Quality of HDR Tack

[kwpn_01]

Hello everyone, my apologies if there was a thread similar to this post in the past, I did a quick search though 10 - 15 pages and all I could find was feedback on HDR saddles!

I am looking at purchasing a standing martingale by HDR Advantage (schooling martingale) and it’s priced at roughly 70$ CAD. I realize that this is relatively inexpensive compared to other tack on the market, so my question to the COTH community is, how is HDR tack? How does it hold up? Would it be nice enough (if cleaned thoroughly) to have in the show ring on a provincial/national level? I do not plan on staying in the hunters for very long, therefore I am skeptical about spending a pretty penny on a nice standing martingale. I don’t own anything HDR and know very little about the brand. Any feedback helps! Thanks in advance.

[nu5ha]

Have 2 bridles. I originally got them as “spares” and to use as everyday bridles as the climate where I am and the amount of sweating horse (and I do) didn’t feel like using my more “expensive” bridles to traipse through the desert it. Got them from stateline. They are ok. They do the job. They are not the most fantastic bridles I have ever laid my hands on but not the worst. I did have to oil the hell out of them because they arrived a bit cracky. But 2 years on they are still holding up to being ridden in most days I’m in the desert (at least once with at least one horse)I also do periodically pour water on them and I clean and oil them maybe once or twice a month. Use a hackamore with one of them so took the nose band off and it’s good, fits my horses well. Not the total best but good.

[StormWarriorC]

I have an HDR 5 point for my jumper and it’s great! I got it second hand NWT, and it was just soft enough and it cleans very well.
I’d say go for it, I’d always rather oil something really well and have it last because it started out stiff!

[ParadoxFarm]

I have a few items by HDR and they have all been just fine. Actually, I like them.

[Training_Cupid]

I’ve had an HDR for almost as long as my horse, so coming up 6 years now and it is holding up very well despite me not being the best at taking proper care of it. Mine actually was not dry or stiff when I got it, I don’t remember where I purchased it from.

[16_Hands]

I got an HDR figure 8 as a gift and was very disappointed in the quality. It was stiff and the underside of the leather was very rough and would have rubbed a sore on my thin skinned horse. I tried to oil it and soften it with varying degrees of success. I ended up selling it on and buying a Nunn Finer.

[kwpn_01]

@Training Cupid

I’ve had an HDR for almost as long as my horse, so coming up 6 years now and it is holding up very well despite me not being the best at taking proper care of it. Mine actually was not dry or stiff when I got it, I don’t remember where I purchased it from.

This is reassuring! I am from Ontario and I plan on ordering from Picov’s, my schooling brand of choice has always been Mondega (through Greenhawk) but unfortunately they are all out of my sized martingale. I’ve always seen plentiful stock of HDR and Collegiate branded tack, I’ve never owned it but I am curious as the price seems right.

[kwpn_01]

@16 Hands

I got an HDR figure 8 as a gift and was very disappointed in the quality. It was stiff and the underside of the leather was very rough and would have rubbed a sore on my thin skinned horse. I tried to oil it and soften it with varying degrees of success. I ended up selling it on and buying a Nunn Finer.

Another reason why I may still purchase a higher quality piece of tack, therefore it has some resale value. For showing I own CWD everything (saddle/bridle/reins) and wondering if I should bite the bullet and buy the matching standing martingale so I can later sell it.