Specific Bridle Recs

[zany1]

Ok, so I know this thread has been recreated in its entirety like 100 times over. Despite perusing past posts, I haven’t found a thread where people suggest things that meet my specificities.

What I need:

• Wide noseband
• Hunter bridle (no flash loop)
• Monocrown
• Padded
• Chocolate brown (or oils to a chocolate brown, think Voltaire color)
• $200-$300

Here’s what I’ve tried:

• HDR
• Ovation
• Smartpak Harwich
• Black Oak

I’ve tried all of these, and the one Ive liked the most was the cheapest: the Harwich. Not because it was Ah-mazing, but because it has stayed in one piece and the leather isn’t COMPLETELY plasticky.

I want something nice, higher quality for my mare. Something that will take oil, and will be soft without that horrid plastic coating. All of my attempts at cheaping out have left me with bridles that have cracked, ripped, plastic, or otherwise bad leather.

I may be willing to up my price range to $350 if it’s a SUPER nice quality bridle and meets 100% of my specs. But no more than that

What are everyone’s recs?

[Halternatively]

Try the Red Barn bridles. They last forever, are soft and take conditioner and oil well, and I always get compliments on mine.

This one looks to have all of your specs: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/red-barn-ocala-bridle-21041?g_acctid=312-013-2860&g_adgroupid=135204118708&g_adid=542377865949&g_adtype=pla&g_campaign=NB_Shopping_Tack_3P&g_campaignid=1902163829&g_ifcreative=&g_ifproduct=product&g_keyword=&g_keywordid=pla-1414021770661&g_merchantid=1338904&g_network=g&g_partition=1414021770661&g_productchannel=online&g_productid=2109840079&utm_campaign=NB|3P+Tack+>+H_J_Bridles&utm_content=NB_Shopping_Tack_3P&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlumhBhClARIsABO6p-xOcyy8gDuSPEv4LqaHigU7fFnRQXWchYMwbY2VmrUOC04sOuG0G7AaApEJEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[zany1]

Thank you!

[greymatter]

I have an Aramas hunter bridle which I really like. It is a padded monocrown with a wide noseband but no padding on the brow or noseband (personally I prefer this). Beautiful very dark chocolate color, matched the color of a dark chocolate buffalo devoucoux I tried so I am sure it would match a Voltaire just fine. It’s about $350 including reins. I’ve felt a ton of bridles and am super picky (maybe a little snobbish) about them, and I personally think this bridle has the best leather you can get for the price point. I soaked mine in a bag of oil when I got it to dissolve the wax they use on new bridles and now it is super supple, not plasticky at all. It cleans up really nicely and so far just gets better with use.

My mother has a Pessoa hunter bridle for schooling that is not quite as dark (but could probably be darkened) and is a fully padded monocrown. I think this was around $300? Personally I think it is kind of bulky looking, but again, I don’t like a padded nose/brow. The leather is also really supple and nice, but I’ve seen some inconsistency in the leather on Pessoa bridles. I felt another one where the leather felt kind of plasticky, so I would personally not order online and try to see them in person.

I also had a baby showing in one of the Nunn Finer hunter bridles. It’s also fully padded and a dark chocolate color, really nice English leather. Don’t remember if it is a monocrown and definitely is not a wide noseband, though NF also makes a wide noseband bridle. I think mine was about $350 or so, wide nose was similar in price so I’d imagine the quality is similar? I bought their inexpensive $160 bridle when the baby was ready to start under saddle, thinking it would be a nice schooling bridle and the leather on that was awful, very plastic like. I kept it and it never got any better with care/use, finally I just ended up replacing it with something nicer (and more $).

Personally I did not like any of the Red Barn bridles. I thought the leather was kind of plasticky like for the $$, but I am pretty picky and hard to please.

I hope you find something!

[zany1]

Thank you so much!!

[Tha_Ridge]

Red Barn Ocala meets all your specs. Really nice bridles. I love my Huntley too, but it’s not monocrown.

[zany1]

Thanks!

[zany1]

@greymatter is this the model you were talking about, just in the chocolate color?

https://www.equestriancollections.com/english-horse-tack/english-horse-bridles/bitless-bridles/aramas-fancy-raised-bridle-with-fancy-lace-reins

Just want to make sure I’m looking at the right one

[greymatter]

Chocolate Aramas Bridle

This is the one I bought (link is from google though, I haven’t ordered from this tack shop). It’s a lovely color in general, but mine darkened with oil, it’s definitely the dark chocolate color of devoucoux/Voltaire saddles in buffalo leather. Really lovely bridle, my horse is in a cob (TB gelding with a small delicate head) but I’d say they run fairly true to size.

Edit to fix link.

[zany1]

Thank you so so much!!

[greymatter]

I tried to add some pics of the color of mine after oiling & cleaning it, hopefully they show up!

[lw3127]

I second the Aramas recommendation. Matches the color of my Voltaire saddle perfectly, and the leather feels so nice. I oil once after I receive it, then apply some balsam and let it soak overnight, and everything is so nice and supple the next day.

I do think their nosebands run a little large, but it’s not horrible.

[Madison]

Aramas chocolate brown is among the darkest you can find, and goes great with the dark brown Voltaire color. Tenney’s Saddlery is a good source and frequently has discount offers http://shop.ordertenneys.com/

[Equestrian24]

I second the suggestions for Aramas. They are gorgeous bridles, and much nicer than anything else in that price point IMO!