Pessoa Wide Noseband vs Ovation Wide Noseband

[Hunters_Ridge]

I am currently in the process of outfitting my jug head with a new bridle. She needs a wide noseband as her head is rather unfortunate (actually, very pretty triangular shape but about double the size it should be…). I have the opportunity to buy a very gently used Rodrigo Pessoa wide noseband bridle at a great price but I was looking at the Ovation wide noseband and was wondering if anyone had one that they loved/hated. Anyone have any strong opinions on one over the other? Or any other wide noseband bridles under $200.00 they recommend? I’d prefer something minimally padded on the nose, I love the Bobby’s wide but I think it may be too bulky for her. I also prefer square raised as opposed to round.

I’ve searched the topic endlessly but would some love fresh opinions, especially those related to the Ovation and the Pessoa.

Thank you!

[showidaho]

Aramas makes a lovely wide noseband bridle. I have the Pessoa wide noseband and the Aramas and the Aramas is a bit narrower than the Pessoa. Both have lovely, supple leather. I do believe both of mine were over $200 though…

[akhunterrider]

I’ve only seen a Rodrigo Bridle in the figure 8 style, but I wasn’t a fan of the leather. It didn’t want to darken evenly, I felt it ran big as well as stretched and it just didn’t have a good texture. I have been very happy with anything Ovation I have owned.

[hj0519]

I just got this one from SmartPak for my horse: https://www.smartpakequine.com/wellfleet-wide-noseband-hunter-bridle-by-smartpak-7228p, they’re on sale so in your budget. It oiled up beautifully.

[KateKat]

[QUOTE=showidaho;7665458]
Aramas makes a lovely wide noseband bridle. I have the Pessoa wide noseband and the Aramas and the Aramas is a bit narrower than the Pessoa. Both have lovely, supple leather. I do believe both of mine were over $200 though…[/QUOTE]

I have the Aramas as well. I believe I got it on ebay, new, for around $200. I can’t remember the name of the seller though.

[nelson]

I cannot speak to the Pessoa, but I do have the Ovation wide noseband bridle (the one with the monocrown) and I like it very much. I am actually surprised at how much I like it because I can be a bridle snob at times. I got mine in April, so I certainly haven’t had it long, but it seems to be softening well and the stitching and leather are very nice for the price point.

[Hunters_Ridge]

[QUOTE=hj0519;7665531]
I just got this one from SmartPak for my horse: https://www.smartpakequine.com/wellfleet-wide-noseband-hunter-bridle-by-smartpak-7228p, they’re on sale so in your budget. It oiled up beautifully.[/QUOTE]

I was considering the Wellfleet as well, the noseband doesn’t look very wide in the stock photos. Any pictures of it on your horse, by any chance?

[j_feil]

I have the Pessoa bridle, and for the price point, I’m a fan. It keeps its reddish color - so be aware of that. It took a good deal of oiling/rolling/etc. to get it broken in initially. The leather on the bridle is not that buttery soft leather that you will get in a nicer leather. However, I just thought to myself that I thought the reins were finally (after 8 months of near daily use), breaking in to be very nice and soft.

It’s a good bridle. I’m happy with the purchase. I also get many compliments on how it looks. A few others in my barn (a A show barn) have bought one after seeing/using mine.

[hj0519]

[QUOTE=Hunters Ridge;7665631]
I was considering the Wellfleet as well, the noseband doesn’t look very wide in the stock photos. Any pictures of it on your horse, by any chance? :)[/QUOTE]

I’ve only had it for a week, so no, sorry! It does look pretty snazzy on her, though! She doesn’t have a huge head, but her nose is larger than average :). The noseband on it is 1 inch, so not as wide as the Pessoa.

[saitou_amaya]

For Christmas I got the wide noseband Americana bridle by Harmohan Kraft for $200 for my roman nosed block head. I love it! I didn’t want something too coppery or red and this one oils up to a nice rich dark brown. And the leahter quality is much superior to others at that price point.

[ToTheNines]

Here is the Smartpak one. I don’t like reddish bridles, and this one oiled to a nice even dark brown. It was too much bridle for this horse (he is smallish and can wear cob size) but it looked great on my larger horse.
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/1900322_10202586551619429_1283339134_o.jpg

[sarcam02]

A fresh topic for me and I can provide partial insight. I just bought the Ovation RCS (Recessed Crown System) padded crown wide noseband bridle. It has the ear “curves” which I like. It ran about $200-$210. I was mistakenly sent the pessoa wide nose band bridle which you can find for about $240 discounted. I have this bridle and love it in a cob size but needed the horse size one.The leather softens up very nicely and it gets two thumbs up.

I do believe that Smartpak is redesigining the wellfleet bridle (possibly adding a padded crown and ear curves?). I have the original version of the wellfleet (w/o a wide nose band) and also love that bridlle and the leather.

I am thinking about getting the Ovation too - just to see what the bridle looks like in person. Did I mention I have a tack hoarding issue??

So manufacturers…if you are listening I want:

1. wide nose band
2. padded crown
3. ear curves
4. great leather quaity
5. reins included

oh and it should be under $225

OK?

[fatappy]

I’ve not seen the Pessoa. But I was surprised by how much I liked the Ovation when I saw it (and I saw it hanging next to a D’yon).

[vxf111]

Another vote for the Aramas or its cheaper cousin in the Americana line. OR the SP bridles made by HK for Smartpak.

[SquishTheBunny]

I LOVE my pessoa wide noseband bridle, it was the raw leather (orange) and oiled up to a very dark brown to look great on my almost black horse. The leather was beautiful.

I also have an aramas wide noseband, again…lovely leather. Didn’t oil as dark, and the wide noseband was more narrow but beautiful leather.

I have not used an ovation before. I also have the hadfield and bevel heritage wide noseband bridles, however they are often in a higher price range and not really “that” much nicer than the pessoa/aramas.

You cant go wrong with either of the above.

[Kat]

I just got a Pessoa and I have to say I’m really liking it. I got it to show my baby and school my others and so far it looks really nice and fits all of them well (very different head shapes/ sizes) it oiled quickly to a dark dark brown and is suppling quite well

[Hunters_Ridge]

[QUOTE=sarcam02;7666347]

So manufacturers…if you are listening I want:

1. wide nose band
2. padded crown
3. ear curves
4. great leather quaity
5. reins included

oh and it should be under $225

OK?[/QUOTE]

I second all of this but in addition to quality leather, I’d like a quality leather that darkens easily but isn’t a dyed Havana

Everyone has been tremendously helpful, thank you so much for taking a moment to provide your opinions!

[Promise_No_More]

The Red Barn Fusion is a true monocrown bridle with a wide (1") crank type noseband that is very lightly padded. http://www.klselect.com/bridles-fusion.html

[Nickelodian]

I had a beloved Jimmy’s stolen 3 years ago. As a replacement (hate the new Jimmy’s) I tried the Pessoa first, and oiled it. It literally did not change color. Hated it. Tack shop took it back.

Bought the Ovation and have LOVED it ever since. I am a total bridle snob, and wanted a flat noseband for my big guy. I thought the Ovation would be a temporary solution until the insurance reimbursement came. Planned to buy a more expensive higher quality bridle. After oiling it and using it at 3-4 shows I saw no reason to buy my planned 600 edgewood. That’s how much I like this bridle.

I put this on the “colored” yarn thread as well, but the black horse is wearing the Ovation.

https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t1.0-9/10491069_10152228038922960_6672323974714508247_n.jpg

Gray horse is wearing a non fancy stitched edgewood.

[Justice]

This looks like a really nice bridle for the price. I haven’t had the problems everyone else talks about with the Jimmy’s. I have an old one, and some things that Jimmy made me out of his shop in Nevada and they are equally lovely. Having said that, every time I go to buy one in another size I seize up at the price. I found this for half as much and am thinking of getting it for my pony… It’s more than $200, but it looks an awful lot like the Jimmy’s. Pretty, pretty
http://www.doversaddlery.com/derby-bridle/p/X1-12544/?ids=pb1uu43cigfxjroffvgpb5yt