So I bought a smartpak Wellfleet figure 8 which is absolutely lovely! Well, I brought it out to the barn to try it on my horse today and it is too big! I bought it in a cob size knowing that he has a petite head but it was still too big through the noseband and the throat-latch! 
The bridle I am using on him currently is a horse size and fits on the smallest settings so I know he isnāt smaller than a cob! Maybe this one runs big? It is a lovely bridle and I really wanted it to work! :no: So anyways, I need your suggestions lovely COTHers! Would like to stay around the same price point, so less than $300
Do you know a good leather repair person, someone who does tack repairs? They could shorten the straps that need to be shortened for you. Shortening a throatlatch is pretty simple and was one of the first things I had done when I got my mareās bridle**; a figure-8 noseband could be more tricky so youād want to get someone who really knows horse gear. (I donāt use one, and have yet to find one that fits the mare āoff the rack.ā) Ask around!
(** extra detail: bridle was a cob-sized from Jerryās Harness, a very fancy well made bridle ā but I should have ordered it with custom sizing. The only part of the bridle that has not been modified is that actual noseband. Everything else has been shortened ā mostly by Jerryās ā and the browband was swapped out for a WB size one. Smart mare has an āArab-yā head and a big brain!)
Unfortunately, I donāt think they could on this noseband. The part on the figure 8 that needs shortening is raised and has fancy stitching so I think Iām SOL on that ??
I love my Vespucci figure 8 bridle. I have both a flash bridle for dressage and a figure 8 for jumping both cob sizes. The figure 8 has very little room to adjust, but thankfully I donāt need to adjust. Vespuccis have very nice high quality leather, I would look into them.
Vespuccis run very, very large in the noseband, just FYIā¦ OP Iād return and see if you can get a different brand. Here are the brands Iāve noticed have funky noseband sizing: Smartpakās Fig8, Vespucci (large on noseband), Passier (small on noseband size), Kieffer (PETITE!!).
Dover sells a Circuit figure 8 which is the same quality and it does run a little more true to size.
call a really good tack repair shop about the noseband. I have one too, and was directed by KL Select to someone in CT who could shorten it. Havenāt gotten around to doing it yet, but itās apparently possible. Good luck! And let me know if you need the name and Iāll rummage it up.
I really enjoyed by Nunn Finer Figure-8.
http://www.nunnfiner.com/Nunn-Finer-Figure-8-Noseband-p/63.htm
I have been super impressed with the HDR Monocrown Figure 8, for the price, they are lovely. They are soft and the sizing seems pretty accurate. They are not super fancy, but have been selling faster and have better reviews than the more expensive bridles we stock. . . The eventers here seem to really like them and the 5 point breast plate. I have one, but I traded the rubber reins for laced, but that is just personal preference.
I love the CWD figure eights and the Showmark figure eights.
Both are very nice quality and pretty fancy looking in my opinionā¦but pretty expensive.
I love my 5-Star figure 8.
