So I really ned help from any one that has every owned a Harwich bridle from SmartPak. I need a figure 8 bridle and found myself what I consider a good deal. I need a schooling bridle and since Smartpak doesn’t carry whole figure 8 bridle I decide I will go for the eventer bridle which is just a plain bridle with a regular flash noseband and I will also buy the figure 8 noseband since it is has the option to change the noseband, and it is 63 dollars cheaper that buying the Wellfleet figure 8 bridle they offered. But since I have a dar bay/black horse I need a dark bridle, not black but dark brown. Does any one know how good they accept oil, like how dark can you get them? Also I was told that I could find coupons in yankee peddlar magazines, I read this in another SP thread. Is there any other place I can find some coupons? I am buying this horse I lease so I am getting everything for him and the least I spend the better, plus the more tack I can get:D Thank you very much
I have the hunter bridle. It is quite dark (Havana right now, I’d say), and I’ve hardly oiled it, so it seems like it will get darker. I’ve never seen a coupon for SP anywhere but on SP’s website, so no help there.
I have the hunter bridle too and mine oiled up to a nice Havana color. It was a little reddish when I got it, but it matches the rest of my tack now.
I’ve only seen coupons or deals on the website or in the magazine.
The equine journal magazine frequently has coupons to Smartpak’s retail store. It’s 15% off one item and excludes many high dollar items (CO, Horseware, Ariat). They can only be used in store though.
Hi, so it seems that the coupons are in store and that is not possible for me since I am not from the states, my sister who studies there will order them and send them to me. they are currently on sale but a really silly one, I think a much better sale might come some time later. Anyway, do you guys think SP might have a sale soon? I know they have a lot of sale but the change in prices are insignificant, and I know that there have been some really nice sales on their Harwich bridles before. What are their major sales? Obviously black friday or cyber monday but that is too far away. Do you know if at this time of the year they have a big sale? I just want to know if I should order it sometime this week and take advantage of this small sale or wait for a bigger sale. Thank you so much for the replies https://www.smartpakequine.com/wellfleet-monocrown-figure-8-bridle-12031p This is the page for the Wellfleet figure 8, a reviewer posted a picture of a bay horse with a blue bonnet with it, the Wellfleet comes in exactly tha same color as the Harwich. Doe s it darken like that one? The name of the reviewer is TB Jumper and the title is Re- Review it is the second one. Thanks I just really like how that one darkened.
I have many of the Harwich and Wellfleet bridles, they’ve all darkened beautifully with minimal breaking in/effort.
This is a Harwich
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/FHPC%20Show%20November%205%202011/IMG_4074_JPG.jpg.html
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Franklin%20Square/IMG00095-20110219-0857.jpg.html
This is a Wellfleet
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Devon%202014/FrankieandShellyatDevon.jpg.html
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Glen%20Eayre%20Invitational%20October%2015%202014/FrankieInvitational3.jpg.html
However the last one I bought had the noseband break apart after just a few months use. So now I am leery of there being quality control issues. These were my “go to” bridles and now I cannot recommend them 
I just bought an Ovation RCS bridle on someone’s recommendation and the leather seems cheap to me. The bridle was cheap, but I’m just not happy. I don’t like Red Barn. I guess I am again on the hunt for that elusive GOOD mid-range priced everyday bridle.
[QUOTE=vxf111;7958836]
I have many of the Harwich and Wellfleet bridles, they’ve all darkened beautifully with minimal breaking in/effort.
This is a Harwich
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/FHPC%20Show%20November%205%202011/IMG_4074_JPG.jpg.html
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Franklin%20Square/IMG00095-20110219-0857.jpg.html
This is a Wellfleet
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Devon%202014/FrankieandShellyatDevon.jpg.html
http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Glen%20Eayre%20Invitational%20October%2015%202014/FrankieInvitational3.jpg.html
However the last one I bought had the noseband break apart after just a few months use. So now I am leery of there being quality control issues. These were my “go to” bridles and now I cannot recommend them
I just bought an Ovation RCS bridle on someone’s recommendation and the leather seems cheap to me. The bridle was cheap, but I’m just not happy. I don’t like Red Barn. I guess I am again on the hunt for that elusive GOOD mid-range priced everyday bridle.[/QUOTE]
Stubben is pretty good everyday quality. I can’t comment on the longevity of SP as I don’t love their leather, but I have a fleet of old Stubben bridles that I got cheap ($35-40) used that are very nice and I do get compliments on them the rare occasion we go off the farm.
Same goes for Courbette, though I wish they updated their design to a padded crown.
I was also told about the Da Vinci ones I saw one and love the look. I have heard they last a long time and are a “good” quality for being cheap $80. The picture I saw though was at WEF 2015. And the horse was going to be shown in that one, so it seems to be pretty enough to show in. But which is better quality, Harwich or Da Vinci? My guess is the Harwich. From the picture though it seemed a little plain, you don’t have any visible stitching, just the sheepskin from the figure 8 noseband.
I have two of the DaVinci ones and I would recommend them. I have one in the darker havana and one in the chestnut. I don’t LOVE the chestnut color though. It took oil nicely to get supple but didn’t really darken. They aren’t going to be the greatest things you have ever felt in your life quality wise but I really was pleasantly surprised. I only bought it for shows initially, since I thought they looked pretty online. I had several people in my curcuit come up to me and ask where I got the bridle because it is that fancy looking. I ended up using them for schooling at home also and they have held up. If you look for sales you can get them for really cheap, way less than $80 for the ones I bought. That being said, I do plan on buying a Harwich one as well 
Here are two pictures of my Harwich Eventer bridle (flash removed):
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/unsouhait/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-07/20140726_132543_zpsckfja7d6.jpg
Check out my Smartpak thread on Off Course. It should be on the first page. The gist is that NUMEROUS people have been having quality issues with Smartpak bridles (from low end to midrange) lately. I would be leery.
[QUOTE=french fry;7959326]
Check out my Smartpak thread on Off Course. It should be on the first page. The gist is that NUMEROUS people have been having quality issues with Smartpak bridles (from low end to midrange) lately. I would be leery.[/QUOTE]
THIS
And I am going to throw the Dover Crown bridle line out there. I have had THIS - Dover Clincher Bridle since 2009 - it gets used 4-7 days a week, and has been for almost 6 years now. Its still in PERFECT shape. Not a single lose stitch, all leather is soft and supple. I haven’t read any bad reviews about the Crown bridle work (other than “size X didn’t fit my in between size horse”).
Any way - its another one to consider in the price range. They have a figure 8 - and these can often be found on sale.
http://www.doversaddlery.com/crown-premier-figure-8-bridle/p/X1-12310/?ids=fyazsqdpvzziarxtcneuaeva
I just purchased the Harwich Eventer bridle for a new horse, at $38, I figured it was worth a shot. It came MUCH darker than in the stock photo, which I was thrilled with. The leather was nicer than I expected as well. We’ll see how it holds up!
I had bought mine used and I’ve since sold it, so it was likely at least a year old, just as an FYI.
For a price conservative figure 8, I’d go Ovation Wicket and Craig American leather figure 8. Lining my edgewood next to my ovation, you can hardly tell a difference.
I tried out SP bridles a few months ago and was extremely unimpressed with the plasticky feel and cheap workmanship.
[QUOTE=Appsolute;7959473]
THIS
And I am going to throw the Dover Crown bridle line out there. I have had THIS - Dover Clincher Bridle since 2009 - it gets used 4-7 days a week, and has been for almost 6 years now. Its still in PERFECT shape. Not a single lose stitch, all leather is soft and supple. I haven’t read any bad reviews about the Crown bridle work (other than “size X didn’t fit my in between size horse”).
Any way - its another one to consider in the price range. They have a figure 8 - and these can often be found on sale.
I have that bridle too - it is at least a 2006 model. It still looks brand new. It would still be in use every day if I hadn’t, um, performed a surgery on the crownpiece to get the noseband hanger thru the crown like in those comfort-crown bridles :winkgrin: BIG mistake, but the bridle is still useable and I got compliments on it constantly. I used it as my show bridle. The brass clincher is SUPER tough and shines up brilliantly.
I personally love the Crown/Suffolk line. They don’t come out of the box feeling like a $600 bridle but boy, oil them and break them in and they are just lovely.
ETA: MY crown fig8
click 1
click 2
Both of these pics were taken after a torrential rainstorm… the bridle oils up beautifully despite the abuse!
We liked it so much, we got a second Crown clincher bridle:
click 3
That one is really handsome - it hasn’t darkened much, which is my only complaint, but it is a rich milk chocolate color that really brings out the brass handware. I should also note the tongue of the hardware is nickle, not brass – but it is not an issue for me, because nickel is stronger than brass and I can see why they did that. I have too many bridles with bent brass tongues!
[QUOTE=Nickelodian;7959546]
For a price conservative figure 8, I’d go Ovation Wicket and Craig American leather figure 8. Lining my edgewood next to my ovation, you can hardly tell a difference…[/QUOTE]
The Ovation I just bought is identified on thwe website as being Italian leather… it’s stamped India. It looks NOTHING like British made/British leather strapwork. And it was allegedly Ovation’s “top of the line” bridle in their current lineup. So I think things have changed since you bought yours. I had high hopes too
[QUOTE=vxf111;7959680]
The Ovation I just bought is identified on thwe website as being Italian leather… it’s stamped India. It looks NOTHING like British made/British leather strapwork. And it was allegedly Ovation’s “top of the line” bridle in their current lineup. So I think things have changed since you bought yours. I had high hopes too :([/QUOTE]
Yup, you need to seek out the Wicket and Craig American Leather specifically. It is not their “top of the line” oddly enough. They come new with the same look as a new edgewood (raw leather).
I’ve seen one of these new in a tack shop as recently as 2 weeks ago, so I know they’re still making them.
[QUOTE=Nickelodian;7959700]
Yup, you need to seek out the Wicket and Craig American Leather specifically. It is not their “top of the line” oddly enough. They come new with the same look as a new edgewood (raw leather).
I’ve seen one of these new in a tack shop as recently as 2 weeks ago, so I know they’re still making them.[/QUOTE]
Gah, none of the places I looked had anything but the RCS line.
So… Dover has a big sale on a Harmohn Kraft Bridle, it is figure 8 and I would like to know your opinion on them and if any one has had a experience with the sizing. I have a 16. 2 horse that is quite good proportioned a regular sized head for a 16.2 warmblood.
