Looking for Opinions & Product Suggestions

[Grasshopper]

Hm, lots of good ideas here! For hunting I think hook studs give a cleaner look, though I don’t have a strong preference either way. Same with brass/silver.

For reins, I think you’ll find that preferences vary widely. I like rubber or rubber-lined reins. If I’m riding on a snaffle with just one rein, then I like them thicker, like 3/4 or 1 inch. But I have large hands for a woman. If I’m riding on a pelham with two reins, then I want a thinner rubber/rubber-lined rein on the snaffle ring and a thin plain leather rein on the curb ring.

In short, options are good especially for reins.

Oh, and built-in rein stops for running martingales are good. I hate having to attach the rubber ones to reins that don’t come with them. Even though I don’t always use a running martingale, I specifically look for reins with the stops just in case.

[Martina]

beautifully crafted crops in brown leather

Horse Country has a gorgeous leather crop with a bone handle, but its in black leather. If it were brown, I’d get it in a heartbeat.

[Romany]

[QUOTE=wateryglen;5232185]
LOVE the adjustable browband idear!
All the other parts of a bridle are come to think of it!
GOOD idear! :yes:[/QUOTE]

Why thank you!

OK, LeatherWorker - over to you for the clever design!

[whicker]

Buckles and hooks

I prefer the buckles over the hooks for the bridle because I clean and take apart the bridles many times a week. I also change bits around. I have had hooks rip out, so I like the more substantial leather for the buckles and sronger hardware. I also have a hard time prying the leather off of the hooks. I need a screwdriver, and my hands aren’t strong enough.

The hunter look has been popular in the past, since the buckle option wasn’t available. The hooks were an improvement over sewn-in bits, which were phasing out for hunting when I started.

[whicker]

Built in rein stops for running martingales sounds like a great option.

[MichMort]

My husband and I both hunt, so we ordered bridles and breastplates: with brass buckles, for his chestnut, and with silver, for my gray.
Brown nice crop.
Good real sheepskin saddle pads.
A pouch that could hold a camera in an easy-to-reach spot on the breastplate, that closes securely and could be padded.
Girths with elastic on both ends.

[fernie_fox]

Quality flat leather,hook studs[buckles are for dressage,not hunting]

Stainless steel fittings.

Roller Buckle on noseband.

One inch reins.

Nice dark brown leather,

Nice sandwich cases at a sane price, maybe a little larger than normal.