Horze bridle quality?

[JenEM]

I’m looking for a new dressage bridle for my new TB, since she needs a cob sized bridle and all my tack is horse sized. But she’s 3 and still growing, so I don’t want to shell out $$$ on something she may outgrow, and we’re just looking at doing some in-hand and maybe Intro stuff this year.

All the new wacky dippy browbands and copious bling are not up my alley at all, and I think they will detract a lot from her very cute face. In poking around on the Horze webside, I came across this bridle:
https://www.horze.com/horze-constance-padded-flash-snaffle-bridle-p-10040/p
It appeals to both my former hunter princess self and my desire for classic and simple, and I sure like the price! But how is the leather quality on the Horze stuff? I’m leery of ordering online without having touched it.

Any other suggestions for classic, non-blingy bridles? Preferably under $200.

[Dark_horse17]

The reviews look good on that product…

I have the HDR padded, stitched bridle in black – this is similar, but in brown. Good price point for a pretty standard, but monocrown/padded bridle:

https://www.doversaddlery.com/hdr-pro-stress-free-fancy-stitched-padded-bridle/p/X1-12689/

[Scribbler]

To me, Stubben bridles are the best ever. They have conservative styles, excellent leather, last forever. I have two I got second hand, one used and one as new. I feel like I never need to upgrade from this.

And they come in around US$ 200. If you got one second hand, obviously much less. I think they are a hidden bargain jewel. When my fingers walk through the hanging strap goods at the tack shop, new or consignment, they find the Stubben. Lots of bridles not nearly as nice sell for more.

https://stubbennorthamerica.com/product/1000-bridle/

[JenEM]

@Scribbler

To me, Stubben bridles are the best ever. They have conservative styles, excellent leather, last forever. I have two I got second hand, one used and one as new. I feel like I never need to upgrade from this.

And they come in around US$ 200. If you got one second hand, obviously much less. I think they are a hidden bargain jewel. When my fingers walk through the hanging strap goods at the tack shop, new or consignment, they find the Stubben. Lots of bridles not nearly as nice sell for more.

https://stubbennorthamerica.com/product/1000-bridle/

Oooh, I hadn’t seen that model! The nearby Dover only has their trendier styles. I will keep an eye on our good local consignment shop for a bit, though they tend to have a lot of Pony and Oversize stuff. I’ve gotten really lucky on things there before, though, and since we obviously won’t be showing for a bit, I can bide my time.

[SonnysMom]

I have one HDR. I have 2 of these Nunn Finer https://www.nunnfiner.com/Gianna-Bridle-p/gianna.htm It is havana. I also have the Nunn Finer figure 8.
If you want black there is a Nunn Finer https://www.nunnfiner.com/Charlotte-Bridle-p/charlotte.htm

Can you tell I like the Nunn Finer? I love their reins. Although I am considering taking the stops off the Gianna and putting traditional stops on. I think the ones that come with it are ugly.

[IdahoRider]

I don’t like all the bling and the swoopy browbands either.
Sheilah

[Jump314]

At that price point, I really like SmartPak’s Plymouth Elite bridle. I have one that I use every day and a second one that I save for horse trials.

[crthunder]

I have a Horze hunter bridle for my thoroughbred and it’s a very nice bridle. Definitely much nicer than a $125 price would have suggested. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another of their bridles.

[high_hat]

@Jump314

At that price point, I really like SmartPak’s Plymouth Elite bridle. I have one that I use every day and a second one that I save for horse trials.

I also have these and think they are great.

[Scribbler]

@JenEM

Oooh, I hadn’t seen that model! The nearby Dover only has their trendier styles. I will keep an eye on our good local consignment shop for a bit, though they tend to have a lot of Pony and Oversize stuff. I’ve gotten really lucky on things there before, though, and since we obviously won’t be showing for a bit, I can bide my time.

If you go to the German main website you can see all the models and they have a number of conservative styles. They also do everything in every color so you could get a conservative hunter snaffle bridle in black for dressage.

[JenEM]

@Scribbler

If you go to the German main website you can see all the models and they have a number of conservative styles. They also do everything in every color so you could get a conservative hunter snaffle bridle in black for dressage.

Interesting, I may have to dig around there some more.

And it looks like y’all have given me some more really good options to compare. My prior mare’s nice hunter bridle was a SmartPak Wellfleet, so I’m not at all averse to their tack. I’ll look in to the Plymouth models.And I really like the look of that Nunn Finer.

Has anyone seen the cheaper price point Schockemohles?
(Like this: https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Scho…SABEgLZYPD_BwE)
Obviously they won’t be the quality of the $400 ones, but wondering how their $100 bridle compares to say, the SP ones in leather quality.

For now we’ve got an Americana hunter bridle to work with, so I’ve got some time to figure out what is going to look and work best on her.

[Training_Cupid]

I haven’t tried any Horze leather products - of the 2 blankets I tried one fell apart right away and the other is fine. But I think Bobby’s bridles are nice for the price - look good and hold up well. I used this for 3 years, both schooling and showing, on my small headed TB
https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Bobbys_Tack_Padded_Narrow_Noseband_Dressage_Bridle/descpage-BDSB.html

I see Plymouth recommended above and for what it’s worth I’ve been very underwhelmed. I have a bridle that never really softened and the keepers broke, and side reins that also never really softened. The leather quality is just not that good in my opinion.

[arbeegirl]

I found this bridle for my little OTTB.

https://www.sstack.com/premier-dress…crank/p/33473/

I read the reviews and gave it a try. To my surprise a year later, it’s still in great shape. I would say it does run large. My horse wears a cob size and he is on the last hole for everything. The noseband is still loose but he is quiet in the mouth so it doesn’t matter.

[JenEM]

Can any of you with a Stubben bridle in horse or cob size ( @Scribbler ?) possibly measure it for me? I cannot find a size chart on them anywhere online, and I’m sure it’s past close of business and I don’t expect a response to my email query over the weekend. But they’re having a sale and I’d really like to see about ordering one!

I bought one of the Nunn Finer Charlotte’s suggested above, in cob, and it is hilariously small. Like, pinching her ears and on every last hole to even get it on her head. Of course, since I’d already cleaned/oiled, I can’t return it Yet the HKAmericana cob sized hunter bridle I’ve got fits really well. So I’m really up in the air about what size to go with!