"Posh" bridles!

[KT C]

I'm thinking about getting a new bridle, not for any particular discipline, just general riding - any recommendations? Are Stubben/Sabre,etc bridles really worth all that dosh?

[flopsypop]

I just bought a Deaver bridle with a comfort head piece. It was £110 but it's really lovely and will last years where as a cheaper one wouldn't look as good or last any where near as long so it's worth every penny.

My girlie has a freaky size head bless her so I didn't really have too much choice.

xxx

[Palomino Mare]

i'd say sabre might be slightly better quality - although i can never take my eyes off of the stubbens!!

sadly my stubben hasnt lasted long - the nosebands burst a few times and the throat latch is held together with tape:o it wasnt teh same horse who did both crimes though so i'm not blaming them entirely!

i think the "designer" makes look nicer but if you want a really good quality bridle then i would get your local saddler to make one - my handmade one is on its 9th year and believe me its been abused and still looks good!!

ETA - i've also had a weatherbeeta one that cost me £20 and has lasted longer than the stubben - they dont looks bad they just dont feel as nice quality wise of course but its withheld its 3years of hard work fine (eventing every other weekend)

[chev]

I have Sabre bridles, and having had cheap bridles too, can honestly say I'd always pay the extra for a 'posh' bridle. They're softer, better quality and last longer.

Two of mine came off ebay - one cost me £25 or thereabouts - the other, brand new with tags still on it, was mine for under £10 :eek:

[Gruntfuttock]

My mare has a lovely Stubben bridle that I think she's had about five years, and its still in lovely condition. If i was going to buy her a "best" bridle these days, I'd go for a Jeffries or a Sabre, i think.

[joey_olop]

I want a posh bridle for my 2, Id be looking at any of those comfort style ones or ones with a bit of bling :D

Can get some nice ones on e-bay at reasonable prices too.

[eventerbabe]

I have a stubben padded crank bridle, black leather with black padding. tis terribly posh, looks fantastic and has worn superbly over the last few years. I picked mine up at the highland show for £140 but they'd gone up to over £160 this year. Jeffries are also worth a look. I have a jeffries bridle that's 15 years old now and still like brand new :) the native pony saddle company bridles are rather lovely too.

[KAB]

Thanks to Wildponies, Clay has a stubben bridle that we are using....I gave it a good clean on Tuesday! :)

[colettybetty]

Mine have Stubben, Sabre and Pessoa. All lovely leather and wearing well after several years, except the Pessoa which is very fine and has had to be re-paired a couple of times, but thats probably due to my rough style of cleaning :eek:
They are lovely and soft with no signs of wear on the leather. My latest buy, the Elevator, (I've already said, don't wat to bore you all ) is great quality, but horse doesn't like it.
I've had cheap leather headcollars, but the leather has split, so I wouldn't use a cheap bridle if I couldn't trust the leather.

[KT C]

Thanks for the replies - see, you lot are encouraging my spending habits, tsk, tsk - and there was me thinking you were all going to say "No, stick to the cheap and cheerful one and just CLEAN it more often!!" LOL! :D

So now the tricky part - which one to get?!? :eek:;)

I've always thought Sabre did quite good quality leatherwork, but I find it hard to walk past a Stubben... don't really know many other "good" types...

[wildponies]

Stubbens are lovely, well worth the money IMO and if they are well looked after will last forever :D

[Peanut]

I bought a Jeffries as a "posh" bridle and tbh six months down the line it's not much different to her everyday one. I wish I'd bought Stubben.

[Daffy Dilly]

I would buy a Stubben before another Sabre, I don't think one of mine wore well at all. The show one is doing better, but obviously it doesn't get used as much. Maybe I just got a duff bridle.

[crackerjack1012]

i have stubbens and prestige italia my stubbens have lasted yrs and 2 are used 4 everyday use on dealing horses

[teabiscuit]

i love my stubben bridle, use it every time i ride in all weathers and don't clean it nearly as often as i should :o
it still comes up as new after 18 months

[tabithakat64]

I have Sabre, Albion, Stubben, Treadstone, and Cottage Craft bridles and the most expensive which was my Albion KB looks the best and has worn the best. I've just got a Cliff Barnsby bridle and am hoping thats as good :D IMO you should by the best quality tack you can afford as it's worth it in the long run.

[ponylover88]

...

[colettybetty]

Mine have Stubben, Sabre and Pessoa. All lovely leather and wearing well after several years, except the Pessoa which is very fine and has had to be re-paired a couple of times, but thats probably due to my rough style of cleaning :eek:


Newsflash- The Pessoa bridle has just died tonight... Fox got it caught in the menege gate while I was picking her feet out, the bridle snapped in two places. It was so beautiful, it matched her Foxy redness......