I was looking at the tack store yesterday for something to replace my old Aramas bridle with, and there were several Edgewood fridles there, all very London Tan looking. The leather was about twice as substantial looking as any of the other bridles, but that color. :eek:
The clerk said they will darken, so I’m asking those of you with experience buying a new Edgewood.
Do they really darken and how much? My saddle is sort of an oak bark color, so that’s what I have been looking at for a bridle.
I have an older Edgewood bridle. It started out light. Darkened very quickly. Your mileage may vary
I have only owned one (and I LOVE it) but I have leased several horses who had Edgewoods as their every day bridles, all were a beautiful dark shade. Mine was bought brand new (about 8-9 years ago) and was bright ORANGE! It darkened easily and beautifully, can’t remember if I used Tanner’s Oil or Walsh/Blue Ribbon. I was very careful not to oil it excessively in order to avoid stretching, and unlike some people, mine had minimal if any stretching. I have also owned lots of other high end bridles (Hadfields, Antares, Beval Heritage, CWD) at the same time as I had the Edgewood and to be honest I liked it just as much as the other, more expensive bridles (not that Edgewoods are cheap!).
They darken with oiling and use. They also do stretch a bit so I advise sizing down as opposed to up if there is a choice. And pretty much everything goes in a cob-sized martingale if it’s an Edgewood.
They darken a Lot actually! We used to dip ours in oil when brand new, but only briefly so it didnt get too soft. The dip just ensured that everything got touched with about the same aount of oil so it was even. Let it sit for darker ot start to or rub off as it dries if you want a more red walnut color.
The color of the American leather they use was always a bit strange but they take oil and color up beautifully. The finish is very open and does not have synthetic “paint” to cover up imperfections etc… So it is very natural and thus will take oil well and because of the natural Vegetable tannage the fibers are longer and will remain flexible yet durable as well.
The leather comes from the same place as Aramas bridles.
Re: Stretching, the one characteristic of the American leather is that it does stretch a bit more than other leathers…
BTW, the Aramas bridle is a very fine bridle that ranks with the best in world as does Edgewood.
All my edgewood is a beautiful brown, and it all started out bright orange.
I got everything dipped by the tack shop before I used it and I never had any trouble with stretching except a little bit on the noseband, but I blame that on a wet rainy weekend and an over-enthusiastic kid who helped me tack up a few times.
I just bought the unpadded wide nose Edgewood. The leather is very orange at first. I painted it with oil (not sure what kind, just whatever was in the bottle at the barn!) 3 or 4 times over the course of a couple weeks. Leather drank it right up. Then I started using it in lessons and cleaning it like normal. It was a little streaky to start, but with one more oiling and some more use it’s now perfect. It’s got a bit of a deep red tint to it, which I love on my very dark bay.
Here’s a good color comparison between pre-oiling and after.
My Edgewood darkened to a havana type color, looks beautiful. I didn’t oil it any more than other tack, after the first oil or two it had already darkened to a preferable color. Edgewood recommends Neatsfoot oil for best results.
Great quality. I have curb reins that are easily 10 years old and still in show condition.
They do darken, promise 
I have had a few Edgewood bridles and LOVE them. They darken beautifully, and stand up to daily riding. I used Neatsfoot oil to darken them originally, and after a few times oiling to your color preference, they can be easily cleaned.
My previous ones darkened really well. My girth on the other hand never got past the reddish color. It’s a beautiful rich color but not dark brown at all. I just got a newer one for christmas and it darkened immediately with just a good oiling.
Try Hydrophane Darkening Oil…
I’ve never had one NOT darken-- but they do start off that weird orange color
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