Bridle suggestions for ponies with silly head sizes please!

mrsjcmking

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Oo it's been a while since I posted - i'll try not to ramble.

Basically, pony went on loan 2 years ago, loan didn't work out, pony came back off loan, I am now trying to pick up the pieces.

I wasn't expecting pony to come back and bearing in mind he came back with 2 saddles that didn't fit him, one rug that fit him and 1 rug that was 5 sizes too small, 2 bridles that didn't fit him, a bit that didnt fit him and a whole host of useless items that didnt fit or were falling apart, as well as the fact that he hadnt had vaccinations done or teeth checked since goodness knows when, it's been an expensive few weeks.

We've got the essentials out of the way, and thanks to a fab friend we have a saddle and bit that fit, but atm we have bridle issues.

He has an amalgamation of a cob bridle and a full bridle because of his silly head size. Both bridles are not that great, cheap leather and it shows. He also has a weekend loaner that wants to show him and the bridle really isnt suitable, plus now he has stopped growing I feel justified in spending a bit extra to get one a little bit better than an ebay cheapy.

So, although we cant quite afford one yet, I want to get a rough idea of prices so I know how many pennies to save. We are looking for a black leather bridle, nothing fancy, bog standard cavesson noseband or a slimmer hunter noseband (he had a 2" one that took up half his face), but I need to be able to have part of it cob and part of it full. Ideally something that we can take the reins off and show him in local inhand classes with (he wont get much further than local shows bless him), so the simpler the better really. I don't want to break the bank with it but we are willing to stretch the budget a bit. Ideally less than £50, but could stretch a bit further if needs be.

Does anyone know any places where you can "build" your bridle and not spend £200 on it?

Thanks:)
 
Where do you live ? David at village saddlery in Warrington made me a bridle (without reins) for 80 quid made to measure.... If you've got time to wait ( he's never quick) could this be an option?
 
Made to measure would look lovely and isn't as expensive as it seems there is a chap who makes the bridle part for about 40 squid reins are extra but mine are 20 years old roughly and still look like new
Oh and please dont take the reins off a riding bridle to show him in hand it is not the way if you use a riding bridle bring the reins over his head if you want to use a lead rein for in hand please buy an in hand bridle. Sorry it is a pet hate to see riding bridles with lead reins in an in hand class
 
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Agreed go for made to measure. My highland is in pony cheek pieces and full browband but our local saddlery sell English brides which he splits to make what you want. Some just dont fit to standard pony/cob/full
 
Plas equestrian do bespoke bridles at sensible prices, do leather ones in colour / style you want.
 
I'm not sure why i didn't get any notifications for this.

TBH I feel a bit ridiculous investing in both and inhand and riding bridle, both a silly size, when he might get shown maybe 4 times a year. He's a grey and he never stays clean so she is only going to show him when the weather is good, as she has to ride him to the shows as well. I have no desire to show, it takes hours to get him clean and bless his cotton socks, he's a bit of a heinz 57, so he isnt going further than a few local shows - it's really not for me.

I don't think its a case of just adding extra holes, he's half cob and half full. Will have a look at a few of the suggestions but have resigned myself to upping our budget, he will just have to wait a bit longer for it I think.

We are in West Yorkshire.
 
If I could find a cheapo inhand that would fit him for like £20 I would probably get it but it certainly wont be custom made ;)
 
Haha I realised that was what had been said after I reread it - trying to read an reply to a post whilst on the phone is not advisable ;)

I know nothing about showing except trying to keep pony clean is near on impossible. One girl a couple of years ago took him, got him absolutely sparkling, rugged up to his eyeballs, plaited, wrapped everywhere we could. The little B**g*r tiptoed whilst on the trailer and rubbed his butt on a bar with some weird black stuff on it (he would have had to tiptoe to reach it). We had no chalk so we pretended the black mark across his tail was one of his markings (he's a spotty).
 
sounds familiar my old almost snow white highland can always be found sporting a green patch in front of her ear no matter how well wrapped up she is
 
We have had every colour of the rainbow. One day he came in with a huge streak of highlighter orange on his neck - still no idea what on earth happened there!
 
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