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Nice Bridle for Fine/Petite Head

Dressage
#1

I know what you’re thinking, not another bridle post! But I’m looking for suggestions for a snaffle bridle for my mare with a very fine face. She’s 16h but wears a cob size bridle usually. She is not a fan of the Micklem bridle so that is out. I’ve considered the Schockemoehle bridles as I really like how they look and the options they have available. But I’ve read mixed reviews on their leather quality.

I tried this Passier bridle on her. I actually really like the way it fits her (comfort wise), the leather is nice and I’m ok with the price. I bought it from Smartpak anticipating returning it but it was the easiest way for me to try a Passier and see how their sizing runs and the quality of the leather. I like the way the crown is shaped. But it’s just too much for her size head, especially the really wide nose band.
https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/passier-atlas-snaffle-bridle-15220

Things I would love in a bridle:

  • good for a finer head
  • crank nose band
  • Mono crown / comfortable crown piece behind ears
  • under $400
  • removable flash loop a big +

Any suggestions? Especially ones that would be easy to trial without too much hassle.

Here is my mare in her current bridle, which is cob size:
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/47234923_10155994644357081_6505100253262249984_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=ccf79c9deae06cce7a52499f564dfce8&oe=5D3385F4

#2

If you’re wanting something more refined and don’t need a flash you might shop some hunter bridles. I’ve seen plenty with monocrowns and even crank nosebands. If you want a droopy browband you can always switch it out, but I think they make a horses face look weird and blocky.

I don’t care for a flash or a crank so I bought a double and took off the spare parts. Getting a little outside the box will give you more options. Bobby’s has a good reputation for quality and I think you can piece a bridle together there to get the size/options you want. Looks like they also stock some less huge nosebands, so that’s a plus for you.

#3

Schneider’s makes their Joseph Sterling line bridles in a petite model. They’re really nice looking on a refined head.

1 Like
#4

This is exactly what first popped into my mind and what I was going to suggest.

https://www.sstack.com/english_bridles_dressage/oseph-sterling-comfort-plus-petite-dressage-bridle/

2 Likes
#5

My TB has a small head, and we use a Bobby’s bridle. I think it’s the narrow noseband? (https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Bobbys_Tack_Padded_Narrow_Noseband_Dressage_Bridle/descpage-BDSB.html) The full size is on the last hole for the cheek pieces (added a hole for my large D ring snaffle) and throatlatch. I’ve had it a few years, I think I may have tried cob size first but if that’s the case I can’t remember where it didn’t fit. Here’s a few views:
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-irQuKFfEi…0/6R8A6652.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FMTFz0GEf…109_080622.jpg

If you don’t need a crank, I’m happy with the above Bobby’s but if I was buying now I’d probably try this: https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Schockemohle_Tokyo_Select_Anatomic_Bridle__Grip_Reins/descpage-STOK.html

#6

I recently purchased a bridle from Bridle2Fit for my TB. It’s beautiful and really nice quality and I loved that I could select the pieces individually. I’ve only owned a Passier and a Solo Equine, both of which I loved, but this one is definitely nicer. The reins I got from them are like butter.

#7

This one has a slightly wider noseband than my Bobby’s, but if you’re interested PM me, I’ve been thinking of selling my Wellfleet Double Raised bridle and I think it checks all your boxes: https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pf8pRiqTR…829_183730.jpg

Not currently available, but here’s the product description from Smartpak: The Wellfleet Monocrown Double Raised Snaffle Bridle represents the combination of the finest vegetable tanned North American bridle leather available and expert craftsmanship. Double raised leather detail on the noseband and brow band adds some subtle elegance that compliments any dressage horse. Designed to alleviate pressure on the sensitive poll area, the redesigned genuine monocrown allows only soft padding to be in contact with the horse’s poll. Extra fine stitching and supple rich leather finished with stainless steel hardware. Carefully crafted to our own specifications and available exclusively at SmartPak.

#8

I actually have a Wellfleet that I bought 7+ years ago. It fits ok but the leather quality isn’t that great. And it’s horse sized so I’m on the smallest hole on everything and it still fits too big in some areas. The flash and throat latch are way too large for her.

That Schockemoehle bridle is exactly the one I was considering as it has everything I’m looking for besides the crank. But I’m concerned about the leather quality as many people have complained about it for that brand.

#9

Hmm… even in pictures the Schockemoehle leather doesn’t look that great.

The Kieffer Anja Beran is another option (like the Schockemoehle, it lacks a crank, but the chin is padded).
http://www.dressageextensions.com/kieffer-anja-beran-snaffle/p/2186/

This Dy’on (it is available in black) might also work, but it also lacks the crank. I don’t think Dy’on is worth the price in the US, but if you order from Europe, the price is reasonable. I’ve ordered from here before. The shopping experience was fine, but maybe don’t order from here if you’re in a rush.
https://justriding.com/products/dyon-flash-noseband-bridle-b111?variant=29640725778

But now you’ve kinda got me stumped… it’s really hard to find petitie + crank + removable flash loop! Considering that you want a removable flash loop, do you even need the flash at all?

#10

If she’s in between sizes, check out Flexible Fit Equestrian - you can select the size of each component. They have cranks with removable flash loops, and it’s a lot of fun to play with their custom bridle builder.

#11

If you don’t like Schockemoehle leather you won’t like Bobby’s English Tack. Bobby’s has really nose-dove in quality in the last few years and every time I read about someone saying they are just SO NICE, I kind of headdesk myself. They used to be lovely–now they are just average.

I was going to suggest the Joseph Sterling bridle above. Also the Passier Fortuna, Jupiter, Juno. The last two aren’t cranks but they are still very refined. Passier leather is lovely and also fairly durable. Stubben is another good choice that tends to be narrower across the nose also. I think Vespucci also still carries some of the classic style, less embellished dressage bridles.

Or, you could always run a $35 science experiment with this rolled leather Toulouse: https://classicsaddlery.com/index.php/mainbridles/dressage-bridles/product/1491-classic-round-sewn-snaffle-bridle

1 Like
#12

I don’t know if it’s still available but I got a very nice dressage bridle that fit my horse perfectly.
HDR I don’t know about the mono crown but it was crank noseband and no flash attachment. It came with web reins which I don’t care for, but I use them anyway.

Was it the best leather? No, but I’ve had it a few years and it has held up pretty well considering I don’t clean it much.

I ordered it from State Line Tack.

#13

I have the Joseph Sterling and loved it so much I bought one for the other horse! Can’t recommend highly enough, not just “good for the price,” it’s great at any price.

#14

Eponia are really nice and have a narrower nosebabdvoption, and removable flash. Super cushy and padded monocrown.

#15

I had the Joseph Sterling bridle for a couple of years. I didn’t hate it for the pricepoint (at least the pricepoint I bought it at – looks like pricing on the Sterling bridles has gone up) but it wasn’t good enough for me in the end. The leather didn’t knock my socks off but it was fine. The hardware and construction were lacking, though. The crown shape didn’t match my horse’s anatomy well – it pinched at the ears due to the spacing of the ear cutouts. At some point one of the hook stud bit ends on the reins failed while I was riding. Guess it’s better than a bit end on the bridle failing!

From the photos currently on the website it looks like they might have changed the hardware and design of the bit ends, though. And it looks like there’s a new “comfort plus” model that has a different crown, so perhaps they’ve solved that problem as well…

#16

The Stubben Switch bridle is really pretty and has a stowable flash loop. It’s a little over $400, but it converts to a double, so if you think you might need that in the future, it would be cheaper in the long run.

#17

I wanted a removable/hide-able flash loop so I can opt to use it or not as desired. I don’t often use a flash but would like to have the option occasionally without having the unused loop sticking out the rest of the time.

The Kieffer Anja Beran is very nice. I was really only looking for a crank because it honestly seems more comfortable than a thin leather strap right on the edge of the underside of the jaw bone. But that Kieffer bridle just has a pad, which is all I truly want but didn’t realize that was even an option.

I went further down the rabbit hole and started looking at Kieffer’s website. TONS of good options for a refined head that will probably take a long time to really look at in detail. I’ll also look at some of the customizable bridle websites.

https://kiefferusa.net/collections/snaffle-bridles

slp2, that sounds similar to my mare. She has a very petite muzzle and the overall length of her head is short. But her forehead can be horse or cob depending on the brand.

#18

I ride in a Kieffer now and am generally happy with it – I agree that they have many options that look nice on a refined head.

My horse has a dainty head that is WAY shorter from poll to nose than it looks. The Kieffer cob fits quite a bit bigger than the Joseph Sterling. I had to switch out the cheek pieces on my Kieffer bridle for pony cheek pieces, so you may want to measure before buying if your horse is on the short-headed side. I couldn’t find any cheek pieces the right length with hook stud bit ends, and ended up getting Kieffer pony cheeks with buckle ends, which I don’t like as much on a small head (too much metal – I think refined heads look better wtih cleaner lines). But it’s held up well with to several years of daily use now, so I can’t complain.

#19

Another vote for Joseph Sterling - I bought one two years ago and continue to be astonished at the quality for
the price. I have none of the issues mentioned by X-halt-salute. Their “petite bridle” might serve your purpose.
Although I have to say - I thought your mare looked pretty nice in the bridle she’s wearing in the picture you shared.:lol:

#20

Training Cupid, I’m looking at this exact Bobby’s bridle. Do you like the quality of the leather? It looks like it might have the plasticky layer on it, but Riding Warehouse also helpfully allows you to zoom WAY in ha! I’ve scoured the Bobby’s site trying to figure out which of the three “tiers” this RW “narrow” bridle is likely in (because of course they don’t use the same horsey model!) It looks lovely on your horse.

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