Bridle recommendations?

[maya2008]

Don’t want to spend the Earth as they are for youngsters and may get broken at some point. Need a couple of bridles I can use for stronger bits for jumping/fast work - it takes far too long to switch bits over. Something that comes with a cavesson and would look ok on a pony.

Any ideas for reasonable quality at a price that won’t break the bank?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I have a few shires bridles for everyday and they are pretty decent for the money, hope Valley saddlery often have reduced ones on line.

 

[SpotsandBays]

Years ago I had a Requisite bridle from Robinsons and it was about £20. I gave it a good go over with some leather conditioner and it came up lovely! Was pretty good quality for the price - but did need softening up!

 

[rextherobber]

Second the vote for Shires, fab for the money and clean up well too

 

[Bonnie Allie]

Bridles are my thing - so much that I think I might need to seek professional help for my addiction. Whilst I don’t live in the UK anymore I still can’t go past a first grade English leather bridle without buying it.

It kills me to see the offshore mass produced non-English leather bridles that are nowhere near the quality, all gimmicked up and sold as jumping bridles, dressage bridles, anatomical bridles in colours with gnatty marketing names.

If you don’t want to spend a lot, maybe buy a secondhand quality English leather bridle.

 

[holeymoley]

I have a Dever bridle. Really nice quality and didn’t break the bank.

 

[Widgeon]

I have a few shires bridles for everyday and they are pretty decent for the money, hope Valley saddlery often have reduced ones on line.

I have a Shires Velociti, in the hunter cavesson style, as my cob's smart bridle. Personally I think it was a bargain for what I paid (not quite full price) - reasonable leather, nice headpiece design, and neat grippy reins. I'd definitely recommend as a good everyday bridle. (They do all sorts of noseband designs depending on what you need)

 

[HorseMaid]

My current bridle is from Decathlon and I really like it. Have had it over a year now and it still looks fab. It really wasn't expensive (£40 ish?), it looks smart/modern, the flash can be completely removed without leaving the loop too.

 

[usaequestrian]

Black oak. I think around 70 US dollars, nice quality but you'll have to oil it more than normal.

 

[Squeak]

You could also just get a pair of cheek pieces and a new set of reins instead so that all you have to do is undo the cheek pieces to swap a bit.

When I needed a different bit for dressage and jumping eventing this is what I used to do to try and save time between phases and my jumping bit would already have a breastplate attached to the reins.

 

[Surbie]

You could also just get a pair of cheek pieces and a new set of reins instead so that all you have to do is undo the cheek pieces to swap a bit.

When I needed a different bit for dressage and jumping eventing this is what I used to do to try and save time between phases and my jumping bit would already have a breastplate attached to the reins.

That's a really good tip, thank you!