I like Stubben bridles for basic classic design and good quality. I have two black secondhand snaffle bridles, plain cavesson, one as new and one previously well loved. The older one has lost its shine but is very nice quality and holding up well and the newer one looks just as high quality. They are also not the most expensive option. I just cut the flash loop off and use the useful flash strap to MacGyver various things for trail riding :).
If you look at the Stubben main European website you see they do many many designs and everything is available in four colors, black dark brown chestnut and tan. And of course different sizes. And they have cranks and anatomical crowns on some models.
On a previous thread it seemed Stubben tied with a couple other options for best quality. I have never gone searching for anything better but certainly haven’t felt better leather in the high end tack store. When my fingers walk through the tangle of black strap goods they tend to pause on Stubbens, as I see when I check the labels.
I picked mine up for about $60 each with good reins. Didn’t know the brand when I grabbed the first well used one at a tack sale but liked the leather. Raced to get the 2nd as new on local CL a couple years later.
I think if my older bridle was brown leather it would age better. Old black leather gets a dusty look.
If I was feeling extravagant and needed gear I would definitely buy a new Stubben bridle.
Now, I don’t know about hunter world, but they have really nice strap goods over there. The Edgewoods look interesting for old school quality leather (and incredibly high prices). But they aren’t black and this is a dressage thread, and I’ve never seen one in use.
