I love my new saddle, but hate the color. It’s so dark brown that it’s nearly black. Aaaaanyhoo…
I’m in need of a show bridle, but this saddle is tough to match. Can anyone recommend a show-worthy hunter bridle that is super dark? I’ve been told a Voltaire might work, but I’d like to investigate other options, too.
Do you have a pic of your saddle?
I like my Ovation, and it is REALLY dark. Probably the nicest bridle I have for the price.
I do not, but here’s a likeness…
Thank you! This is beautiful. My horse is very finely built. Do you find this sort of tapered shape might be a little overwhelming on a more petite horse?
Hmm… It could be, but you’d have to try it to know. If you go to their website they have quite a few makes/models. Not all of them have a monocrown etc., so you’ll have to pick the most important thing to you.
It’s not a hunter bridle, but my Nunn Finer figure 8 is also very very dark. I’m not entirely sure, but I think it’s the “same” as this one below (sans the cavesson differences obviously).
Thanks! How does the quality of the Ovation compare to the Nunn Finer?
I like the Ovation leather better, personally. The Nunn finer has held up to some severe abuse and kept ticking though so they’re both pretty good for the money.
Seconding an ovation, or actually a Smartpak.
The Smartpak is decent for the steal of a price and could get you through until you find something “nicer”. I have a dainty headed TB and finding unpadded/slimmer profile has been tough, so my ancient Ovation and a Smartpak have been in rotation for ages.
Both look just fine, and I’ve stopped shopping since he’s rehabbing anyways 
I would go with a Hadfields if you can afford it. It is a beautiful dark color right from the start. And they have numerous styles so it would be easy to pick one to suit your horse. www.Hadfields.com
I have this same one and love it, too. But, yes, you might have to test that noseband on a fine face. My guy is 17H, but refined for his size (how I get away with one that big). However, I have seen some other Ovations that I liked with more “normal” nosebands, so definitely may be something to try.
The Aramas bridles and martingale come in several styles in a Chocolate color that is really dark and would work. I have both the bridle and martingale and they have held up well, and Tenney’s usually has a Black Friday 25% off sale. http://shop.ordertenneys.com/index.php?p=catalog&mode=search&search_in=all&search_str=Aramas+bridle
I second the Smartpak bridles. I have two that I got on ridiculous sales (one’s a Wellfleet & one’s a Plymouth) and they’re quite nice. Leather is soft and dark. and pretty darned good quality given the price point. One I bought intending to just use it as a schooling bridle but wound up converting it to my show bridle because it looked better on my mare’s face than the older bridle I was using. Would they be my go-to to purchase again if money wasn’t an obstacle? No. But would I buy them again given my own budget, absolutely.
Echoing Aramas. I have a nearly black County and the Aramas matches it perfectly.
The one that I have is definitely a darker brown than that one - it is a true dark chocolate color. In fact my martingale is so dark that I put a black rubber doughnut thing on there instead of a brown one.
I would just use Walsh leather oil on the bridle! If you heat up the oil it darkens really really well (I mean I’ve had luck using it cold too haha). My ADT came in literally orange and I had it matching my heavily-oiled CWD in a week
My Voltaire is this dark and the Aramas matches it well. I can’t figure out how to attach a picture anymore, but if you want to see what the Aramas looks like, feel free to PM me and I could email you a picture of it. You will definitely be able to find something dark enough!
What price range are you looking at? I bought the $140 Ovation bridle off of SmartPak a couple of months ago and it is very dark (almost black), and very nice for the price IMO. Definitely a big step above other bridles in that price range.
I haven’t seen the Voltaire bridles, but I do own a hunter girth by them and the leather is very soft.
Aramas is another great option as well, and very nice for the price (probably also one of the nicest in its price range).
If you can find a Jeffries, those are beautiful, sturdy, and available in a chocolate color, which can probably oil darker.
Stübben might also have something as well, though I’m not sure how “hunter-y” their current offerings are.
Bobby’s might have something in their Signature Series as well, though I’m not sure what their quality is like anymore.
I believe Huntley might have a dark bridle too IIRC, and I’ve heard a lot of good things about those. I think a few people here have purchased The In Gate bridles and had them oil up to a pretty dark color.
Nunn Finer may be one to look into as well, though I haven’t seen much of their hunter bridles up close. I know people who have them and like them, but have never handled them, myself. Their Bartville-made stuff is nice, though I believe their hunter bridles are made elsewhere.
Barn mate of mine has a wide noseband Ovation. Very dark and very nice quality for the price point.
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