Bridle recommendations please

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HarlequinSeren

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I'm looking for a bridle and would like peoples opinions of brands/quality etc please :)
I'm looking for a full size black plain cavasson bridle, with a fairly wide noseband (about 1 1/2" maybe?) for a chunky headed cob. I'd like English leather (and made in England not India like the mass produced heritage ones!) or of similarly good quality (wouldn't say no to a Stubben for example).
I had one before made by Morris and Nolan which was exactly what I want this time, does anyone know if anywhere stocks them like this? I've tried risley saddlery I think it's called but they don't have one like the one I had before.
Any recommendations on brands/links for where to buy would be very welcome! Budget fairly decent, not hugely high but I want to get something that will last for years.
 
HarlequinSeren said:
I'm looking for a bridle and would like peoples opinions of brands/quality etc please :)
I'm looking for a full size black plain cavasson bridle, with a fairly wide noseband (about 1 1/2" maybe?) for a chunky headed cob. I'd like English leather (and made in England not India like the mass produced heritage ones!) or of similarly good quality (wouldn't say no to a Stubben for example).
I had one before made by Morris and Nolan which was exactly what I want this time, does anyone know if anywhere stocks them like this? I've tried risley saddlery I think it's called but they don't have one like the one I had before.
Any recommendations on brands/links for where to buy would be very welcome! Budget fairly decent, not hugely high but I want to get something that will last for years.
Click to expand...
I looks as though Morris and Nolan may have gone out of business. Their website isn't working and appears not to have been updated since 2005. All the references on Google to their products seem to be quite old too - 2012 and before in several cases
 
I got a Jaguar one which looks good and is lovely quality. It came with 2 lengths of side pieces for different bits and which allowed me to move it to a different horse. The nose band is broad and padded and you can alter it to be plain, crank or flash. Again this allowed me to move it between different sized horses.
 
Thanks everyone, I've just looked at the Jaguar and it looks good, I like the extra cheekpieces idea, that's a nice touch. I've been looking at Sabre, the Eton model seems to be what I'm after and I've messaged a shop selling them on eBay to see how wide the noseband is. Anyone have any experience with Caldene? What's the quality like on those? Found one of them that looks good too.
 
You can buy direct from Sabre, I have done this so I can have bridles with different nose bands and reins. They are very easy to deal with and very quick at posting out orders.
 
I got a local saddler to make mine - got exactly what I wanted (wide noseband, good heavy leather, made to measure fit) - for about £10 more than a good quality one in the shops. Might be an option for you?
 
I would say get an independent maker to make one for you. Don't expect it to be cheap though; you will be getting a top quality hand stitched product that will last you a lifetime so view it as an investment.

The last bridle I made was on a training course and it cost me £50 just to buy the leather for it and that was without reins! I would be looking to charge at least £150 for a bespoke bridle without reins, £200 with.

I see a lot of higher end bridles for repair and I can't think of a modern big name brand that I think is worth the money. I always say if you're on a budget buy a good quality, properly looked after old bridle - you'll get far money useful life for your money than you will with a cheap new one.
 
Pansymouse you're just about spot on with your pricing, mine was £180 - but I do have a very wide noseband and a wider than normal browband. Well worth the money IMHO!
 
Thank you everyone.
I'll look into getting one made but I'm not sure my budget will stretch that far right now. I certainly don't want a "cheap and cheerful" imported rubbish one, just a nice quality English leather and English made one. I'll look into seeing if Morris and Nolan still do anything too and if not then maybe a Sabre Eton is the way to go :)
 
english bridles are good, they will happily mix and match between sizes, browbands and nosebands. I just had a lovely one from them for £118 its very soft!
 
The English Bridle company have some excellent bridles at reasonable prices and you can make your self a bespoke bridle. Nice leather too.

I do love my Stubben though
 
I was charging £120 to make this, entirely handmade to order and including one set of reins.It was last year and for a lady on here.
I'm not making them at mo before anyone thinks I am advertising as I'm too busy making lots of other products for an equestrian wholesaler instead. But as Panseymouse has said, to buy cheap massed produced is not always the best option and can be false economy.


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