The next thing I’m trying to find! Bridle

Toz

Active Member
Jul 14, 2019
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After some good girth suggestions I thought I’d try here for a good bridle suggestion! I did put a post on a fb page but don’t think people really read the criteria as lots of lovely suggestions but none that fit the bill....
Oz currently has a heritage bridle which is ok but was only ever a temporary stop gap until I knew what colour my saddle would be (he had a temp saddle as I knew he’d change shape)
The problem I’m finding with the few I’ve tried is that they sit too close for some reason to the base of his ears (behind) and although he seems ok with that I’d rather not and I’d like something a bit better quality, that said I was pleasantly surprised with the heritage so there is no mad rush.
So I think something either really quite cut back at the poll OR maybe a regular headpiece as opposed to the comfort type most seem to have (lovely but maybe doesn’t suit him?)
Brown, cob size not bulky as he only has a small TB head. Fairly traditional looking. I dislike the big chunky modern bridles that are now so popular.
The difficult bit seems to be the noseband. I’m after a crank flash but I want the flash loop to be permanent not removable because I think they look messy.
He wears this combo because of two reasons. 1- he’s quite fleshy under his jaw, where most horses have a bony hollow he hasn’t so a normal buckle noseband has in the past rubbed. I like the padding for protection on a crank. 2- He’s got a bad reputation ridden wise and I’ve been told safety wise this has been the best after a lot of trial and error over the years whilst in training. One day I’d love to have him in a loose cavesson but for now I’m sticking to what I’ve been strongly advised by the person who’s ridden him the past 5 years!

So in brief, crank flash, brown, cob, would love the super bendy reins and nothing too chunky.
Any suggestions please?
 
One of the most common reasons for a headpiece sitting too close to the base of the ears is a browband that is too small. For some reason any off the shelf bridle seems to need the browband replacing with one a size bigger in my experience. So my first piece of advice would be to buy or borrow a full size browband and use it to replace the browband on any bridle you try on.

Maybe one of the anatomical bridles now on the market would suit him? They nearly always have cut back headpieces and padded cranks (did you know pressure tests have shown that, as long as they aren't overtightened, these are lower pressure than cavessons?), and I must say that the ones I've seen with flashes are all with the permanent loop - annoys me as I don't want a flash so have an annoying little loop left.

I can't recommend a make as I'm not at all clued up on brands, but there do seem to be a lot of them around nowadays - Fairfax made anatomical bridles very popular.
 
One of the most common reasons for a headpiece sitting too close to the base of the ears is a browband that is too small. For some reason any off the shelf bridle seems to need the browband replacing with one a size bigger in my experience. So my first piece of advice would be to buy or borrow a full size browband and use it to replace the browband on any bridle you try on.

Maybe one of the anatomical bridles now on the market would suit him? They nearly always have cut back headpieces and padded cranks (did you know pressure tests have shown that, as long as they aren't overtightened, these are lower pressure than cavessons?), and I must say that the ones I've seen with flashes are all with the permanent loop - annoys me as I don't want a flash so have an annoying little loop left.

I can't recommend a make as I'm not at all clued up on brands, but there do seem to be a lot of them around nowadays - Fairfax made anatomical bridles very popular.
You took the words out of my mouth! I also can’t abide flash nosebands.
 
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I’ve tried a bigger brow band it seems like it all works forwards! So the brow band sits away from his head anyway. The bigger one just gaped further. ‍♀️ Think he has bit of an odd shaped head!
Ha! Yes previously I wanted a removable one or just a cavesson for my old horse and struggled to find that, now it seems the opposite!
I didn’t know that about the crank no, interesting! I just prefer it because of the underneath padding mainly.
I haven’t looked at Fairfax because I believe they are huge money but having no joy so maybe I will. Thanks carthorse :)
 
I’d prefer not to use a flash but as above until we are more sorted it’s just a case of safety first tbh. It’s been well and truly drummed into me that he will bolt without and until he’s better schooled it’s not a risk I want to take!
 
The browband serves no purpose but to keep the noseband and headstall together. I don't actually have one. Less is more in my book. A browband is purely decorative. As is the throatlash (yes, I don't have one of those either). The throatlash is useful for a driving horse but is too loose on a riding horse to do actually anything.
 
My previous share had beautiful traditional tack. The bridle was Sabre. I swore that if I ever got a horse I would buy the same.
I dont know enough about bridles and bridle vocabulary to know if they have what you want, but you could look at the pics on their site or email them with the problems you have posted about here.
 
My previous share had beautiful traditional tack. The bridle was Sabre. I swore that if I ever got a horse I would buy the same.
I dont know enough about bridles and bridle vocabulary to know if they have what you want, but you could look at the pics on their site or email them with the problems you have posted about here.
Will do thank you. I’ve never had a Sabre but know they are good quality. Good shout :)
 
Fairfax are very officially out of budget I’ve looked at the natural horsemanship saddlery though and they seem to design just for Oz! I’m thinking of maybe getting one of them and just using my current noseband temporarily then hopefully one day switching to the normal non chunky cavesson they are supplied with maybe
 
Fairfax started the trend, but their prices left big gap in the market for other manufacturers to use - I could never justify that much on a bridle!
 
Fairfax started the trend, but their prices left big gap in the market for other manufacturers to use - I could never justify that much on a bridle!
No it’s crazy! I hadn’t expected anything like that.
It’s not even like I need something super swanky to compete in!
 
Have you considered a made to measure bridle? Or Kramer's catalogue had an array of comgort bridles with various configurations.

I struggled finding a bridle for Pete, but now use a Micklem and just fasten the noseband behind the bit so it's a cavesson - as I don't like flashes, dropss or anything personally.

Or, Fairfax seem to sell separate headstalls so you could try one of thosd and build your own on their base.
 
What happened to the old fashioned saddler who had a selection of matching bridle bits so you could make your own. I took a Libby’s webbing bridle to just such a place in north Devon, now long shut, and came away with a leather bridle, full size head piece and nose band, pony cheeks and cob browband. Cob reins to match.
 
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I have re-looked at Sabre. Having looked after the suggestion above and not seeing what I wanted, today found hopefully perfection!
Can’t wait for it to arrive Thank you @Skib
 
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