I recently ordered a number of samples from one of these suppliers, including their approximation of the Fairfax drop and double noseband, so I will see what shows up.
2 Likes
Not to shamelessly self-promote, but I just answered these questions in-depth last week when I reviewed it on my blog: https://www.cobjockey.com/2022/01/product-review-fairfax-performance.html
I included a lot of pictures because like you, I found it hard to get photos and info about it before I bought it. Even Fairfax themselves don’t have a ton of useful photos of it.
5 Likes
Would love to hear what you think when you get them. Obviously all these boutique brands that are out right now are getting their bridles from the same place, just with slightly different specs.
Oh wow! Thank you for the link to your blog. Very informative.
Am I reading right, that they want the measurements with their Fairfax bridle on the horse? So, they sent you a Fairfax bridle to try on Connor first and then you filled out that Fairfax sheet? Kind of sounds like it, but just confirming.
Who did you go through with Hastilow?
1 Like
No, I took the measurements with my old bridle on him, and then they sent me a Fairfax that was pieced together based on his measurements (he was a different size in almost every component).
ETA: Amber did most of the fitting stuff.
1 Like
Me, too. Please update us! Speaking of Italian leather, I have a Lumiere. It is an attractive bridle, but I’m not entirely thrilled with it. The chin pad on the noseband was not put on correctly and the keeper for the tail end is located in a spot that makes it virtually impossible, or darned difficult, to use. I put a braidette around the strap to act as a keeper. And the leather is meh in terms of holding up over time.
For the price, however, as they are not the most expensive bridles, its quality is probably about right.
Too cool. Thank you. That was a really informative blog post especially since it’s so hard to come by anecdotes/personal opinions about the Fairfax.
$650 seems like an awful lot, but if you remember it is truly bespoke… Sounds about right. People pay that for Edgewoods, ADTs and Antares bridles off the rack.
4 Likes
thanks! heading over for a read now!
1 Like
Thanks for the Fairfax review @CobJockey! Your boy is adorable!
Some other interesting looking bridles I found.
https://www.epplejeck.com/bridle-presteq-fay-sport_29758.html
https://www.epplejeck.com/bridle-horsegear-styx_28387.html
These three are all pretty similar. I wonder if you could remove the cheekpieces and use bit straps to attach the bit to the noseband? Then you could use the second strap from the crownpiece for a throatlatch. I think that would make it legal? But I’m not as up to date on the rules as y’all.
https://www.epplejeck.com/bridle-qhp-devi_47191.html
https://www.epplejeck.com/bridle-horsegear-quasar_26229.html
https://www.epplejeck.com/bridle-horsegear-lunair_23716.html
And just for @beowulf another leopard print bridle!
https://www.epplejeck.com/bridle-epplejeck-leopard_29451.html
3 Likes
I don’t know this person but the picture showed up on my FB feed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a tighter cavesson. Ouch.
Given the top hat, how recent can it be?
4 Likes
Who knows. It was being used in a current ‘ISO working student’ ad, so the rider clearly doesn’t see it as an issue.
I am intrigued by the barefoot bridle. I have the lunging surcingle from the same company and really like it.
1 Like
Revisiting this thread. So many of you are so knowledgeable about bridles, so I have a question. Often, the massage therapist notes TMJ and/or poll pain (never severe, but still there nonetheless) with my horse. I currently ride in a Lumiere anatomical snaffle bridle. (Also, the chiro noted some stiffness in the TMJ area).
Any thoughts about how to relieve this? Thanks for any help.
I first saw high nosebands on horses in catalogues. Maybe it’s a fashion stemming from pictures from tack sellers?
I also wonder if it’s related to misunderstanding the differences between a cavesson (with or without a flash) and a grackle?
I wonder if it’s to try and get the noseband above the large bit rings on a snaffle? Though I agree - it shouldn’t be right on the cheekbones - at least a finger or two below is better. I’d rather have some overlap of the snaffle rings over the noseband than have it sitting right against the bone.
2 Likes
Since this thread got bumped up, here’s an update on the Halter Ego Olympia. I sent it back in mid-Jan and have been emailing back and forth with them since then. They are working on showing me some other crownpiece options. I realized that the crownpiece I received did not match what was in this photo on their website:
They said what I received is one of their newer crownpieces. I’m annoyed because crownpiece shape is super important to bridle fit IMO and I was specifically looking for one with a cutback like in the photo. I would not have ordered the bridle if it were pictured with the crownpiece I received. Seems like they need to update their website! Hopefully we can work something out eventually, especially since the weather is finally somewhat conducive to actually riding my fancy new baby horse!
6 Likes
I have a mouthy young horse who is unhappy with bits and bridles. Still working on bitting him a way that works. Every ride i get less fussy and more riding…so progress pretty much each and every ride 
Still only a few minutes of going at a nice walk, over cavalettis, doing wide-arm on the reins turns. I COULD HAVE encircled his mouth and kept a bit solidly in there with none of this tongue-over bitey-bit head-shaking stuff, but chose to work with him. I do feel that in the long run i’ll have a horse with a very sweet responsive mouth. That said, i got him an oddly shaped Harwich anatomical. I like the crown piece, and for his funny, (kinda ugly) dome-y face it adds, or rather detracts, in a good way to the general aesthetic of his head. I’m leatherpainting it an unobtrusive navy blue at the moment and while the painting process is happening he’s going in a mullen on a western headstall w/no noseband.
I have a Kavalkade anatomical bridle for my mare. Also painting it. (gray) and will be putting her crystal and pearl Equiture browband on it once it’s finished. Her bridle came-with a removable mouth-encircling thingy but it’s gone. Hers does have a crank noseband, which will not be close to what you might call snug.
i’m emotionally allergic going all-tough-love on bridles. For me, less is more. But then, i have no competitive aspirations, so…
1 Like
Has anyone tried out the Silver Crown Code 01 bridle? Very interesting how the brow band is built in so there’s nothing additional sitting under the side of the bridle like a traditional crown piece. Also wondering if the crown piece itself would cause the padded sides to put pressure on the sides of their face or not?
2 Likes
Oh wow! This looks like a twist on the Stubben Freedom bridle. Very interesting, thank you for chucking it in here.
