I’m looking for a new high end figure eight bridle. I’ve heard mixed reviews on Hadfield’s. Looking for one that doesn’t stretch like Edgewood. Not interested in Dy’on either. Normal size head. Looking to spend up to $600, and prefer fancy stitched.
Most interested in a bridle that will last a long time and turn buttery soft in the long run. Thanks for supporting my “panic shopping”
I do some consignment sales on fb and here is what seems to be the popular brands:
-CWD, Antares, Devoucoux, Butet and Voltaire. Their leather is high quality and holds value.
-Equiline has some decent bridles
I think Edgewood is great but not when you drown it in oil, which many items are. Dy’on is ok. PS of Sweden is hit or miss.
I have a huge collection of bridles, and some of my favorites are my older Bevals, Dover Wellington, and older Crosbys. Unfortunately, I hear Beval’s quality has gone downhill, but both the older Bevals and Dover Wellington were made by E. Jeffries, so if you can find a Jeffries bridle, it should be of very good quality. Exselle the same product as the older Crosbys (which I find to be extremely durable).
I have some from both Hadfield’s and Edgewood I really like as well, but both are older pieces and I’m not sure how much has changed since then.
As far as Hadfield’s goes, mine and another I’ve used have both been beautiful and sturdy. The only thing is that it does have sort of a color corrected finish that some people may not like. It’s probably one of the prettiest bridles I own out of a collection of around 25, though.
I agree with mychestnutvalentine that my experience with Edgewood is that it’s great when not over-oiled, but I think most people want to go from bright orange and stiff to almost black and floppy overnight, and end up ruining them and causing them to stretch in the process. It’s very rare I find a used Edgewood that isn’t over-oiled, unfortunately. I’ve also picked up an older Beval and Crosby that were that way and they’ve been extremely hard to bring back from being non-sticky/greasy and both are still lifelessly limp and floppy, which is a shame since both are great quality bridles.
I have Jimmy’s and love them as well, and would love to get my hands on a Bennett’s. They’re made by Jimmy’s son and he has a Facebook page called Bennett’s Hunter Fine Bridles.
Another one I like that is still in business and has a website online is Moritz. They’re made in England and are of very nice quality.
I unfortunately haven’t been super fond of a lot of the French tack I’ve seen, mostly because I like tack to be very durable and sturdy, and don’t care for anything already really floppy, as it never tends to wear well.
If you want something that will last, you can’t go wrong with Stübben. However, it’s a coarser and sturdier leather that only becomes buttery soft after many, many years of use.
Thank you for great information. I love bridles. I oil Edgewood by hand using olive oil. It develops a beautiful finish and doesn’t seem to stretch. The only Edgewood I had that stretched was oiled w neatsfoot oil. N=1 in that not very scientific experiment.
That’s a great list.
I have some lovely, old Moritz bridles, some of them new and oiled but unused. Great quality, timeless styling and great fit. I know where there’s a supply of the London ones (which are tanned well so that they’ll get to a nice, warm brown). Ask if y’all want that source. It’s a brick-n-mortar store in the SF Bay Area.
I would be interested in seeing the Moritz bridles. Which store?
I tack clean as a side job so some of my impressions of leather goods may be colored by how other people take care of their tack before I get to it… I have to say I have not been impressed at all with Edgewood, Antares, or even Hadfield’s I’ve cleaned - to me, they feel like the same leather you can buy for $200, so I don’t understand the price.
If you want a bridle that comes off of the rack looking buttery soft with minimal break in, I’d go with Vespucci. They have good quality control, develop a good patina, and they come just supple enough but not so supple they turn limp after a year.
I would skip CWD, ADT, Schockemohle, Antares, and D’yon. Not great quality control and in my experience they tend to lose their lustre/patina - not sure why, but I have cleaned a lot of them that just look drab even with my best products used. They all come off of the rack soft, and I think that lack of sturdiness contributes to their poor wear over time. I wouldn’t even look at Schockemohle or D’yon if your main goal is “long lasting”.
I don’t love Red Barn, but have to say I have a KL bridle of theirs that still looks brand new after daily use. I would have never bought it if it hadn’t have been on sale dirt cheap, but I don’t regret buying it so far. It’s still got a nice finish to it.
You can never go wrong with Stubben bridles, my two cents- but not sure if they still make a classic hunter bridle. I have Stubben bridles older than me in my collection and use them in the winter because they’re so hardy.
If you go to the Stubben German home page (you can get it in English) you can see their full range including lots of conservative styles. Everything comes in all four colors. There is less choice on the American website
Olson Nolte Saddle Shop in San Carlos, CA.
I love my Red Barn bridle, but as someone used to dirt cheap anything mediocre feels nice lol. I also got it used, so I can’t speak to breaking it in or anything.
My stubben 5 point breast collar was not made with stainless hardware (nickel plated, which came apart ina year and a half and is now that lovely green color), which is totally stupid in comparison to the price I paid for it. For that alone, I’ll never buy anything from them ever again. I take good care of my tack, wiping down after every ride.
YMMV.
FWIW, in my collection I have 2 Dy’on bridles that are 100% buffalo and they are holding up very well with daily use and proper cleaning/care.
I have a nice, soft Stubben bridle. I don’t think, however, that I’d buy a brown one from them or one that I’d use in the hunter ring.
I don’t know if he still makes them or what your budget is, but I’d call Wayne Rasmussen, the Country Saddler, in Southern Pines (or Pine Hurst?), NC. He used to make some beautiful bridles.
Surprised to hear Antares as a “skip”! I love mine! That being said I’ve only had mine for 4 years, so we’ll see if time will tell.
FWIW Voltaire bridles are 25% off right now on their website.
Thank you everyone! My schooling bridle is a Red Barn and I like it, but want something a bit nicer for the ring. It is great for every day use.
I have come across lots of the popular bridles made by saddle companies and other common brands but am really wanting something special. I am going to keep looking
I have a stubben and equipe bridle. Both super soft and durable without stretch. Happy with both. Both brands are not the typical fancy brands and i think that keeps the quality.
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