Great Brands I Haven't Heard Of

[ccr0009]

This thread doesn’t have to relate to bridles, but that’s what I’m searching for.

I’m in the search for a new dressage bridle, but on a budget. I’ve found lots of little online stores that carry brands I’ve never heard of, but I’m wary to purchase as I’ve never seen them in person. Do you have any favorite brands not carried by Dover or Smart-Pak (only because I’ve seen them already, and I’m the shopper that wants to look at the entire market before purchasing) Specifically of quality that already feels broken-in with a substantial padded noseband.

For instance, what are the quality of the Mark Todd bridles? https://www.completerider.co.uk/collections/mark-todd-bridles
Smartpak also carries a bridle by Kavalkade, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen these in person.

[Blugal]

I have bought two bridles from Heritage (Styalways saddlery) in the UK. They are the padded noseband with the noseband strap going above the crown, padded crown. They aren’t anywhere near the quality of the $350 bridle I once got. But for $100 or so (Canadian, including shipping) they have been supple, held up for several years (had them 2-3 years) of everyday use, and don’t look cheap. Good enough for me.

[joliemom_again]

Eponia, Eponia, Eponia.

https://www.eponiaequestriansport.com/produkt-kategori/hast/trans/

I can’t say enough about their bridles - really good quality leather at an unbeatable price. And the US reps are the best. Do me a favor, give them some business, you won’t regret it!

[halt]

@joliemom

Eponia, Eponia, Eponia.

https://www.eponiaequestriansport.co…ri/hast/trans/

I can’t say enough about their bridles - really good quality leather at an unbeatable price. And the US reps are the best. Do me a favor, give them some business, you won’t regret it!

I second Eponia. they were at EA last year and I got first hand experience with a lot of their products. Splurged and bought myself a present (EA just happens to fall on my birthday). I absolutely love the bridle. It gets tons of compliments when I wear it, and it fits my gelding very well. The leather broke in superbly.

FTR, their full size is quite generous. My gelding has a bit of an old fashioned head, is a full lenthwise but an oversize brow & noseband-wise. I did not need to go up to an O/S with him like I have in some other bridles. Just a consideration.

It’s almost my birthday again and I’ve been eyeing some of their other products… I really like their breeches too.

[keysfins]

@Blugal

I have bought two bridles from Heritage (Styalways saddlery) in the UK. They are the padded noseband with the noseband strap going above the crown, padded crown. They aren’t anywhere near the quality of the $350 bridle I once got. But for $100 or so (Canadian, including shipping) they have been supple, held up for several years (had them 2-3 years) of everyday use, and don’t look cheap. Good enough for me.

My Heritage has lasted well over ten years with regular use. It is well made and a bargain, but not fancy.

[keysfins]

@Blugal

I have bought two bridles from Heritage (Styalways saddlery) in the UK. They are the padded noseband with the noseband strap going above the crown, padded crown. They aren’t anywhere near the quality of the $350 bridle I once got. But for $100 or so (Canadian, including shipping) they have been supple, held up for several years (had them 2-3 years) of everyday use, and don’t look cheap. Good enough for me.

My Heritage is over ten years and going strong. It isn’t fancy but it is well made. Can make it fancy with one of my bling browbands.

Kavalkade is a German brand that is inexpensive. Not the soft supple leather of my Heritage, but serviceable.

Check out some of the German sites (Calevo) and U.K. sites for bargains. There are also a few vendors on eBay, like KittyBee, who carry good quality, affordable gear.

[MsRidiculous]

I have Eponia and Lund Saddlery bridles and really like them both. My dressage bridle is the Eponia Outlaw (black rhinestone browband) and my jump bridle is the Lund figure eight (although Lund is about to release their dressage line as well and they look nice in the pics they’ve posted on their facebook page!). I like the leather quality and design from both lines and think they’re both fantastic for the price.

Plus they’re both small companies with super nice reps!

[jazz8899]

I have an Eponia Outlaw and love it. I have also been eyeing Trinity tack lately. Their prices are in CAD and with USD being stronger it knocks a bit off the price of the bridle. Not sure about quality though.

[Training_Cupid]

Bobby’s has very nice, soft leather for a very reasonable price. I much prefer it to my Wellfleet bridle, which cost 2x as much.

[Marigold]

@jazz8899

I have an Eponia Outlaw and love it. I have also been eyeing Trinity tack lately. Their prices are in CAD and with USD being stronger it knocks a bit off the price of the bridle. Not sure about quality though.

Totally second this. I have heard good things about quality, as well as customer service! Unique designs too.

[PaintedHunter]

I second Bobby’s. I love mine and am selling it because it fit my recently sold drafty, and I’ll likely have a smaller dude for the next horse.

[CatchMeIfUCan]

I’m eyeing this bridle for my large headed palomino: https://www.horze.com/bridles/horze-lester-bridle/10019-BR-C.html

Reviews look good, and I like my other Horze items!

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

I haven’t needed to purchase anything tack-wise or in terms of higher-end show wear this year but when I do I’m definitely going to check Eponia out. Their social media coverage of eventing and dressage events are outstanding and lots of their photographs and videos are better even than standard photography accounts. I feel I owe them that much after mooching off of their coverage!

https://www.instagram.com/eponia_usa/

[ACountingRider]

(OP-per at work computer account)
I actually do have the Eponia completely fleece 5-Point breastplate, and I loved working with the vendors. When I bought my breastplate initially, my card was declined due to being at a competition out of state. The vendor told me to come back in a few hours when I’d figured it out and let me take the breast-plate with me to use. I was so embarrassed, but they were so gracious and kind. I really want their fleece racing breastplate.
I’ll have to look back at their bridles again.

[keysfins]

I’ll vouch for Bobby’s as well, even over the Heritage brand. Well made, great quality, several price points and you can customize if you need different sized parts. Check out Rockhorse Ranch on eBay and she will put together whatever you need at a great price. (A plug for small business, too!)

[kcmel]

@joliemom

Eponia, Eponia, Eponia.

https://www.eponiaequestriansport.com/produkt-kategori/hast/trans/

I can’t say enough about their bridles - really good quality leather at an unbeatable price. And the US reps are the best. Do me a favor, give them some business, you won’t regret it!

My trainer locked her show jumping clothes in her truck at Fair Hill so she ran to the Eponia booth and they let her borrow an entire outfit. I thought that was really nice. And she looked really sharp!

[CorazonLock]

Bridlesandreins.com carries Royal brand. Super cost effective and the leather is buttery and soft. Plus you can get reins free usually. Very impressed.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

@ccr0009

This thread doesn’t have to relate to bridles, but that’s what I’m searching for.

I’m in the search for a new dressage bridle, but on a budget. I’ve found lots of little online stores that carry brands I’ve never heard of, but I’m wary to purchase as I’ve never seen them in person. Do you have any favorite brands not carried by Dover or Smart-Pak (only because I’ve seen them already, and I’m the shopper that wants to look at the entire market before purchasing) Specifically of quality that already feels broken-in with a substantial padded noseband.

For instance, what are the quality of the Mark Todd bridles? https://www.completerider.co.uk/collections/mark-todd-bridles
Smartpak also carries a bridle by Kavalkade, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen these in person.

I saw the Mark Todd bridles in England. I thought they were decent quality for the price point.

[peedin]

@keysfins

I’ll vouch for Bobby’s as well, even over the Heritage brand. Well made, great quality, several price points and you can customize if you need different sized parts. Check out Rockhorse Ranch on eBay and she will put together whatever you need at a great price. (A plug for small business, too!)

Just bought a Bobby’s from this seller and I love it. We had a bit of back and forth discussion as to which bridle, and I appreciated her honesty. Great thing is that Bobby’s has their measurements on their website so you can measure your horse against their sizing.

[CanteringCarrot]

I have an Eponia bride and it’s pretty nice.

But please send me the info of a helpful rep! I spoke to one that was not helpful at all. I have the full size Frost bridle from my WB but need to peice together full and cob to fit my smaller guy. I asked for measurements of pieces (or I could send them horse measurements), availability of a noseband and was ignored, sent info on what I didn’t ask for, so…

I switched bridles for now.

I find Horze to have good deals.