You all have pretty much convinced me to save my money and stick with my ~10-year-old Edgewood with the not-quite-matching caveson from Equusport. The caveson of the original bridle is too large for this horse and I scored the caveson from the little red tack trailer that comes to shows at the Oaks. Since my work bridle had no hunter caveson I swap the caveson back and forth. Maybe that will help it to darken? The leather in the caveson is very nice. This get-up has down two A shows, including a National Hunter Derby and one B show without horrifying anyone.
[QUOTE=Peggy;8750660]
You all have pretty much convinced me to save my money and stick with my ~10-year-old Edgewood with the not-quite-matching caveson from Equusport. The caveson of the original bridle is too large for this horse and I scored the caveson from the little red tack trailer that comes to shows at the Oaks. Since my work bridle had no hunter caveson I swap the caveson back and forth. Maybe that will help it to darken? The leather in the caveson is very nice. This get-up has down two A shows, including a National Hunter Derby and one B show without horrifying anyone.
And taken home tri-colors 
[QUOTE=Peggy;8750660]
You all have pretty much convinced me to save my money and stick with my ~10-year-old Edgewood with the not-quite-matching caveson from Equusport. The caveson of the original bridle is too large for this horse and I scored the caveson from the little red tack trailer that comes to shows at the Oaks. Since my work bridle had no hunter caveson I swap the caveson back and forth. Maybe that will help it to darken? The leather in the caveson is very nice. This get-up has down two A shows, including a National Hunter Derby and one B show without horrifying anyone.
Why not have a tack repair place cut the original cavesson down a little? It’s really a simple fix.
I have three really nice bridles (for the price I’m willing to spend). One is a Five Star and the other two are Wellfleet. I actually prefer the Wellfleets to the Five Star, as they both have just broken in a lot easier than the Five Star. The leather seems to be very similar quality, but while the Wellfleets broke in and have felt like butter very easily, I’ve still never gotten the Five Star to quite the same feeling. But I like all the features (padded crowns, padded but not HUGE nosebands…I have a tiny TB), and they are all very attractive bridles. He looks amazing in all three (the Five Star is a figure eight, and they I have a plain caveson hunter bridle and a really lovely flash dressage bridle from Wellfleet).
I used to have my hands on a lot of bridles when I worked in the consignment shop, and, honestly, with maybe the exception of the Antares bridles that occasionally came through, I thought my bridles were nicer than a lot of the other really high end stuff we would get occasionally.
[QUOTE=Dewey;8750736]
Why not have a tack repair place cut the original cavesson down a little? It’s really a simple fix.[/QUOTE]
I’ll look at it, but the part that goes over the nose is too long also and that would need to be adjusted. Otherwise the caveson straps won’t align with the cheek pieces. I originally bought the new caveson for the work bridle and it got deployed for the first show when I tried on the show bridle a week before the first show and realized it didn’t fit. I was dealing with a parental unit health crisis at the time and went for the simplest acceptable solution.
Smith Worthington has some very beautiful, well made, and durable bridles. Their good ones are very good.
[QUOTE=RugBug;8749714]
Look ok for an unpadded one if you can find it. They are much nicer, IMO.[/QUOTE]
I’m looking at the wide noseband, which is unpadded. They seem on the stiffer side, but you’re saying they soften up well?
What is it about the padded ones that you like less?
[QUOTE=Bristol Bay;8751067]
I’m looking at the wide noseband, which is unpadded. They seem on the stiffer side, but you’re saying they soften up well?
What is it about the padded ones that you like less?[/QUOTE]
i actually find the unpadded ones to be very soft and they get that way very quickly. I oiled and rolled mine and then put them to work. I will say that the comfort crown is a bit of a pain during oiling.
The he padded one we have is not as soft and buttery. It is owned by someone else so perhaps the care has been different, but I did the initial oiling on all the bridles and the unpadded are nicer, IMO.
HK makes the SP bridles. I have Aramas, Americana, Wellfleet, and Harwich bridles (all oversized). In my opinion the cut/fit is exactly the same. The details are a bit nicer on the Aramas/Wellfleet but the leather seems about the same as the “step down” models.
[QUOTE=vxf111;8751909]
HK makes the SP bridles. I have Aramas, Americana, Wellfleet, and Harwich bridles (all oversized). In my opinion the cut/fit is exactly the same. The details are a bit nicer on the Aramas/Wellfleet but the leather seems about the same as the “step down” models.[/QUOTE]
I wish someone around me had the SP bridles so I could test this. 
I’m skeptical, partly because I’ve seen differences in the Aramas (padded vs. unpadded or perhaps the chestnut vs. the havanna) and partly because I think if the SP were really as nice you’d get as much praise for them as you do the Aramas…and you just don’t. I also prefer the Aramas styling.
Maybe one of these days I will order a Wellfleet (not a fan of the looks of the Harwich) and see what I think…
[QUOTE=RugBug;8752196]
I wish someone around me had the SP bridles so I could test this. I’m skeptical, partly because I’ve seen differences in the Aramas (padded vs. unpadded or perhaps the chestnut vs. the havanna) and partly because I think if the SP were really as nice you’d get as much praise for them as you do the Aramas…and you just don’t. I also prefer the Aramas styling.
Maybe one of these days I will order a Wellfleet (not a fan of the looks of the Harwich) and see what I think…[/QUOTE]
I had a Wellfleet I got on sale a couple of years ago. Very nice bridle for the price I paid for it, and I don’t think I would have complained if I had paid full price. But the proportions were wonky – it fit my horse but IIRC the throatlatch was huge (still loose on the tightest hole) despite the noseband/cheeckpieces being on close to the longest holes. And IMHO it was a nice bridle, but not nearly as nice as my Five Star Tack bridle (I don’t have any experience with Aramas bridles).
[QUOTE=mfglickman;8738899]
My trainer has a 30 year old bridle made by Jim Wiebe (Bennet’s Hunter Bridles, https://www.facebook.com/FineBridle/?fref=ts) and it is still gorgeous.[/QUOTE]
If it’s that old, it was likely made by Jimmy Wiebe (http://jimmyssaddlery.com/saddlery/about-jimmy.html) … I believe he is the father of the Jim Wiebe who owns Bennett’s.
1 Like
[QUOTE=RugBug;8752196]
I wish someone around me had the SP bridles so I could test this. I’m skeptical, partly because I’ve seen differences in the Aramas (padded vs. unpadded or perhaps the chestnut vs. the havanna) and partly because I think if the SP were really as nice you’d get as much praise for them as you do the Aramas…and you just don’t. I also prefer the Aramas styling.
Maybe one of these days I will order a Wellfleet (not a fan of the looks of the Harwich) and see what I think…[/QUOTE]
Sooo… for all of the talk around here about Harmohn Kraft being the maker of the SmartPak bridles, I don’t know that they are all HK-made. The Wellfleet line, yes. The Harwich and Plymouth lines, I’m not so sure.
[QUOTE=Peggy;8750660]
You all have pretty much convinced me to save my money and stick with my ~10-year-old Edgewood with the not-quite-matching caveson from Equusport. The caveson of the original bridle is too large for this horse and I scored the caveson from the little red tack trailer that comes to shows at the Oaks. Since my work bridle had no hunter caveson I swap the caveson back and forth. Maybe that will help it to darken? The leather in the caveson is very nice. This get-up has down two A shows, including a National Hunter Derby and one B show without horrifying anyone.
If you really want an Edgewood noseband to match (or so you don’t want to keep having to swap nosebands back and forth) I notice Premier Tack Outlet has an Edgewood caveson for sale: http://www.premiertackoutlet.com/bitsbridleparts.htm
[QUOTE=Peggy;8750660]
You all have pretty much convinced me to save my money and stick with my ~10-year-old Edgewood with the not-quite-matching caveson from Equusport. The caveson of the original bridle is too large for this horse and I scored the caveson from the little red tack trailer that comes to shows at the Oaks. Since my work bridle had no hunter caveson I swap the caveson back and forth. Maybe that will help it to darken? The leather in the caveson is very nice. This get-up has down two A shows, including a National Hunter Derby and one B show without horrifying anyone.
I loved my Edgewood as much as my much more expensive Hadfields and all of my other high end bridles (Antares, CWD, Beval Heritage). I would recommend any of these but the Edgewood, although not cheap, was the least expensive.
[QUOTE=pattnic;8752536]
Sooo… for all of the talk around here about Harmohn Kraft being the maker of the SmartPak bridles, I don’t know that they are all HK-made. The Wellfleet line, yes. The Harwich and Plymouth lines, I’m not so sure.[/QUOTE]
SP and HK have both confirmed it to me.
I’ve held them side by side. There are differences in styling but not size… Not that I can see.
[QUOTE=vxf111;8753086]
SP and HK have both confirmed it to me.
I’ve held them side by side. There are differences in styling but not size… Not that I can see.[/QUOTE]
A horse size Harwich bridle is much bigger than a horse size Aramas or Americana, and I am judging by how they fit my horse.
[QUOTE=Bristol Bay;8753167]
A horse size Harwich bridle is much bigger than a horse size Aramas or Americana, and I am judging by how they fit my horse.[/QUOTE]
I only have oversize. But I have several HK and SP bought over the years. Sizing is the same. I don’t have any horse sized horses so no full sized bridles so I can’t speak to that. As best as I can tell they’re cutting on the same pattern… Though I don’t know how tight quality control is in terms of making sure each bridle comes off the line identically made…
I must have 2-3 Harwich, 2 Aramas, 2 Wellfleet, and 1 Americana in circulation. All o/s both fit my horses on the same holes. Used on 2 warmblood with differing face shapes. Frankie goes on the same holes in all the bridles, Somerset too. The details are different but they fit the same.
Another vote for Edgewood here. Beautiful, quality, show ready, and just overall a great brand.
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