet, I plan to this year. It is a nice looking bridle with a simple style, but I lean to the conservative in tack as my horse has his own bling.

[keysfins]

Beowulf, I’m surprised that you find the Kieffer bridles run small. Their Vollblut size (cob) fits my horses, 16.1-16.2 warmbloods with “normal” size heads, not dinosaurs.

The WB size in Kieffer look like they will fit a huge Warmblood head.

It would be great if bridle makers would standardise their sizes, but that’s not likely to happen. Measurements like Just Bridles had when she was in business, including noseband length over the nose/between the cheeks, length of the regular over-the-crown strap, especially how long the buckle side is, etc., would be great. I’d love to have those measurements readily available. However, right now, sizes can easily differ even between different models from the same maker.

My pet peeve is a short browband, say, 15" on a full/horse size bridle. That’s going to be too short for my normal size horses. I usually pop a new browband on from my collection anyway, but I wouldn’t be able to use most browbands that come with a new bridle. Kieffer is the only brand that fits as-is.

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=keysfins;8999724]
Beowulf, I’m surprised that you find the Kieffer bridles run small. Their Vollblut size (cob) fits my horses, 16.1-16.2 warmbloods with “normal” size heads, not dinosaurs.

The WB size in Kieffer look like they will fit a huge Warmblood head.

It would be great if bridle makers would standardise their sizes, but that’s not likely to happen. Measurements like Just Bridles had when she was in business, including noseband length over the nose/between the cheeks, length of the regular over-the-crown strap, especially how long the buckle side is, etc., would be great. I’d love to have those measurements readily available. However, right now, sizes can easily differ even between different models from the same maker.

My pet peeve is a short browband, say, 15" on a full/horse size bridle. That’s going to be too short for my normal size horses. I usually pop a new browband on from my collection anyway, but I wouldn’t be able to use most browbands that come with a new bridle. Kieffer is the only brand that fits as-is.[/QUOTE]

How new is your model?

I will say I HATE how tiny browbands are too! Seriously - what even fits into a 15" browband?! I have a TB that is by no means huge-headed and he needs a 18". Maybe they make the warmbloods with narrower faces across the pond but I really don’t think that is the case.

I’m hoping that they also will shift to make browbands wider… A too short browband shifts the entire pressure of the bridle forward … and it looks as horrible as wearing Crocs with socks imho :lol:

[keysfins]

Good point, Beowulf. My Kieffers are between 10 and 15 years old. The sizing must be different now.

[soloudinhere]

I also have an Eponia bridle and really like it a lot.

Here’s my horse wearing it. I think it is the “Cookie” bridle referenced above - it is two tone black and brown with brass.

http://i.imgur.com/8W0WXz5.jpg

[keysfins]

[QUOTE=beowulf;8998882]
I have had each of those bridle brands - I’m somewhat of a tack/strapgoods hoarder.[/QUOTE]

So glad I am in the company of another collector of fine leather.

And yes, I AM a tackaholic. :encouragement:

[Pico_Banana]

I’m also in the market for a bridle, although for a mare with a very refined head. What do people think about Jerry’s Harness bridles?

[BatCoach]

thanks for the eponia suggestion - I think I need to get my gelding the outlaw! I’ve been searching for a shaped-ear bridle since his passier is rubbing him.

[csaper58]

Another vote for Bobby’s Tack, their bridles are lovely.

They make petite sizes too Pico Banana

[Shenandoah]

Jerry’s harness shop! Absolutely the best quality and you can have everything done in custom measurements for no extra charge. It’s expensive but you will have it forever and it will always look nice to go into. That said, I’ve started riding my horse in a micklem and really loved it. Unless I’m showing at FEI under FEI rules which I will never do this Bridle can be used all the way through Grand Prix.

[CanteringCarrot]

I recently received the Frost Dressage Bridle from Eponiahttp://www.eponiaequestriansport.com/produkt/eponia-frost/

I really like it! It fits my big headed Warmblood nicely. I was concerned because he has a not so dainty profile, but had no issues with the fit. The quality is excellent for the price point. If taken care of, I feel like this could be a schooling and show bridle.