What's the nicest bridle you have? (durable, beautiful, etc.)

[Bristol_Bay]

I never thought buying a new bridle would be as big a PIA as buying a new saddle. Well, not quite. (I don’t have to pay a guy $75 to tell me the bridle doesn’t fit.)

I bought a Schokemohle Devon, and loved the leather, but decided it was too dainty.

Many years ago I had a couple of Stubbens and loved the quality. Just tried a Stubben 2007 and was really let down. No metal brand stamp, generic leather, and the monocrown made it impossible to adjust properly. Noseband just a little too big on the last hole. So that one went back as well.

So what should I be looking at?

Some brands carried locally are Red Barn, P.J., Pessoa, Nunn Finer, and of course Edgewood. Aramas as well.

I just made some extra money this summer and really want to buy my last bridle. I want to love the reins. I want to watch it grow older and more pliable and beautiful.

So what do you have that you love?

[fordtraktor]

Hunter? Flash? Fig 8?

I have a bunch I like. Most I picked up as bargains here and there. I have about 10 bridles. If I was buying a single hunter bridle to last forever I would get a Hadfields.

[Risuena]

Five Star Tack

[BostonHJ]

[QUOTE=fordtraktor;8737585]
Hunter? Flash? Fig 8?

I have a bunch I like. Most I picked up as bargains here and there. I have about 10 bridles. If I was buying a single hunter bridle to last forever I would get a Hadfields.[/QUOTE]

This. I have a Hadfields from 1997 I still get compliments on.

[shedllybip]

Edgewood

[Madeline]

Big Dee’s
Thoroughbred nylon race bridle. $16.99. Noseband will set you back another$10 if you really need it. Stainless hardware. Indestructible. Machine washable. Great colors. How can you go wrong?

[Bristol_Bay]

Hadfield’s…sorry to drool all over the keyboard. :p:love-struck:

But, $800 for bridle and reins is out of my league.

Five Star looks nice, and on sale. I need to email for measurements. In some bridles, my horse wears a cob but a full size browband.

[Lucassb]

I really love my Jimmy’s 20th Century and kept it even after I mostly quit hunters and switched to a different discipline. I also liked my Hadfields but the customer service was so so and the keepers kept stretching out, kind of a bummer given the $$. I also kept my Aramas wide noseband hunter bridle and like it quite a lot. But my all time favorite was my Antares - I bought one of the very first ones they offered (purchased at Old Salem when it was a demo.) The leather is stunning, the quality is excellent and it is the traditional style, not a monocrown.

[Woodsperson]

I have several Edgewood bridles that I really like. They age well

[chunky_munky]

Huntley. Beautiful and great price point. Very good service.

[Bristol_Bay]

[QUOTE=chunky munky;8737753]
Huntley. Beautiful and great price point. Very good service.[/QUOTE]

And their website has all the measurements. Nice!

One thing they all have in common is Sedgwick leather.

[Boo]

If you have several hundred to spend id look at a custom bridle - you will have it forever if looked after. I’ve also found my custom bridle due to the very good quality leather takes less care to keep it looking good and i use it on my mare for everything.

I got this one on a show special price (Equitana Aus) but i have a heavy clydie cross mare so had everything made wider and it looks fabulous on her as its more proportionate. will try and find some pics for you.
http://www.malbyrne.com.au/index.php/bridles/show/product/show/cid-3/name-flat-snaffle-bridle/category_pathway-0

Original bridle - wb size - sorry it doens’t show the side pieces so well
https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/200550_10150158236343162_4383500_n.jpg?oh=368a9df5cb1aeafd25cdbdb9e6b68d82&oe=5834EBD7

New one - custom size - you can see how much better the nose band at least looks being wider everywhere.
http://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xlf1/t31.0-8/10339325_10152434293538162_8234740474358616287_o.jpg

[mayhew]

Jerry’s. Don’t judge the bridles by the website. They are really nice and fully customizable.

https://jerrysharnessshop.com

[fordtraktor]

[QUOTE=Bristol Bay;8737677]
Hadfield’s…sorry to drool all over the keyboard. :p:love-struck:

But, $800 for bridle and reins is out of my league.

Five Star looks nice, and on sale. I need to email for measurements. In some bridles, my horse wears a cob but a full size browband.[/QUOTE]

Understood, I don’t have one! But have drooled over them for decades. I do really like my Edgewood, and I got that back when they had the eBay seconds store so it probably isn’t even the nicest Edgewood ever. I have had it in full daily use for at least ten years and it is still show worthy and gorgeous with normal care (wipe it down regularly, condition monthly or so). I don’t have a Five Star Tack but a good friend has one I have ridden in and it is super pretty and nice.

If you want to love the reins, buy them separately and get 5/8" plaited ones! love. Once you break in plaited reins and get them perfect you will fight your grandmother to keep them.

[Punkie]

My Antares bridles are by far my favorites. I have 3; one standard hunter bridle, one with a wide cavesson, and then the figure 8 jumper bridle. They are so supple and gorgeous, but still hearty enough to use everyday if need be. They were rather pricey, but I’ve definitely found it to be worth the investment! In fact, all of my favorite strap goods are from them as well

[Bent_Hickory]

[QUOTE=fordtraktor;8737887]
I do really like my Edgewood, and I got that back when they had the eBay seconds store so it probably isn’t even the nicest Edgewood ever. I have had it in full daily use for at least ten years and it is still show worthy and gorgeous with normal care (wipe it down regularly, condition monthly or so).[/QUOTE]

The bridles Edgewood sold on eBay ten years or so ago were from their original days before they switched leather and changed their manufacturing processes. IMHO, these are the best ones they ever made. They were seconds mostly because of dye that dripped or very slight imperfections that no one would ever notice, especially after being oiled. I probably bought 10 of those, mostly pony-sized. I wish I had bought a dozen horse-sized ones.

[ElementFarm]

I am a die-hard Edgewood fan.
I’ve had (and still own a few) others (Jimmy’s, Pessoa, Red Barn, Beval) but Edgewood are the ones I keep coming back to, and the only ones I’ll buy now. I’m admittedly a hunter princess and tack snob, so take it as you will…

I have probably 10-15 Edgewoods in my current inventory. The older ones are used daily and cleaned less than I like to admit, and still going strong as schooling bridles. Most are still nice enough they could go to a horse show with a good cleaning. I have a few other newer ones that are for shows-only.

I often get great deals on lightly-used ones on Ebay and have seldom paid full price for even a new headstall.
They wear well, have lots of styles (thickness, padding, etc) to flatter every head, and get butter soft with age/use/care. I love my Edgewoods!

[fordtraktor]

[QUOTE=Bent Hickory;8737938]
The bridles Edgewood sold on eBay ten years or so ago were from their original days before they switched leather and changed their manufacturing processes. IMHO, these are the best ones they ever made. They were seconds mostly because of dye that dripped or very slight imperfections that no one would ever notice, especially after being oiled. I probably bought 10 of those, mostly pony-sized. I wish I had bought a dozen horse-sized ones.[/QUOTE]

Good to know! I do love that bridle. I also have a breastplate and a running martingale from that store, they are all lovely and have held up super well. I use the running martingale daily too, it’s my “yoke” on the young horses so if anything I use it more than the bridle. It all still looks great, just has that good feel work gives nice tack. I wish I had bought a few more pieces too.

[Duckz]

I love my Nunn Finer bridle: http://www.bitofbritain.com/The-Milano-Bridle-by-Nunn-Finer-p/1182.htm I’ve used it on a near daily basis for years and it’s held up beautifully. I got this one during the BoB online tent sale for $150. The leather broke in easily and I love the fancy stitching and padded crown. Mine came with a set of matching fancy stitch rubber reins.

[Buglet]

I have a few Beval bridles that I have had for over 10 years and they are still in show condition. Leather is very soft and hold up well. Two of them I use on a daily basis.
I also LOVE my Antares bridles. Leather is very nice and after 5 years of showing they still are in excellent condition.