Bridles, aargh!

[Nudibranch]

Can anyone recommend a decent quality brown/havana, plain comfort bridle which preferably comes in mix and match parts? I need extra full browband and noseband but full or even cob cheekpieces!

I really like my Henry James reins and was hoping for a colour match but their bridles are far too bling dressage style for me. I want plain hunter style but not an overly chunky noseband. Must have comfort or at least cutaway headpiece. Unicorn Saddlery seem to fit the bill but afaik don't have any extra full and I don't know about the quality.

Sabre were my other go to but I can't find anything in the right combination these days. Help!

 

[LEC]

Bigg Comfort?
Horsemanship Saddlery?
Evo Equine?
Premier Equine?
Collegiate?

 

[gryff]

English Bridles are always my go to for things like this. Beautiful quality and totally mix and match.
Haven't checked to see if they do a comfort headpiece though.

 

[Nudibranch]

Sadly I don't think any of those do a comfort option with plain noseband and browbands.

 

[LEC]

Primo Hunter Bridle

A classicly styled hunter bridle crafted from the finest Italian leather, engineered to provide comfort and style during ridden work this leather horse bridle features a hunter style noseband. The ideal bridle for horse showing.

www.premierequine.co.uk

You are not going to get what you want perfectly. I normally buy the cheek pieces as cheaper as normally need XF browband, cob cheeks and full noseband

 

[Nudibranch]

Yes actually I realised PE do one but I'm really not sure about the colour, their brown definitely won't match (it's not just the website, I have a martingale - it's a very purplish brown).

 

[Bobthecob15]

Ecorider do lovely soft leather bridles, also Vortex equestrian who do mix and match I think

 

[Widgeon]

I bought a Shires Velociti hunter bridle and then switched out the browband for a bigger one and the cheekpieces for teeny ones. I know that might not be quite the level of quality you're after but they're relatively inexpensive (about £60) so buying additional bits and pieces didn't break the bank. I'm pleased with it, it's wearing well and looks smart. They definitely come in havana.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I bought a Shires Velociti hunter bridle and then switched out the browband for a bigger one and the cheekpieces for teeny ones. I know that might not be quite the level of quality you're after but they're relatively inexpensive (about £60) so buying additional bits and pieces didn't break the bank. I'm pleased with it, it's wearing well and looks smart. They definitely come in havana.

This is what I do the shires bridles are ok and you can buy extra bits really easily.

 

[catkin]

Have you any saddlers/bridlemakers near you?

I had a bridle made to measure for a native pony and the cost was in the same region as a ready made of similar quality. Can have exactly what you want - I had a choice of buckles and noseband design etc. (noseband proportions were the difficult bit in the ready mades I found). I also had a sliphead and extra reins made up to convert to a double. The bridle is now over 15years old, still going strong after being slightly altered for a second pony.

 

[First Frost]

English Bridles.
They do mix and match. I have 2 with comfort head pieces but very traditional looking. I found their sizing came up rather small. Beautiful leather.

 

[Abacus]

I also have English bridles and mine have done a good 10 years and are still lovely.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Horsemanship saddlery. Mine is from there and a mix of full and xfull

 

[Pippity]

Sadly I don't think any of those do a comfort option with plain noseband and browbands.

Horsemanship Saddlery do. I have one. Just choose 'hunter' as the noseband/browband style.

 

[bubsqueaks]

Kate Negus have beautiful English leather bridles mix & match but need deep pockets.

 

[Timelyattraction]

I was also going to say horsemanship saddlery as you can mix and match sizes. I have a premier equine plain Havana bridle but you’d have to buy two sizes or mix with another bridle.

 

[Annagain]

I loved my English Bridles bridle. Sadly Charlie didn't so I sold it to buy a horsemanship saddlery one (which is also lovely). Then I sold Charlie and I wish I still had the EB one because it would look great on Wiggy.

 

[rextherobber]

I mix and match to make up bridles from Shires and Horsemanship Saddlery. Shires are excellent for the price

 

[Love]

My show hunter bridle is Vortex equestrian - lovely quality although can’t remember if can mix and match sizes or not

 

[Quigleyandme]

Sadly I don't think any of those do a comfort option with plain noseband and browbands.

Horsemanship Saddlery do several comfort headpieces which you can combine with their Titan plain hunter browband and plain cavesson noseband in 1.5 or 2”. I believe you can also special order in a lovely conker brown because the bit and bridle fitter that fitted my horses had some pieces in this colour. Their website has some interesting information on it regarding anatomy, the influence of the bridle on the hang of bit, etc. Maureen is super helpful too.

 

[Annagain]

Sadly I don't think any of those do a comfort option with plain noseband and browbands.

The English Bridles Comfort Flat Padded Bridle is very plain.

EB English Comfort Flat Padded Bridle

The innovative design has the noseband strap hidden in a groove on top, reducing pressure on the poll. It is comfortable for sensitive horses and positions the cheekpieces away from the horse's eye.

www.englishbridles.co.uk

 

[teacups]

I really like the EB flat padded one. The noseband comes in varying widths.
Looking at their website you can easily mix and match individual components.
Maybe they or other companies would send you a sample of their havana, OP?

 

[GoldenWillow]

You can buy individual parts from Sabre, mine will be 13 yrs old now and still looks great. Another who needs xf browband, full headpiece and noseband with cob cheek pieces.