Identifying Beval Bridle (Possibly Newport or New Canaan)?

[Equestrian24]

I’ve read a lot of bridle threads on here and there seem to be a lot of knowledgeable people here in this area, so I thought I’d ask!

IIRC, Beval’s square raised bridle was called the Newport, but weren’t some of the New Canaans plain square raised as well? I have another New Canaan that is round raised and fancy stitched, but remember reading something about plain square raised ones as well.

Can anyone identify this one? Sorry if the pictures aren’t great, this is probably my second or third time uploading photos on here!

If it makes any difference, this bridle has the older “Beval Ltd.” stamp on both the bridle and reins, and says “Made in England”. It has square raised detail on the reins and a small fancy stitched detail on the bit ends of the cheek pieces. The color is a darker brown, but not quite havana, and may have the slightest reddish undertones in the light.

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[touchstone]

The New Canaan was also square raised! IIRC, the main difference was the color. The New Canaan was quite light to start, while the Newport was very dark havana, almost black. It’s hard to tell from the pictures, because of lighting, but I’d guess you have a New Canaan.

I used to have one as my show bridle. I loved the square raised look, and it was a lovely bridle that continued to look gorgeous for more than a decade of use.

[akhunterrider]

I would say this is definitely a New Canaan. I had one as my show bridle as well, but I had it as a teenager and didn’t properly oil it in the beginning, so it was prone to gunk build up. I sold it some years later and wish I would have kept it. They don’t make bridles like that anymore. The New Canaan bridles came in a Carmel color that darkened up to be a nice lighter brown, whereas the Newport bridles were more of a Havana color.

As for the styling changing, I found one for a friend on ebay a couple year after purchasing mine and it was the round raised like you’re describing.

[lintesia]

Does anyone remember about how much they cost? I had one, I think the New Canaan, which oiled to a beautiful dark brown. The leather was so soft and the bridle looked very classy on my horse who had a fine head with chrome.

[akhunterrider]

@lintesia

Does anyone remember about how much they cost? I had one, I think the New Canaan, which oiled to a beautiful dark brown. The leather was so soft and the bridle looked very classy on my horse who had a fine head with chrome.

I believe I paid about $425 for a brand new one back in 2003.

[horsechick616]

I thought Newport was plain square raised, and New Canaan was square raised and fancy stitched. I thought both came in a padded and unpadded version and both came in lighter and darker colors.

[Tini_Sea_Soldier1]

Great bridles. Had the Newport. Sad that it’s now just a memory. Going to the Beval’s Sale in February was always such a fun adventure. I literally prayed for no snow so that we could get there on day 1 before everything was picked over. I knew a Mom that used to take her 2 girls out of school early to get there to shop! She called it a “personal holiday”!