Thin Line double bridle? Kieffer? Reviews and Suggestions?

[MysticOakRanch]

I’m looking for a double bridle- and of course, limited budget. There are several options in the $250 to $300 range - and I can scrape that up. Anyone have any experience with Kieffer double bridles? Thin Line? I’ve found both of those in my price range. I’ve also found Passier, but they all adjust behind the poll.

I’m curious about leather quality (I’ve owned Kieffer bridles and they were nice quality). Fit - my mare is a cob sized with a fairly short head - cob fits but I usually go to the shortest holes on the cheek pieces. Because of this, I don’t want a double that adjusts behind the poll - they usually don’t have as much leeway in adjusting for short heads.

There is a Schockemohle on EBay in my price range too - it is a bit thicker in the noseband, so not sure sure on that option…

It has to be a crank noseband - I do not crank them tight, but I want that padding under her jaw! Also - not a super wide noseband - she’s a refined cob, she doesn’t need a huge noseband (actually, I’m worried about SPACE with a huge noseband and two bits).

I’m open to used of course, but have been watching eBay for a while now, and haven’t seen anything.

Luckily, I have several curbs and bradoons to try on her once I get the bridle!

[Mondo]

I love Kieffer strap goods, their saddles not so much anymore. I had a Kieffer double before and I love it. Very good quality for the price. That would be the lower end Passier then. Their good ones are around $700. Don’t know about Thin Line.

[Scribbler]

A double bridle is a snaffle bridle with a bradoon strap added. If the slot in the browband is wide enough you can put a bradoon strap on any snaffle bridle. If the slot in the browband is not wide enough, you can get a new browband with more space. So if you have a snaffle bridle you love and that fits, you can make it into a double bridle at very little cost.

I say this because when I look at the price of double bridles, they seem to cost lots more than a snaffle bridle with a bradoon strap and an extra set of reins would add up to. I think that’s partly because they are seen as show items that you only need after a certain level, not everyday gear. But even so, you could dress up your snaffle bridle with a sparkly browband if you wanted glam.

[MysticOakRanch]

@Scribbler

A double bridle is a snaffle bridle with a bradoon strap added. .

My mare has a “comfort crown” bridle - the nose band threads through the crown so she doesn’t have as much pressure on her poll. I’d defeat that whole purpose by putting a bradoon strap on - the thought did cross my mind AND it has a pretty wide noseband - I am looking for a narrower noseband when I add that extra metal into the mix…

[mlb722]

You might also consider bobby’s in your price range. My Anglo Arab is horse sized but looks ridiculous in a thick noseband. They had one either a thinner noseband for less than $200. Regular check pieces.

[rothmpp]

When I needed a double I ordered this - literally from this seller:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FSS-English-COMFORT-padded-crown-DOUBLE-WEYMOUTH-Crank-Cavesson-Dressage-Bridle-/130474852461?hash=item1e60e8406d:m:mmvLBSP68JrrJ5HINyqn1fg

At the price I was prepared for cardboard for leather, get a season or maybe two out of it quality. It’s now on it’s sixth season, been ridden through rain and not cleaned nearly often enough. It’s held up ridiculously well. No sign of giving in anytime soon. The only thing is that if you want a narrow crank noseband, this one is pretty wide. The only thing I have changed was the curb rein, just as a personal preference, and the browband, again as a personal preference.

[MysticOakRanch]

@rothmpp

When I needed a double I ordered this - literally from this seller:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FSS-English-…JrrJ5HINyqn1fg

I wouldn’t TOUCH an item made by FSS every again. They ripped me off many years ago. I bought two bridles from them - both were poor quality leather, but I figured eh, for the cost, I got what I paid for. One of them broke the first time I used it - I initiated a return through eBay, shipped it back (at a horrific cost since they are in Europe), and never got a refund. I emailed and messaged them for months. That was before PayPal and EBay had all their seller protection in place, so for me, it was just a huge loss. There are MANY such stories about that company - you may have had a good experience, but they have changed their user name and reinvented themselves so many times because of the bad ratings. The other bridle was so cruddy, unfinished rough leather underside, and stiff like cardboard in places, I just gave it away. You wouldn’t catch me ever giving them my money again. I think they are a prime example of why eBay changed their policies and became very “buyer friendly”.

[Shagyas_Rock]

You might want to consider the Schneider Saddlery “Conversion Bridle” that can be converted from snaffle to double. It has a comfort mono-crown too. … and the leather is really nice. When I bought mine, the price was around $189 or so. I was rather pleasantly amazed at the quality for the price. They advertise it as made with “Sedgewick” leather which I believe is produced in England. Anyway, it’s their higher end, “Joseph Sterling” brand and it does come in cob size. I’m rather picky about leather and I was prepared to send it back if I didn’t like it - but I like it a lot.

[eponacelt]

I have two Kieffer bridles - both a snaffle and double - and they’ve been great. I bought my double used from an eBay seller who had never used it before, and its been terrific. I’m kind of snobby about my bridles and really hate cheap feeling leather (after all, this is something I touch and handle EVERY DAY), and these have been lovely. I’d certainly recommend them. The snaffle, which I’ve owned for at least 6 years, is still in perfect condition and showing no signs of wearing out.

[theresak]

I have the Thinline double bridle and I love it. It doesn’t get much use though and if it did, I’m not sure how long the Thinline padding would really last. The leather is nice and it fits well and looks good.

Mine didn’t come with Thinline reins.

[MysticOakRanch]

Well, I was Googling, and found a Schockemohle Cannes double on clearance from a UK vendor - well under my budget, so I’m going to give that one a try.

Theresak - that was my fear with the Thinline - that the padding might wear out! Plus, I had a pair of the Thinline reins and they were just too thick for my hands.

If the Schockemohle doesn’t work out, I will probably go back to Keiffer - I’ve had good experience with their bridles too…

[AZ_TD]

I had a Thinline snaffle bridle. At first I really liked it, but the padding started cracking. Don’t know if it can’t handle AZ heat or if that is a common problem.