Quality Dressage Bridles

[gembria]

Hello!

I’m looking for the best quality dressage bridle. I’m looking for good quality leather that won’t break immediately. I have a Shockemoehle bridle that is stretching out after using it for 5 years. I love how well it’s held up and how good the leather quality is. I was also looking at PS of Sweden bridles because I love their look, but I’ve heard they don’t last long. Any opinions on PS of Sweden? Also, I’ve heard very good reviews about anatomical bridles. Does anyone have experience with them? Do they actually make a difference? TIA

[BigMama1]

I loved the idea of an anatomical bridle for my horse, who used to be quite sensitive about his head and face so bought a PS of Sweden one. The quality seemed lovely and it seemed to fit him fine, but he HATED it, and clearly acted as if it caused him pain somewhere.

Honestly for the best combination of quality and price I don’t think there’s anything better out there than www.soloequine.com

[gembria]

@BigMama1

I loved the idea of an anatomical bridle for my horse, who used to be quite sensitive about his head and face so bought a PS of Sweden one. The quality seemed lovely and it seemed to fit him fine, but he HATED it, and clearly acted as if it caused him pain somewhere.

Honestly for the best combination of quality and price I don’t think there’s anything better out there than www.soloequine.com

Interesting that your horse had an adverse reaction to the anatomical bridle.

Thanks for the suggestion! I’m looking at their website and their bridles are gorgeous.

[redsoxluvr]

Have you seen the Bridle2Fit bridles? They are stunning and not ridiculous. Www.bridle2fit.com

[piedmontfields]

I think KL Select/Red Barn leather is very nice. That is what I’m planning on for a new bridle. But my much cheaper Kieffer bridles have held up very well.

[mwh]

If you are looking at good quality and less concerned about price (but not custom made) I think the best options are dobert, dy’on and antares. I would also consider topline otto schumacher but have not seen in person recently to compare.

[sortofbyx]

Definitely another vote for Solo. Great product, and excellent customer service

[gembria]

@sortofbyx

Definitely another vote for Solo. Great product, and excellent customer service

How is the fit in with the Solo bridles? My warmblood mare has a more refined head and I’m always stuck between full and oversize. Advice?

[beowulf]

I don’t think that PS of Sweden is great for the price - the quality is ‘meh’. Fine for a cheaper bridle but not for a $200-300 one. Even oiled up and clean I haven’t been impressed with how the PS of Sweden looks - they always seem to look dingy or drab even on show bridles.

I’d try Eponia Equine - for the price the quality is fantastic and the bridles are beautiful.

[Tattooed_Dressage]

@gembria

How is the fit in with the Solo bridles? My warmblood mare has a more refined head and I’m always stuck between full and oversize. Advice?

Another vote for Solo Equine - my suggestion is to talk directly with Stephen the owner regarding fit for your mare. I’m positive he’ll have a bridle that will work for you. I can speak to the fit of the Solo Stellar and the Solo Drop it like it’s hot: for my 17.3hh Westfalen gelding the oversize/XL Stellar fits perfectly for that style. The drop noseband bridle also fits him due to it’s high level adjustability in the full/WB size.

[TXJumper]

I love my PS of Sweden for the style, but not for the leather quality, which is just good, not great. Having said that, I would buy it again because it made an immediate difference in my boy. He’s exceptionally sensitive. The slightest movement of my fingers, and he overreacts to it. The PS of Sweden took out all the noise (and I have pretty quiet hands!), and he loves it. For that reason alone, it’s probably the only one I’ll buy.

[IslandDQ]

Otto bridles are my favorite, also love that it is very easy to order parts from them and adapt a bridle to fit another horse based on this or just simply have a schooling and show noseband etc. I have a couple in my collection I have managed to pick up in sales over the years. My oldest one is getting close to 10 years old and honestly not much different than the day I bought it.

[Farys]

I can also attest to the quality of the Solo Equine bridles. I was at a show a couple of weekends ago and I finally got to “touch them” in person. The are absolutely stunning. A friend of mine bought one and she loves it. I decided to buy a Solo Equine girth (same design as the TSF girths) and I am super pleased with the quality for the price. I also have a TSF girth for my other horse so I was able to compare the leather quality. I have to say that the Solo girth is definitely nicer leather than the TSF and it was half the price. The girth was $95 CAD. My next bridle will definitely be a Solo Equine bridle. I’m hoping they come out with more drop noseband options!

[CanteringCarrot]

@beowulf

I don’t think that PS of Sweden is great for the price - the quality is ‘meh’. Fine for a cheaper bridle but not for a $200-300 one. Even oiled up and clean I haven’t been impressed with how the PS of Sweden looks - they always seem to look dingy or drab even on show bridles.

I’d try Eponia Equine - for the price the quality is fantastic and the bridles are beautiful.

The quality of Eponia isn’t bad for the price, but their customer service is lacking. If you never have a problem with their products, or require an extra piece of the bridle for whatever reason, forget about it.

I have PS of Sweden reins because I was looking for rolled reins to match my rolled bridle and the quality isn’t as good as I thought it would be, so I’m hesitant to buy an entire bridle…but I’ve been eyeing the Pioneer for awhile now. Otherwise, I like how thin the reins are and the cob size is perfect for most of my PRE horses.

[QovDressage]

Regarding PS of Sweden anatomical bridles, the company now has a team of USA-based Bridle Fitters who can come to measure your horse and fit you with, and let you ride in, any number of their bridles. Perhaps the poster above could benefit from a Bridle Fitter coming out to see if another PS of Sweden bridle might fit their horse better, or sort out the fit on the one they have.

As to the look of PSoS, I think we are all responsible for the cleanliness of our tack; I use Stübben saddle soap in the plastic tub and my PS bridles look amazing.

For effectiveness, I’ve ridden in the Pioneer and Jump Off Snaffles, and Paragon double bridle. These are all USEF/USDF legal when used with throatlatches, and without the silver clips on the Pioneer and Jump Off. I also love the High Jump, which is not USDF or FEI-Dressage legal but perfect for jumping. The difference in feel in the PS of Sweden bridles is nothing short of amazing. My horse who avoided contact actively seeks it in the Pioneer. A sensitive poll on my mare was cured by the Jump Off. I won’t ride my horses in any other make of bridle than PS of Sweden. Love them.

[TXJumper]

@QovDressage

For effectiveness, I’ve ridden in the Pioneer and Jump Off Snaffles, and Paragon double bridle. These are all USEF/USDF legal when used with throatlatches, and without the silver clips on the Pioneer and Jump Off. I also love the High Jump, which is not USDF or FEI-Dressage legal but perfect for jumping. The difference in feel in the PS of Sweden bridles is nothing short of amazing. My horse who avoided contact actively seeks it in the Pioneer. A sensitive poll on my mare was cured by the Jump Off. I won’t ride my horses in any other make of bridle than PS of Sweden. Love them.

I feel the exact same way! I have the Jump Off, and my boy is a different horse in it. There is a solid contact/consistency that he loves with that bridle, that does not exist in any others I have tried. The difference is amazing. Like you, I won’t ride in anything else - which is sad, because I have a beautiful BR Dressage Bridle that I have to sell now. I have been debating between the Jump Off in Black (the one I own is dark brown - bought for jumping), or possibly the Pioneer. Do you find the Pioneer to be as solid and consistent as the Jump Off?

[arabiansrock]

I bought a bridle at horse expo from PUre Harmony Equine. Small vendor, they have bridles made for them out of Italian leather. cutback crowns, nicely padded, lovely feel to the leather. At expo they were 100 buck for the headstall. reins were 45 to 65 depending on type. I didn’t need reins. Can’t say anything about durability, we are actually saving the bridle for regionals and nationals, then after the 2 big shows maresy can wear it for her daily bridle.

What I really liked is they swapped out the cheek piece for me, so my cob sized bridle has pony sized cheek pieces. Now my mare doesn’t have to have her bridle hooked up at the top hole and us praying the leather doesn’t stretch cause it won’t fit any longer.

Also, they don’t have drop nosebands, but that is what my mare needs, so they have offered to custom make a drop for her. I just have to send in a diagram of what I need, measurement wise, and they will have it made. she estimated 50 to 60 dollars for that. Sounds reasonable to me. they do have a website if anyone is interested.

https://squareup.com/store/pure-harmony-equine-apparel/item/narrow-padded-noseband-bridle this is the one I bought, they do have other styles