I have one at home that I bought at a gun show. It’s probably the coolest bridle I’ve ever seen - complete with a beautifully designed shank bit. I love it just as much as the day I bought it. I just hang it on a fancy decorative hook (not bridle hook). I pass the duster over it on occasion. It has some hair stuck in it still from its previous owner so I’ve never cleaned it.
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I was assuming the OP worked in a non taxpayer funded position - my bad.
FOR GOD’S SAKE DON’T DO IT! THE LEATHER COULD HAVE BEEN FROM COWS INFECTED WITH BRUCELLOSIS AND IF THAT GETS OUT IT MIGHT DEVASTATE THE BISON POPULATION!
Gosh it was hard coming up with an objection that sounded more preposterous than the “don’t let them know you have/ride/have an interest in horses, they’ll think you’re rich and not give you raises” bullpucky.
Personally, I’d get a nice wood or metal bridle bracket and just hang it like I would if it were in a super fancy tack room so I could keep an eye on it and clean/condition as needed.
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came across this single bridle brass and wood hanger…typically sells around $55 -$60 bucks. A tack clean out has one for $20. let me know, as I’ll probably snag it if its not what you’re interested in. https://www.sstack.com/brass-wood-bridle-rack/p/25721/
Yes!! That’s exactly what I was thinking of :yes: Good find if you got it!! I have an old one from a Dover closeout, it’s not quite as fancy but it does the job!
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thanks! I’ve contacted seller. this is brand new never used. I’d love for OP to have it if she wants it, vs. a shadow box…and have messaged her…but guess I’ll proceed to purchase on my own if she doesn’t jump on it.
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OP I have a really old one of those if you are interested. Nice and weathered to go with the antique bridle. I was also given a much larger version that I guess is for the driving harness or collar.
SonnysMom: so are you offering it for sale or giving it away?? 
If it has, or appears to have silver on it, I would put it in a shadow box with a lock. While glass can easily be broken, it would deter someone from just absconding with it one day when they are working late or something, as well as help keep it clean. I may do a plexiglass or glass all around. Many people have objects in ther office that are enclosed so they don’t get dusty, and/or to deter thieves.
You may not have that problem (or feel you don’t…I actually had a problem with pranksters in one office and they kept messing with some personal items and it was just ANNOYING).
A shadowbox also helps keep it from getting dusty or getting damaged by well meaning cleaning crew attempting to keep it clean.
As far as decorations in offices, I think a lot depends on the occupants personality, time/expected time in office, and office culture. I had some work related decorations, as well as a few not exactly work related (not related to my job but gifts from coworkers) in one office that I occupied for the expected 2 years. I moved to another office and ended up only occupying that for a few months and moving the same items in, then out was a frustrated, as well as adding to the stress due to why I was moving. So, they are all at home now.
In my military life, there are a lot of jobs that are 2-3 years stints, so people occupying those offices do so for only that time and generally bring very limited amount of personal items. They include military related items, such as coin holder with coins, as well as family pictures and other more personal items, but then generally all fit in one small box.
In my civilian job, two individuals have occupied their respective offices for over 10 years. One has pictures of his family and a picture of his father-in-law who has since died, but he was very close to. The other separates his life more but does have pictures related to the field but not exactly work related, such as celebrities met while at a work function.
To each their own, but personal items at work can make a place feel more like it belongs to someone, less like they are a ‘guest’. Some people need that to work better. I recall an older episode of the Simpsons were the kids ask Homer to tell them a story so he tells them why he’s at the nuclear power plant, which includes having to get a more steady job again after Marge becomes pregnant with Maggie. At the end of the episode, Monty Burns (the owner of the power plant) puts a sign up that says “Don’t forget, you’re here forever” and Homer puts up pictures of Maggie to cover all the letters, except those that read “Do It For Her”. An example of using personal effects to remind one why they are where they do what they do.
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I saw this question had two pages of posts and I was all excited to read all kinds of fun things bout antique bridles and displaying them… Darn that was so not the case.
If you just use a bridle hook will the bridle display well? Or does it need to be spread out some to see how great it is?
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I agree. I’m sitting in my classroom (alt ed math within a large high school) and have a couple of ribbons, a photo or two of my horses & family, and a few other personal mementos. It’s very important for kids to see me as a person as I count on the relationship I build with them to help get everyone through. When I was in admin and had an office, those same things were there.
I wouldn’t pause to add something special to my office if I wanted to and it looked appropriate in the setting (no greasy pics in an attorney’s office, no glitzy stuff at a construction site office). For hanging, you could do a pretty bridle hook (one of the nice brass ones) mounted on a stained woodblock perhaps.
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Wow I’ve literally never heard of someone not getting a raise because their boss knows they have horses. Is that even legal? 
I’ve always had personal effects in my offices/cubicles. Photos of family, horses dog. So has my mom. So has my dad. So has most about everyone I know. To each their own, but what an absurd idea, that it makes you look less professional or reflects at all on job performance. Puh-lease.
My office now has a bunk bed and like seven canvas paintings from my niblings. The horror! Good thing I don’t do video meetings, apparently. (I’m obviously working from home)
For the OP’s actual question - I think a shadow-box is probably the best bet. Or maybe like a whole shelf+hook organizer thing that you can also use to hang keys/purse/coat/etc., that features the bridle?
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This reminds me of a time earlier in my career when my corporation had hired a new Chief Operating Officer. He was on a grand tour to visit all of the offices across the country and ALL of my fellow executives cleared their offices of everything personal. No joke, they removed all photos, fun items, framed art, etc. These were well-educated, senior professionals who on any given day could use their resumes to intimidate almost anyone scared into thinking they’d get in trouble with too much personality in their large, many windowed offices.
I didn’t touch anything in mine. My prints of horses jumping stayed on the wall and my shelf of fun things picked up on company trips stayed as-was. The COO spent much more time chatting with me in my office then with anyone else. He picked up the various things off my shelf and we had conversations about the places and the events associated with them. He LOVED my horse prints and asked about the sport. He actually said, “it’s so nice to see a fun office.” He also remembered me.
I’ve always thought a person who doesn’t take the time to make the space his or her own probably isn’t thinking about staying with the company all that long.
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Personally I’d likely go with a nice bridle hook to hang it on so I could keep it dusted of and have easy access to clean it, especially if it’s an older western bridle with real silver.
As for the not having horsey things in the office or you won’t get a raise, I used to have Standardbred race win pictures stuck all over my desk at one job. My boss still gave me the maximum raise he could every year. Guess he figured the work I did was worth it.
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I always figure that since I have to spend 8-9 hours a day at my desk I might as well like the space I am sitting in. I’ve always brought in fun colored gel pens or notepads (for my own notes) to work or a nice desk org set. My pet & horse pics are great conversation starters and makes for much better small talk than the weather outside or normal water cooler chats.
I was in an executive’s office for a job interview and noticed that he had photos of steeplechasers. When I inquired about them, he mentioned he owned several racehorses in the UK and I was able to reply that I too owned a thoroughbred (although my craigslist find was of just slightly less caliber than his runners). We spent the next 15 minutes talking about horses. It was a great interview and I got the job!
If others prefer a more spartan work space that is fine, but every company I’ve ever worked for encouraged a little personal expression. Yes, they hired you for your skills, but you are not a robot who works, eats and sleeps at the office. Everyone has a personal life and passions outside of their career. Show them off if you choose.
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I had a manager who had a picture frame on her desk with a nice picture in it, I think it was a kid and a dog or something. I asked her about it and she said it was the example picture that came in the frame! She was pretty much what you would expect (crazy and possibly an alien).
If we’re using this as motivation, I should hang some vet bills next to my desk…
I will note that my elderly horse’s bridle started mildewing less than a year after I stopped using it. I never took super good care of it to begin with, but apparently the difference between being used and not was enough to go from no mildew to mildew. (And it’s inside a house.)
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But as ever on COTH you’ve learned all sorts of things you never knew, about different things…it’s always the best pot luck out there…
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“We need to talk to you about your flair…yeah, 15 is the minimum and it’s up to you if you want to do the bare minimum or…”
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Haha had to check out this thread based on the “Most Bizarre Thread Gone Wrong” post. Where do you people work? :winkgrin:
Sure, some businesses have rules about office decor; especially those offices that are seen by the public. The company reputation is important so there may/should be rules.
We can only assume that is not the case here, or the OP would already know this. And I’ve never heard of anyone not getting a raise because the company doesn’t think you need the money. If that’s the case, I’d probably recommend finding employment elsewhere anyway.
Everyone in my office has some personal things on the walls or on their desks. Our General Counsel has a deer hide on his wall. I can see why that might not go over everywhere, especially in places where it could be visible to customers/clients.
I agree that a nice bridle hook would be the way to go because you can dust/clean/care for it easier.
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Haha me too! And there would be much aghasting at my office. I’ve got wonderwoman stickers pasted to my computer, a giant scooby doo sticker stuck to my desk, a calendar of kittens with lightsabers, not to mention a real live cat who generally hanging out on my desk and a real live dog under my desk lol! Oh and a creepy halloween mask hung from a coat rack with a old rain coat hung over it. Although now thinking of it, there’s nothing horse related in here so I’m going to have to remedy that. I could not work for a place that would be like OMG a decoration- what scandal!
but back to the op’s question, I would go probably go with a bridle hook- I always think shadow boxes look weird on the wall, too bulky and awkward. Or you could do something like a jar lamp and put it in there with ribbons and the like
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