Best bridle style for a cob?!

[AmyJai]

So recently I purchased a beautiful 15hh blue roan rising five cob, and of course with every horse purchase comes the purchasing of new tack.

After having previously bought a collegiate raised cavesson bridle for my other cob, I decided to go ahead and order another bridle of this brand but this time went for the hunt version as I thought the style would quite suit him.

On arrival I was immediately not as impressed as I was when I received the other collegiate bridle; this one felt hard and seemed a lot 'cheaper'. After two cleans with my saddle wax/soap it became more subtle so I popped it on only to find that the blooming browband is actually too tight (its a full size, the biggest the collegiates go and i expected it to fit him as hes only 15hh!).

Over the last week the bridle has begun to grow on me and I fell it quite suits him (apart from that it is alot darker brown than I thought it was going to be, and as a result doesn't quite match my saddle which does annoy me a little) untill my friend came round (who isn't a cob fan anyway) and expressed her hate for it.

This reinforced my originally feelings of not being as happy with the bridle as I thought, and now I find myself looking at returning/selling it an buying another!


However, I do think that the flat hunt style really does suit him..

Should i just ignore my friend and stick with it (and order a bigger browband) or attempt to sell/return it and buy a completely diff bridle? (although i fear i will still have the small browband issue).

Opinions would be greatly appreciated! Its ridiculous how wound up I am getting about a bridle!!!!
(recommendations of where I could get an extra full flat brown brownband would be great too - the current one is 1inch in width)

 

[AmyJai]

Don't know if the link will work but this is the bridle. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152933122198540&set=pcb.10152933122493540&type=1&theater

 

[catkin]

The bridle is the 'correct' type for a cob - you don't want lots of fancy stitching and stuff as it will detract from his handsome cobby face.
One thing you might consider (or look out for in sales/car boots etc) is a deeper noseband, say 1 1/2inch wide.

Personally I wouldn't worry about bridle matching the saddle - how much saddle do you see when you are sitting on it anyways? - much better that the bridle suits his face.

As for your browband, have you a traditional saddler near you who could make him a made-to-measure browband? That would be the best option.

 

[AmyJai]

The bridle is the 'correct' type for a cob - you don't want lots of fancy stitching and stuff as it will detract from his handsome cobby face.
One thing you might consider (or look out for in sales/car boots etc) is a deeper noseband, say 1 1/2inch wide.

Personally I wouldn't worry about bridle matching the saddle - how much saddle do you see when you are sitting on it anyways? - much better that the bridle suits his face.

As for your browband, have you a traditional saddler near you who could make him a made-to-measure browband? That would be the best option.

Hi, thank you for your reply!

I don't know of anywhere locally that does that sort of thing unless it costs a small fortune! I have found a few around but they all seem to be either 1/2,3/4, 5/8 or 7/8 and frankly I have no idea what this measurement is! Why is it so complicated!

 

[minesadouble]

There isn't much wrong with the bridle in the pic but personally I would rather see a wider noseband and hitch it up a bit.

 

[ihatework]

For me he needs a slightly wider noseband, it also needs to sit slightly higher to optically balance his head.

The browband is all wrong on him.

 

[Tern]

Personally, I agree with your friend (sorry)! For me he doesn't pull off a hog or such a thick set bridle. Personally it would be a plain cavesson for me.

 

[mynutmeg]

So recently I purchased a beautiful 15hh blue roan rising five cob, and of course with every horse purchase comes the purchasing of new tack.

After having previously bought a collegiate raised cavesson bridle for my other cob, I decided to go ahead and order another bridle of this brand but this time went for the hunt version as I thought the style would quite suit him.

On arrival I was immediately not as impressed as I was when I received the other collegiate bridle; this one felt hard and seemed a lot 'cheaper'. After two cleans with my saddle wax/soap it became more subtle so I popped it on only to find that the blooming browband is actually too tight (its a full size, the biggest the collegiates go and i expected it to fit him as hes only 15hh!).

Over the last week the bridle has begun to grow on me and I fell it quite suits him (apart from that it is alot darker brown than I thought it was going to be, and as a result doesn't quite match my saddle which does annoy me a little) untill my friend came round (who isn't a cob fan anyway) and expressed her hate for it.

This reinforced my originally feelings of not being as happy with the bridle as I thought, and now I find myself looking at returning/selling it an buying another!


However, I do think that the flat hunt style really does suit him..

Should i just ignore my friend and stick with it (and order a bigger browband) or attempt to sell/return it and buy a completely diff bridle? (although i fear i will still have the small browband issue).

Opinions would be greatly appreciated! Its ridiculous how wound up I am getting about a bridle!!!!
(recommendations of where I could get an extra full flat brown brownband would be great too - the current one is 1inch in width)

Depending in how much you want to spend oz (crementhdone not sure in spelling ) on here runs unicorn saddlery and did the most gorgeous hunter bridle for my cob mare made to measure for less than a Jeffrey would have cost me and it fits beautifully with the most gorgeous leather

 

[AmyJai]

For me he needs a slightly wider noseband, it also needs to sit slightly higher to optically balance his head.

The browband is all wrong on him.

I know, I hate the browband. Any suggestions on what width and style one to get that will go with this bridle? Although I'm feeling alot of hate for the bridle at the moment, think I may just get a new one.

 

[AmyJai]

For me he needs a slightly wider noseband, it also needs to sit slightly higher to optically balance his head.

The browband is all wrong on him.

Personally, I agree with your friend (sorry)! For me he doesn't pull off a hog or such a thick set bridle. Personally it would be a plain cavesson for me.

Ha thats fine, thanks for being honest!! I'm not a fan of the hog either... but have only had him for two weeks and am hoping (with alot of paitence!) to grow it out.

Thing is when I had him on trial he had a plain cavesson bridle, and he look stupid in it! Will find a photo...

 

[saddlesore]

I agree with Tern. I'd grow out the hog and get a raised, hunt weight cavesson and a thinner browband. Dever do a gorgeous cavesson like that- I have one for my cob

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Cremedemonthe. I too hate the browband. You can't return a bridle you've saddle soaped! A mutual friend also does saddlery, she made the browbands. Get a separate browband, simple. Full size on most makes will work. Height isn't what counts, head size is the deciding factor. Mine's 15.1 and ought to be cob size but is full.

 

[holeymoley]

I think the bridle's fine bar the browband as its too thick. The measurements you mentioned earlier will be the choice of widths.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

What a lovely cob. He looks like a snowcap rather than a roan, does he have any appaloosa or knabstrupper in his breeding?

I also have browband length issues with off the peg bridles. I agree with the others who suggest getting a new browband and just adjusting the fit of the noseband so that it's slightly higher up his head.

 

[AmyJai]

What a lovely cob. He looks like a snowcap rather than a roan, does he have any appaloosa or knabstrupper in his breeding?

I also have browband length issues with off the peg bridles. I agree with the others who suggest getting a new browband and just adjusting the fit of the noseband so that it's slightly higher up his head.

Awrh thank you he is gorgeous! He may possibly although his passport is very basic so I am unsure!

I think that is what I will do, but now I don't know what width to get. Everyone is suggesting a thinner one, so should I go for a 1/2 or 3/4 inch? Or will that lool too thin with a big noseband?

Thank you all for your feedback!

 

[AmyJai]

Cremedemonthe. I too hate the browband. You can't return a bridle you've saddle soaped! A mutual friend also does saddlery, she made the browbands. Get a separate browband, simple. Full size on most makes will work. Height isn't what counts, head size is the deciding factor. Mine's 15.1 and ought to be cob size but is full.

Thanks for your feedback. Yes I understand its the head size that counts but he hasn't actually got that big a head! When he was on trial he was in a cob bridle so I guess the brand has an input too.

I am going to go for a thinner plain flat browband to match the bridle. I am really not a fan of patterned/ diamond browbands as I think they look too busy, and alot of them look tacky! Although I did have a beautiful simple diamond one on my old mare which suited her

 

[Walrus]

Noseband needs to be higher. I also think browband is just a fraction too wide, I really like the leather plaited browbands as something a bit different https://www.nativeponybridles.co.uk/store/p71/Plaited_Browband.html My boy has a huge forelock so it would be wasted on him but it might add a bit of something to yours as it will be visible. Not sure how long their full is but I'm sure if you email they can help.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Thanks for your feedback. Yes I understand its the head size that counts but he hasn't actually got that big a head! When he was on trial he was in a cob bridle so I guess the brand has an input too.

I am going to go for a thinner plain flat browband to match the bridle. I am really not a fan of patterned/ diamond browbands as I think they look too busy, and alot of them look tacky! Although I did have a beautiful simple diamond one on my old mare which suited her

I'm not saying you should get one like mine (they're one offs) just that you have a choice. I agree with others saying you want a thinner browbands. Why not trial the ones your mates have to find one that suits? Yes, brands definitely vary, just like clothing.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Bridleway do a lovely hunter type one with a wide nose band.