Bridle search help, please?

GrassChop

GrassChop

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I don't know why I find it impossible to find a nice anatomical shaped light brown bridle without a crank or flash that doesn't cost a small mortgage!

My current bridle is such a dark brown that it's almost black and I want something lighter to go with my saddle which is sort of light/oak brown. I don't mind if it's a flat noseband or padded.

It also sounds really stupid but I don't like the thought of cutting the flash off, it makes me feel like I'm just ruining a brand new bridle but maybe this is the only way!

Would be so grateful for some suggestions. 🙏

ETA: I like the colour of this but too square shaped and not anatomical https://shiresequestrian.com/salisbury-fairford-bridle-292
 
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Because standard colours are Havana and black if you want something non standard it will cost you
More and you want anatomical as well … it all costs more
 
Shires have lots of ergonomic bridles with cavesson noseband. We have an Avignon Raised cavesson Bridle in Havana which is quite a dark brown but they do it in Oak which is much lighter. There are loads to look at. Hope this is helpful. Not top of the range in the general scheme of prices .
 
equine balance bands do what looks like a micklem, without the flash. not sure if the colour will be light enough though! vortex also have lots of lovely anatomical bridles but will probably be too dark
 
www.oldmillsaddlery.com

Velociti Ergononic Cavesson Bridle | Old Mill Saddlery

The Shires Velociti Ergononic Cavesson Bridle offers the horse a greater sense of freedom. The curved noseband relieves compression from the cheekbones, jaw and sensitive nerve endings. The padded noseband gives a greater spread of pressure crea .... £94.49.Free UK & Ireland Delivery on orders...
www.oldmillsaddlery.com

On sale at the moment and Old Mill are great to deal with. It's lighter than standard havana, although not tan.
 
Chiffy said:
Shires have lots of ergonomic bridles with cavesson noseband. We have an Avignon Raised cavesson Bridle in Havana which is quite a dark brown but they do it in Oak which is much lighter. There are loads to look at. Hope this is helpful. Not top of the range in the general scheme of prices .
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Thank you. I like the look of that one but the colour looks odd on all of their photos. I'll see if I can find a picture on a review or something!

ETA: I think their Oak colour might be too tan looking sadly. The Australian Nut looks good though.
 
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mini-eventer said:
I've seen a premier equine in person and the leather was lovely and soft, I am now saving to purchase one. Not sure if the colour is what you are after, it wasn't overly dark
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My mare needs a new work bridle and I love the Premier Equine bridles, We already have the double bridle in black and the leather is lovely. I would like the snaffle in brown to match her dark brown GP saddle. Will have to get saving.
 
Just a word of warning that anatomical bridles don't fit all horses, the headpiece etc needs to be the right size, in the right place and the right shape and then different horses prefer different nosebands etc. which doesn't necessarily correlate to the noseband it uses in a traditional bridle.

Quite a few of the bit fitters also fit bridles so if you could find one who had a selection in your price bracket it could well be worth a go.
 
Squeak said:
Just a word of warning that anatomical bridles don't fit all horses, the headpiece etc needs to be the right size, in the right place and the right shape and then different horses prefer different nosebands etc. which doesn't necessarily correlate to the noseband it uses in a traditional bridle.

Quite a few of the bit fitters also fit bridles so if you could find one who had a selection in your price bracket it could well be worth a go.
Click to expand...
I go for a traditional fit that is properly fitted every time. I've lost count of the times I've said "just because it says anatomical on the label it doesn't mean it fits".

It's also easier to buy the separate components of a traditional bridle.
 
Rowreach said:
I go for a traditional fit that is properly fitted every time. I've lost count of the times I've said "just because it says anatomical on the label it doesn't mean it fits".

It's also easier to buy the separate components of a traditional bridle.
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I will look at the non-anatomical ones. It's just finding the right colour brown that I'm struggling with and not having a flash.
 
Squeak said:
Just a word of warning that anatomical bridles don't fit all horses, the headpiece etc needs to be the right size, in the right place and the right shape and then different horses prefer different nosebands etc. which doesn't necessarily correlate to the noseband it uses in a traditional bridle.

Quite a few of the bit fitters also fit bridles so if you could find one who had a selection in your price bracket it could well be worth a go.
Click to expand...


This.

Mines in a horsmanship saddlry one. My sisters is in a henry james.
 
Horsemanship saddlery do a lighter brown as well as havana don't they?
You construct the bridle from individual pieces and nosebands don't have to have flashes/cranks
 
You do know that it's easy to just cut off the flash loop on a noseband? Or if you aren't comfortable with doing that yourself, take it to a saddler and have them take it out for you.
 
I have a horsemanship saddlery bridle it’s anatomical and beautiful Italian leather so would recommend based on quality, but mine is black I have never seen the brown in person. The owner is very helpful I’m sure if you email them she can send you a pic of the brown leather they use.
 
I went for the Whitaker Eastwood bridle in the end! The non-crank one.
87057267_3291193837563219_3744137113222774784_n (1).jpg
The picture doesn't do it justice. I looked it up on Facebook to see if there were any posts with one so I could see what the brown looked like in other lights and it looked lovely as I found some old selling posts. No idea what the quality will be like but can't complain for £76.
 
The brown on the Whitaker one was nice and the leather was soft but the fit was awful on my mare so sent it back. I've had the Collegiate Mono Crown arrive today. The brown is nice but it is still quite dark and not as rich as I hoped it would be. I worry it'll just end up being almost black after a few cleans/conditioners. Same as my last one.

All brown leather just seems to be so dark these days unless you spend a much larger amount of money for an expensive brand.
 
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