Albion bridle - worth the splurge?

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GreenEyedMonster

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I've just got a new horse and being 18 now I'd like to buy a really nice bridle that will last a long time and is good quality and very soft.
I really loved the look of Albion bridles and I saw one last year at the Winter Dressage Champs - my issue is that I need a specific sort of bridle:
Padded headpiece
Crank raised cavesson (no flash loop)
Billet cheek-pieces
Branded browband (to make it look less bland)

And understandably this is all difficult to come by in one bridle! I considered buying parts and putting them together from FSS but on reading the reviews I don't think the quality will be very nice!

I already have some very nice reins that are unused so the bridle would cost £189
But the FSS parts would cost £85 or so

Any reviews for the Albion snaffle bridles?

I have to buy a car this summer hence why I'm being extra cautious about spending too much!
 
I have had an Albion bridle for six years now and despite my attempts at neglect it still looks like new. At the time I only bought it because I needed a mix of sizes for the various parts..full size brow and, cob cheeks etc. Albion made the mix up very easy and of course, it all matches.
I would definitely buy another.
 
I bought the Albion KB competition bridle from the National Saddle Centre. They were brilliant to buy from, really helpful and I needed different sized pieces. I think you'd find everything you want and yes, the quality is excellent.
 
oldie48 said:
I bought the Albion KB competition bridle from the National Saddle Centre. They were brilliant to buy from, really helpful and I needed different sized pieces. I think you'd find everything you want and yes, the quality is excellent.
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is the leather nice and soft and supple? and do you think they'd let me swap parts if they don't fit?
 
Personally, for that money, I think I'd get one made-to-measure, but I have a pony with a fairly small and awkward-to-fit head and a fondness for very plain hunter-style bridles (I don't mind brass clincher browbands for dressage, but that's the extent of my non-plain adventures); so I'm not quite in the same boat.

I mean, Albion's always been known for good quality, and their customer service seems pretty top-notch from what I remember of my uncle getting a new saddle from them some years ago; so if you like the bridle in question you might as well go for it.
 
I treated myself to an Albion bridle when I got my horse almost 4 years ago and love it - soft and supple from the word go and always gets complimented. It has stayed looking smart and new, though I do take very good care of it! I also bought mine from the national saddle centre and would recommend them, I nearly returned it at first as the noseband was too wide for my horse and didn't suit her, but they sourced a narrow version for me instead and sent it out asap. Have bought other bits and pieces from them before and they've always been really helpful.
 
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