what bridle?? showing sec B (saddle advice wanted too)

[laceyfreckle]

sorry for the many 'which one shall i get' posts i'm putting up recently but i'm not much good at knowing brands/what is best etc. I promise any help is really really appreciated and i will show pics of Lacey and my daughter wearing their new stuff at their first show as a reward:)

Which Bridle would suit her best? show hunter type? I want to enter her in lead rein, mountain and moorland, tack and turnout classes. I want it to be correct for her breed (welsh sec B) but also look good in all classes. It will also be used in inhand classes.

here's a pic of Lacey:-
http://www.newrider.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=138&pictureid=5225

here's a pic of her current bridle, a kincade (was flash with flash removed) black leather bridle. wrong colour to show in as new saddle will be brown. looks similar to a kincade raised cavesson bridle in brown which comes with rubber reins but i could swap them to plain english leather brown reins which i already have. bridle price £19.99
http://www.newrider.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=138&pictureid=2984
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t40/laceyfreckle/EBAY683-1-1.jpg
this is the kincade bridle (cavesson)
http://www.equestrianclearance.com/weatherbeeta/kincade_bridlewear/index.html
other bridles i've seen are:

Jeffries Show Hunter Pony in small pony, havana £69.99
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=1956&a=srch
Sabre bridle £67.50
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=1182&a=srch

this is what a jeffries bridle (not a show hunter) looks like on lacey, i was going to clean this one up to use but it is too big on lacey, i think its large pony/cob size and on the smallest holes (one extra hole already punched into headpiece and noseband)

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t40/laceyfreckle/EBAY685-1.jpg
of course any other suggestion as to type/style/brand etc appreciated. I don't want a expensive bridle but at the same time don't want one that will fall to bits either:D

also does she need/look better with a french link with smaller/neater bit rings?

saddle wise i'm looking at these two (providing they fit properly) any comments/suggestions appreciated. Saddle mainly wanted for this show and twice weekly riding. Don't want to spend much until daughter decides riding is definitely for her as she needs a 14" or 15" instead of rolling around in my 16" which doesn't fit lacey brilliantly anyway. (i will be buying myself a thorowgood as a main saddle next year when i'm riding again.) lacey's current saddle doesn't fit well and is on a old style tree so is quite forward cut for a GP.

http://www.essexsaddlery.co.uk/shop/article_48.001/Wide-Fitting-GP-Saddle.html?shop_param=cid%3D25%26aid%3D48.001%26
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320270014769&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=011

[Mehitabel]

i think the flat bridles will suit her better, in quite a narrow leather though, not the big chunky ones. no need to spend £70 on one though, see if your local saddlery does own brand parts and you can make one up from bits, or if it has cheaper unbranded ones. smaller bit rings would look better, yes.
i prefer the first saddle - the ebay one doesn't look (from the photos) to be brilliant quality. the gullet is much narrower to the back than at the front, and unless it's the photo it's quite crooked too, and the girth straps are right at the back of the saddle so i would worry about it slipping back.

[shandy84]

Brambles bridle is from ingatestone £25 with flat noseband and is lasting well

[laceyfreckle]

i think the flat bridles will suit her better, in quite a narrow leather though, not the big chunky ones. no need to spend £70 on one though, see if your local saddlery does own brand parts and you can make one up from bits, or if it has cheaper unbranded ones. smaller bit rings would look better, yes.
i prefer the first saddle - the ebay one doesn't look (from the photos) to be brilliant quality. the gullet is much narrower to the back than at the front, and unless it's the photo it's quite crooked too, and the girth straps are right at the back of the saddle so i would worry about it slipping back.

thank you....i'll have a look for a flatter narrowish leather bridle. Unfortunately i don't drive and live in the middle of nowhere (well, nowhere there is a tack shop on a bus route;)) so i kind of have to do most of my shopping by catolouge or internet which is a bit of a pain. i'm not in any real rush but looking now as show is in four weeks and sometimes it takes a while to find what your looking for:)

saddle wise, thank you...i will go with the first one:) essex saddlery (first one) is pretty good and will take returns if it doesn't fit. Also she has said if i send her a profile she will get the best width fitting possible/see if the saddle shape will suit as she can order in if neccesary. (i think they are cheap saddles made on a fusion saddle shape design)

[Brandy]

For m&m you need to go with the plainer flat, hunter type (though agree you should be able to find one for less that £70,) as they are considered more workman-like than than the 'fancier' stitched ones.
Good luck, looking forward to the photos :)

[laceyfreckle]

hadn't thought of ingatestone saddlery.

something more like this? in brown pony size

http://www.ingatestonesaddlery.co.uk/Horse/Saddlery/Bridles/Loveson-Plain-Bridle-101937.aspx

[Mehitabel]

yes, that would be perfect. you can use raised bridles - petal does as she has such a pretty face she looks weird in a flat hunter bridle - but generally flat is more common.

[shandy84]

That's the one Bags has. You can also get it from robinsons and ride away reasonably priced

[laceyfreckle]

thank you everyone...looks like we've sorted the bridle prob then....and i've saved myself £50 into the bargain:):):D

now what do i need next??...........................................:D

[eml]

Bit with smaller rings (we used a bradoon from a double)

White cottage craft type girth (looks best on white.grey ponies)

Lead rein to attach to noseband, for years I used a pair of leather reins with stud fastening and no one noticed but you can buy fancy lead rein with brass chain near the fastener, secret is to be really long so the child appears to be in control of the pony.

Hat for you!!!

[laceyfreckle]

Bit with smaller rings (we used a bradoon from a double)

White cottage craft type girth (looks best on white.grey ponies)

Lead rein to attach to noseband, for years I used a pair of leather reins with stud fastening and no one noticed but you can buy fancy lead rein with brass chain near the fastener, secret is to be really long so the child appears to be in control of the pony.

Hat for you!!!

:) white girth under control....found one to order from essex saddlery for just £4.50. it's cottage craft type.

I've just bought a long english leather lead rein with brass buckle to go on noseband.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280242602678&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=018
i've bought some new english leather brown 30" stirrup leathers as well as mine are really really long and she has to have twists in them:o

I still need to get her some smaller, neater stirrups though

and i will be getting a small ring 4.5" french link snaffle for lacey.

hat for me is bothering me a bit....what sort of style should i get??! I haven't seen anything.

daughter still needs corn/canary/beige jodhs but i;m watching some on ebay. new jodh boots as she's decided to outgrow hers! new hat as i found her old one but its now too small and been donated to her 3yr old brother with a large head who it fits! show tie, going to use school shirt as riding shirt. also still on the look out for a green tweed second hand.

oooh look at me! how i could easily turn into one of those lead rein mums:p:p

[lorna01]

Saddle wise, if you are planning on doing higher level shows then dont get the GP, show saddles would be better, Fylde saddlery does gorgeous ones starting at £600, I have one and it is LUSH!

Hunter bridle.

Hat for you, one of those softish ones, have a look on the pretty ponies website under leadrein showing outfits and youll see what I mean X