High-End Oak Bark. Bridle

[Ceffyl_Dwr]

I went to order an Edgewood and their website says they’re currently backordered 20 weeks! I’ve searched and searched for what I’m looking for with no luck. Any bridle suggestions?

Oak bark (reddish orange family)
No flash
No fancy stitch
Raised or flat but not padded
Anatomical not needed
1” or wider noseband

I’m currently looking at Equusport and ADT but worry about quality. Honestly, if the wait wasn’t so long, I’d never stray from Edgewood. Alas, I’m only able to find padded/fancy stitch stocked online.

Any suggestions much appreciated!

[Equestrian24]

EquuSport is of excellent quality! There’s also Bennett’s Hunter Fine Bridles (Jimmy’s son). I think Legacy by The Country Saddler may make one as well, and if Ann K Hubbard’s is still around, maybe them, too.

Are there any tack shops that have Edgewood in stock that you could order from rather than directly from Edgewood?

New Cavalry has always been really similar to Edgewood as well (the owners of each company used to be in business as New Cav), but their newer stuff seems slightly darker.

Hadfield’s is a sort of mahogany/darker oakbark color. Huntley appears to have one similarly colored as well.

I think there might still be some lighter colored Aramas and Americana bridles out there as well, that are closer to the unoiled Edgewood color. They used to be common a few years ago.

There have been a few comments on another recent bridle thread saying Arc de Triomphe’s quality is good again. I haven’t seen any of their newer stuff in person yet.

[Peggy]

Based on the one piece I have, Equusport is high quality.

[Ceffyl_Dwr]

Thanks!

It’s been impossible finding Edgewood in stock without padding/fancy stitching. I guess I’m just basic. Well, whichever I decide on I’ll definitely post pics in case it’s helpful to others.

[Equestrian24]

No problem! Good luck, and I’d love to see pics of whatever you choose!

I also forgot, there have been several people here who have purchased The In Gate bridle that also comes in a similar color to Edgewood. It looks beautiful, but I haven’t seen one in person yet.

[Bristol_Bay]

Pictures and reviews on this thread.

Show Hunter Bridles

[image] Both horses here are in the extra full. One has a long delicate WB face and one has a doorknob head. Both needed the XF although I had to punch holes in the noseband for the mare.

Not sure that link will work.

I had one and returned it. The leather is nice but it wasn’t padded at all and I realized after I got it that that’s what I wanted.

[vxf111]

Ah, a reason to post another photo of my handsome man in his The In Gate bridle, which I’m such a fan of

But I’m not sure if I would call the color “oak bark.” It’s more traditional “Havana.”

[lintesia]

There’s a tack store in Oregon called Gallops Saddlery which has (or had) a large selection of Edgewood bridles. You can Google to get their phone number. It’s in Wilsonville, iirc.

[Ceffyl_Dwr]

Quite handsome!

[Equestrian24]

Beautiful bridle, and looks great on your horse!

[vxf111]

I am really fond of this bridle on him. My mare has it too but I think it looks particularly good on his doorknob knocker of a head.

[Bristol_Bay]

What about getting a hunt bridle? Tory Leather makes one. There’s one a Dover also.

[mvp]

I don’t think the Dover flat hunt bridles are on par with the quality of Edgewood. But they are nice by modern standards.

OP, if your horse can wear and oversize bridle, look at the NTW Beval bridle** on Ebay right now.

**. It comes with a purple and teal bridle back, so you know it comes from the Grand Yestercentury. If I had a horse to fit it (or ever would), I’d snap it up. And I want the kind of quality in my tack that I think you mean. I’m fussy.

Otherwise, I’d call Wayne Rasmussen/The Country Saddlery in Southern Pines and see what it would take to get one of his Legacy bridles. Last I knew, he’d make you what you wanted, but knows the type you mean. Also, his stuff comes in that lovely New Market color that darkens down to whatever shade you make it.

[vxf111]

If you need an O/S I can probably part with one of mine. I have a bunch of new Edgewoods that I will probably never get around to using. They’re not listed anywhere and I don’t need to sell but if you truly can’t find one anywhere and you’re desperate I can sell one of mine.

[jherold]

Smith worthimgton went out of business and you can pick up a very nice one on ebay for $100. Beautiful English bridle leather.

[Bristol_Bay]

I saw the Dover bridle in person today and it’s very nice leather. Better than I thought it would be.

[zigster17]

I recently went to gallops and can confirm that they still have a wide selection of Edgewood bridles!

[fourfillies]

For that color definitely New Cavalry. I have an older New Cavalry bridle that I wanted an updated wider nose for. Once I oiled it’s a perfect match and the quality seemed remarkably similar to my original bridle which is hard to find these days.

[akhunterrider]

If you’re familiar with the now discontinued Lund Saddlery bridles (Sedgewick Leather, traditional oakbark color), Amy Cattell Magee has a small company called Black Diamond Designs. She has a website and a Facebook page. She’s super helpful and very easy to work with.

Shop the Collection - Black Diamond Designs

[vxf111]

She’s great to deal with!