WIDE Noseband Hunter Bridle

[Leave_No_Doubt]

Another vote for the Pessoa Rodrigo. It oils beautifully, is very sturdy, and doesn’t cost a fortune (in the $300 range).

[McKinley]

@vxf111

I don’t know if the OP is looking for hunting or showing but that would look very out of place for showing here. Old school and I like it, but I think it would stick out. For hunting probably not!

The horses at my barn wear it in hunters, equitation, and jumpers at AA shows. It does look strange on some horses, but it looks great on others.

[vxf111]

@McKinley

The horses at my barn wear it in hunters, equitation, and jumpers at AA shows. It does look strange on some horses, but it looks great on others.

I’ve never seen that. Where are you located?

[BeastieSlave]

vxf111, I haven’t seen it either (in a long time), but glad to hear that flat hunt bridles are viewed as acceptable in the ring somewhere

[vxf111]

@BeastieSlave

vxf111, I haven’t seen it either (in a long time), but glad to hear that flat hunt bridles are viewed as acceptable in the ring somewhere

I’m curious where! I still have Stoney’s!

[RugBug]

I’ve got three Aramas’, I think? I love the quality for the price. It’s just perfect for me.

My mare, in a horse size although this is with non-matching reins because we had an incident with the matching (they are Aramas reins…just in Havana rather than Chestnut…and not raised/stitched)

My gelding in a cob size

[EquineByDay]

OK, SO I broke down and spent the money… I purchased a Huntley Bridle & Martingale and WOW it’s Lovely.
So glad I made the investment now.
Thanks for all the Opinions, and Suggestions !!!

[BAC]

@McKinley

The horses at my barn wear it in hunters, equitation, and jumpers at AA shows. It does look strange on some horses, but it looks great on others.

I haven’t seen a flat hunt bridle at a horse show in probably 20 years or more, where are you showing? When I was growing up it was the only option available and all of the fox hunters in my area still use them for hunting but they switch to raised bridles if they are competing.

Slightly off topic but in looking at the pictures from this year’s pony finals I am surprised to see really wide nosebands on small ponies, it looks kind of overwhelming on some yet on others it’s a very attractive look.

OP glad you love your Huntley, wish I could see one in person.

[greysfordays]

@EquineByDay

OK, SO I broke down and spent the money… I purchased a Huntley Bridle & Martingale and WOW it’s Lovely.
So glad I made the investment now.
Thanks for all the Opinions, and Suggestions !!!

So glad! My friend has one and with good care, it should last you a long time!

[Everlong274]

Another vote for Huntley. Their bridlles are so lovely and hold up so well!

[Madison]

Huntley is great unless you need an O/S, their sizing stops at Full for both the bridle and the martingale.

[vxf111]

@Madison

Huntley is great unless you need an O/S, their sizing stops at Full for both the bridle and the martingale.

And they don’t run huge either

[LandisGreen]

I found the martingale to fit better on an O/S than the bridle. That being said I love my Huntley bridle and martingale.

[Bunker]

@Hattie

I have a Huntley for my GRP and they are nice. I happen to know the owner and she stands behind her product and knows the business, since she she rode and showed in the AOs and her children now show. You can buy the bridle parts by mixing and matching sizes.

With that being said I also have an Equiline bridle with the wide padded noseband and lightweight padded crown which is beautiful. I have not seen another one and the only place that I have seen where you can purchase them is down in Wellington.

I love my Huntley Bridle and Martingale. My guy has a smallish head so they swapped out the cheek pieces and it fits beautifully. I found the horse size to be generously sized - my barn mate warned me that they run a bit large. Just my opinion. I also love my Aramas bridles for everyday and have shown in them too. Quality leather!

[vxf111]

Here’s the Hadfield, since I couldn’t find photos of it earlier

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkvN1_Tg…aken-by=vxf111

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkx6yOYA…aken-by=vxf111

Also, did we every figure out WHERE people are still showing in flat traditional wide nosebands? I am curious because it’s been decades since I’ve seen that and I’ve shown or attended shows up and down the east coast from GA to New England in that time.

[McKinley]

@BAC

I haven’t seen a flat hunt bridle at a horse show in probably 20 years or more, where are you showing? When I was growing up it was the only option available and all of the fox hunters in my area still use them for hunting but they switch to raised bridles if they are competing.

Slightly off topic but in looking at the pictures from this year’s pony finals I am surprised to see really wide nosebands on small ponies, it looks kind of overwhelming on some yet on others it’s a very attractive look.

OP glad you love your Huntley, wish I could see one in person.

Our barn is MA, we showed this year at Lake Placid, HITS on the Hudson, Vermont Summer Festival, Silver Oak/ Fieldstone, Pony Finals, WEF. Mostly jumpers, but a couple eq horses and one hunter. We haven’t found the hunt bridle has kept us out of hunter/ eq ribbons

[McKinley]

@vxf111

Here’s the Hadfield, since I couldn’t find photos of it earlier

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkvN1_Tg…aken-by=vxf111

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkx6yOYA…aken-by=vxf111

Also, did we every figure out WHERE people are still showing in flat traditional wide nosebands? I am curious because it’s been decades since I’ve seen that and I’ve shown or attended shows up and down the east coast from GA to New England in that time.

I don’t know if too many people still are, but our horses show at Lake Placid, HITS on the Hudson, Vermont Summer Festival, Silver Oak/ Fieldstone, WEF, pony finals

[BAC]

@McKinley

Our barn is MA, we showed this year at Lake Placid, HITS on the Hudson, Vermont Summer Festival, Silver Oak/ Fieldstone, Pony Finals, WEF. Mostly jumpers, but a couple eq horses and one hunter. We haven’t found the hunt bridle has kept us out of hunter/ eq ribbons

It should not keep you out of the ribbons, it just hasn’t been popular for a long time but that is no reason not to use it if you prefer flat tack. I hate the way hunter people are so enslaved by “fashion” - just because something isn’t popular doesn’t necessarily mean it is not allowed. I’m especially tired of navy jackets/tan breeches in the eq! So boring when everyone looks the same.

[vxf111]

@BAC

It should not keep you out of the ribbons, it just hasn’t been popular for a long time but that is no reason not to use it if you prefer flat tack. I hate the way hunter people are so enslaved by “fashion” - just because something isn’t popular doesn’t necessarily mean it is not allowed. I’m especially tired of navy jackets/tan breeches in the eq! So boring when everyone looks the same.

It’s so hard to even find flat tack, I can’t believe that many people at one barn found it and are showing in it! I like the look. Especially on a really old school hunter looking type horse. But I have to say, I have not seen it at shows in decades. It’s certainly traditional and allowed and no judge worth his/her salt would fault you for it if it’s properly fitted.

[BAC]

Horse Country in Virginia (horsecountrylife.com) sells flat tack, probably because fox hunting is so popular in that area. My local tack shop also sold it, because the owner was on the staff of our local hunt. I have a portrait of my junior horse from the 1960s and youngish riders ask me all the time "what kind of bridle is that? LOL