Favorite Hunter Bridles

[Equestrian24]

What are your favorite hunter bridles? It can be anything from one you’ve had for years that is no longer made, to something still on the market, and anything from cheap to $$$. What about those bridles do you like best, and what are any downsides, if you can think of any?

I absolutely love hunter bridles and have quite a collection of them. I’d say my top favorites are my Hadfield’s, older Crosbys, older Beval New Canaan, and Dover Wellington.

I’ve used my older Crosbys the most and think it’s hard to beat them for the price I bought them at, as well as quality and durability. They look and feel amazing forever! I’m not sure there’s much I don’t like other than that the black edges on one started to fray a bit in places (mostly where the noseband buckles), but it’s not too noticeable unless you look for it, and it’s otherwise held up great, especially after all it’s been through.

My Hadfield’s is just stunning in every way. I was lucky enough to score it brand new without reins for around $90, IIRC. The leather, stitching, and overall crafstmanship is just gorgeous. I expect it to last me forever as well! There really isn’t anything I don’t like about it so far!

My Beval New Canaan and Dover Wellington are gorgeous as well. I believe both were made by Jeffries, and both have some of the best, buttery-soft yet substantial leather! There really isn’t anything I don’t like about these either, other than that they’re no longer available!

[BAC]

You sound like me, a bridle junkie LOL. I adored my Hadfields, I loved everything about it. My other favorites were my Edgewood and Antares. Some people post negative reviews about Edgewood but I thought mine was just as beautiful, and durable, as my more expensive bridles. The leather on the Antares was just stunning so soft and supple but durable, the hardware was really nice too. I had a CWD too, back when they came in a dark mahogany shade with slightly lighter padding, it was so pretty.

I always wanted a Beval New Canaan, when I finally bought one the leather would not take the oil properly. Bevals determined the leather was defective and decided at that time to discontinue that bridle line, instead I bought a Beval Heritage, which is lovely, its the same dark color as my Hadfields.

When I stopped riding 8 years ago I reluctantly sold all of them but my friend took the Heritage and then later gave it back to me so I still have it.

I had a Crosby bought in the mid 1980s, they were top quality then. About 20 years later I loaned it to a pony kid who didn’t have a properly fitting bridle for her pony and she used it for years without cleaning it LOL but it still held up great.

My only inexpensive bridle was a Dover Circuit bought for a short term lease horse. It wasn’t that ugly orange color leather that everyone complained about, it was dark like the CWD and oiled up to be so pretty it was often mistaken for a more expensive brand.

[anon510129]

Love Hadfield’s! I think Edgewood’s are lovely and mine have lasted forever, but they do stretch.

ive been curious about the Dy’on hunter bridles because I love their jumper bridles and other tack. They have a silver option too now for the buckles.

[BAC]

My Edgewood never stretched even though many people complain about that. I was very careful to oil it very lightly when it was new, using Blue Ribbon, which has a bit of stain in it, so it only took one oiling to get it to change from bright orange to a nice dark color, then with frequent use and cleaning it darkened more on its own. I was also careful not to crank the noseband too tight.

I used to ride and care for a horse and pony that each had Edgewoods as their every day bridles, each bridle was 10-12 years old at the time and neither had stretched noticeably.

[Equestrian24]

Yes, I’m definitely a bridle junkie! They’re easily my favorite pieces of tack to accumulate, as there are so many different styles, colors, etc.!

I forgot about Edgewood! I have one of those as well and love it, too! As well as a pair of reins, which I have on my Beval New Canaan, and are easily one of my favorite pairs of reins!

I’ve been curious about Dy’on as well, but have never seen one in person and haven’t found one used online at a decent price range to buy just to see if I like it.

[CPL713]

I love my Flexible Fit bridle…they sell them by the part, which was a must for my horse who is a cob in some parts of his head, and a normal-sized horse in others. The leather is so soft, and it was quite affordable. The customer service of the company is delightful, as well. They are truly the MOST responsive company I’ve ever dealt with.

The only downsides for me is that I wish the leather was a bit lighter – it’s Havana, but it is DARK. And the keepers on the cheekpieces slide, which I think is a bit odd because the throatlatch and noseband don’t have the same issue. But I still wouldn’t trade it for either of those reasons. The darkness of the bridle does match my saddle well, so it works.

[Equestrian24]

Some photos!

#1: Crosby Square Raised Bridle
#2: Crosby XL Excel Padded Fancy Stitched Bridle
#3: Edgewood Fancy Stitched Bridle

[Equestrian24]

#1: Beval New Canaan Fancy Stitched Bridle
#2: Dover Wellington Padded Fancy Stitched Bridle
#3: Hadfield’s Square Raised Bridle
#4: Crosby Plain Raised Bridle
#5: Crosby White Lined Bridle (not exactly a hunter bridle, but pretty nonetheless!)

Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos of them on horses on my phone as of yet. Also sorry about the quality, I’m not too sure of how to upload them in better quality on here!

[greysfordays]

I am also an intense bridle junkie. I have had Hadfields, Edgewood, Jimmy’s, ADT, Horse|Man, CWD, Hermes bridles. My absolute favorite is Jim Wiebe’s bridles (Bennett’s Hunter Fine Bridles on FB or www.jbwiebe3.com ). I switched to the jumpers and absolutely refuse to go back to hunters, but I will never sell my Bennett bridle. The smell just opening the box reminded me of getting my first Crosby bridle when I was a kid. They just don’t smell like that anymore.

My jumpers go in Dy’on bridles. I like them. They are easy to find from the European sellers for much less than here. They hold up well. But I’ve been thinking of asking Jim to make me a pair of less hunter-ey bridles to show in. They’re honestly that nice.

[Equestrian24]

@greysfordays

I am also an intense bridle junkie. I have had Hadfields, Edgewood, Jimmy’s, ADT, Horse|Man, CWD, Hermes bridles. My absolute favorite is Jim Wiebe’s bridles (Bennett’s Hunter Fine Bridles on FB or www.jbwiebe3.com ). I switched to the jumpers and absolutely refuse to go back to hunters, but I will never sell my Bennett bridle. The smell just opening the box reminded me of getting my first Crosby bridle when I was a kid. They just don’t smell like that anymore.

My jumpers go in Dy’on bridles. I like them. They are easy to find from the European sellers for much less than here. They hold up well. But I’ve been thinking of asking Jim to make me a pair of less hunter-ey bridles to show in. They’re honestly that nice.

I’ve been wanting to save up for a Bennett’s bridle with my initials on the noseband for a few years now, ever since I discovered them (that is, if I can ever stop buying bridles off of eBay)! They look stunning!

How did you like your Horse|Man? I’ve seen a few pictures and they look gorgeous as well! Also, what about Hermes? I don’t think I could ever afford one of those, but have always been curious as to what they’re like!

I have some Jimmy’s reins, nosebands, and a girth, and love them as well!

[greysfordays]

I LOVED my Horse|Man. It looked so beautiful on all the horses. It ended up getting stolen at a show which was such a bummer. I think leather wise, it’s a step below the Bennett’s but maybe up from Hadfields. The stitching is really beautiful.

I still have my Hermes bridle. It also smelled fantastic out of the box. I like that it works for hunters or jumpers, it’s very simple but the quality is excellent. That said, I think I prefer a comfort crown. They make one too, but even I balked at that price!

[Equestrian24]

@greysfordays

I LOVED my Horse|Man. It looked so beautiful on all the horses. It ended up getting stolen at a show which was such a bummer. I think leather wise, it’s a step below the Bennett’s but maybe up from Hadfields. The stitching is really beautiful.

I still have my Hermes bridle. It also smelled fantastic out of the box. I like that it works for hunters or jumpers, it’s very simple but the quality is excellent. That said, I think I prefer a comfort crown. They make one too, but even I balked at that price!

Aww, I’m so sorry your bridle got stolen from you, that’s awful!

[catchcan]

I have a Dy’on bridle and it is absolutely gorgeous. Supple, durable leather that stands up to everyday use and then cleans right up for the show ring. Mine was a gift, but I would purchase one. It is a solid investment that will last decades.

My other favorite bridle is, like others in this thread, an old Crosby. It was actually a freebee with a used saddle I purchased off Craigslist. I sold the saddle on, but someone will have to pry this bridle out of my cold dead hands. It happens to fit my very hard to fit horse perfectly. It has to be at least 30 years old and the leather is nicer than most of the bridles hanging in the tack store these days. I let someone borrow it the other day to try out the bit on it and she said she was worried using “such a nice bridle.”

[Equestrian24]

@catchcan

I have a Dy’on bridle and it is absolutely gorgeous. Supple, durable leather that stands up to everyday use and then cleans right up for the show ring. Mine was a gift, but I would purchase one. It is a solid investment that will last decades.

My other favorite bridle is, like others in this thread, an old Crosby. It was actually a freebee with a used saddle I purchased off Craigslist. I sold the saddle on, but someone will have to pry this bridle out of my cold dead hands. It happens to fit my very hard to fit horse perfectly. It has to be at least 30 years old and the leather is nicer than most of the bridles hanging in the tack store these days. I let someone borrow it the other day to try out the bit on it and she said she was worried using “such a nice bridle.”

I love them as well! I haven’t seen a Dy’on in person yet, but would like to!

I have probably 4 or 5 older Crosbys (ranging from about 20-ish to 30+ years old) and I love the leather quality and everything about them as well! I wish tack like that was more readily available today!