Circle Y leather quality?

[HaleyBird]

I’m considering purchasing a circle y beaded headstall. Gorgeous piece. I’ve not seen it in real life though. And buying bridle components online…can be deceiving.

I bought what I thought was a gorgeous Showman headstall, with rawhide accents…it came, but the leather was redder in person, not of good quality (it already seems brittle/cracking and it is stored indoors and I’ve only tried it on my gelding like once). The rawhide is cheap and bleachy looking and it looks, imo, cheesy with the gorgeous, expensive, hand made natural rawhide bosal/Indian hackamore I use.

Bottom line question is:
does the Circle Y brand produce quality bridle leather? soft, supple, lush leather is what i want…open to suggestion brands if the circle y brand is not as nice IRL as it looks online.

[Training_Cupid]

Based on my experience it is good quality, but more workmanlike then lush. But maybe they have different lines?

[Cynical25]

Showman is a very low-end brand. Circle Y is middle of the road, perfectly nice and serviceable. It will definitely be better than Showman, but it’s not going to make you swoon if you have really high end taste.

[beau159]

Agree that Showman is a lower-end brand. Agree that Circle Y tends to be middle of the road, usually. Just kind of depends which one. I have an older headstall that I got with buying a barrel saddle (about 12 years ago). Not as nice quality leather on the headstall that I’ve seen with some other brands, but it’s holding up extremely well to daily use over the years so I can’t complain.

Honestly, I’ve been really happy with the new Weaver leather “oil rubbed” harness leather bridle/reins that they’ve come out with. They aren’t exactly blingy, but they are SO buttery soft and nice leather. I bought Shotgun new reins and headstall for ranch horse last year and it’s just fab.