I got a really nice Smartpak Wellfleet from a friend but the crank noseband is just a bit too much for my small headed pony. The noseband buckles on both sides of the face. The rest of the bridle is very nice so I’d like to find out if anyone sells just a noseband? I’ve contacted Smartpak and am waiting to hear back but would love some options.
There were some people at Kentucky that had bridles and bridle parts but I can’t remember who they were, and I already contacted Solo equine.
Update, Smartpak doesn’t make separate nosebands and Solo Equine doesn’t have anything that’s not a crank in a cob.
Passier will sell just nosebands, but I’m not certain on their sizing and if that’s an option for you. I think Dover also has a few options (I remember there being an HDR option I looked at, and I think the Dover brand did as well) but I was just looking for “horse” in a non-crank, not cob… Hopefully that helps you some. Good luck!
I found myself in a similar situation. I wound up getting a “Premier” Bridle from Schneider’s Tack, since they are having a great sale and that was by far the least expensive option I was finding, even though I didn’t need the rest of the bridle. Don’t know if that’s a good enough quality option for you to go with the rest of your bridle, though. It has a flash attachment loop, but you can tuck it up into the noseband if you don’t want to use it.
I’d check ebay. My horse is constantly playing with his neighbors and getting nose bites so I have to pull the flash off his bridle constantly and I hate the way the little tab looks. I looked on ebay and lucked into finding the exact matching noseband but with a fully detachable flash for $26. You can set an alert if you’re looking for something super specific.
Second hand tack stores are also a good place to check out.
I recently bought two different plain cavesson nosebands to replace the crank nosebands on some bridles I had.
I bought a “Levade” and a “Travers” noseband from here: https://www.klselect.com/accessories/nosebands/
Tack of the day has a None Finer cob size noseband, no crank, for $20. Only Havana in color, but you could dye it.
I’m not sure if you mean it is too big or if you want a plain noseband, but if too big, perhaps a leather repair place can shorten the straps and move the buckles back. I did this for cheekpieces on a gifted bridle that otherwise fit well, and it was an inexpensive fix.
Grey
Bobby’s has one, even in pony size. I’m not sure about the buckling on both sides; most cavesons don’t. But in case you can use it: https://bobbystack.com/nosebands/silver-spur-raised-leather-noseband/
Have you called Bartville Harness? (717) 529-6992 Amish run harness shop. They make some of the Nunn Finer line. Leave a message but don’t call on Sunday.
They usually have, or can make, whatever it is you need.
https://www.ffequestrian.com/ Flexible Fit allow you to build a bridle from each individual part … leather is quite nice too, and I believe they post to the US.
Some of Nunn Finer’s fancier monocrown options have a double buckle cavesson, and I believe they are available separately.
I don’t know if they do a crank or not, but I absolutely love the Bliss of London bridle pieces I recently purchased.
Flexible fit might be what I need, they have the double buckle nosebands for the monocrown, and the no crank option. I just find the crank nosebands to be fussy to buckle and take up a lot of space on his head.
Update! I got my noseband from Solo Equine. They had one in black patent with a tapered nose, regular buckle and no flash and had an extra one laying around so I bought it!
Now my issue is I realize that the two times I put the bridle on I was busy making grumpy faces at the noseband and didn’t notice that the throatlatch was too long. Sigh. Ponies.
I also need cob reins.
I imagine that a cobbler could shorten the throatlatch without much trouble.
For reins, I just found that Micklem makes a rein that is supposed to be a great dupe for the Nunn Finer soft grip. They are only $50 and dover had two rein lengths last I checked.
Jeffries. The web site isn’t the best to navigate, but use the search box at the top. Here’s what I got when I searched “Nosebands” http://www.ejeffries.co.uk/k/search?q=noseband
Oh, and I have one more shipment coming before Christmas, so let me know soon if you want something from them!
What is with the problem of a crank? I won’t settle for anything less. It is well padded and distributes the weight. You can make it as loose as you want. People who hate cranks never used them, IMO.
Glad you found a good noseband.
Yes, I have used one. Why can’t I prefer a plain cavesson?
”‹”‹”‹Too many straps and buckles to fuss with, and on my pony it is too much bulk on his nose.
If you don’t want one, so be it.
Cranks distribute the weight equally, in a way that normal cavassons don’t. Cranks are usually well padded over the nose and under the jaw, and have a roller buckle that normal cavessons don’t. It’s physics, and it’s also your choice. “too many buckles” isn’t a reason, in my book, to choose one noseband over another. Horse comfort is, depending on what is is comfy for your horse. That’s your decision and your horse will go in accordance with whether s/he likes your noseband. Aesthetics are less important to me than function. But that’s me.
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