Elevator bridles? Sizing and do they work?

Blizzard

Blizzard

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I was thinking of buying one of these but wanted to know if people have found them to work?

also with regards to sizing, are they quite generous, my horse is 17.2hh, extra full in bridles and a lot of the cheaper brands arent big enough for him, however jeffries and other more up market brands are fine on him, such a big head ha ha!

I just dont want to buyone if the sizing is quite small.

Fank you!
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We have several elevator bridles on our yard and to be perfectly honest, I dont like them.

Dont get me wrong, I DO like padded bridles but I dont think the elevator bridles wear well (Ive commented on this before). Our tack is cleaned daily by the grooms and my YOs elevators look old (despite only being about a year old). In comparison, we've also got albions and a few other makes that still look as good as new.

I opted for an Albion competition bridle and the padding on that, both behind the poll and on the noseband is very dense. The leather is also beautiful quality and imo, superior to the elevator.

As for whether they work... The poll is a very sensitive area without doubt and i think to have heavy padding in the area is a good thing. Do they give the instant results elevator claim? Not convinced on that one
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But IMO anything that can make the horse more comfortable has to be a good thing.

In regards to sizing... I have no idea tbh! I borrowed my YOs a few times but my horse is only 16.1 :P

Personally, id have a look round at all the comfort bridles and see what you think on the sizing and the leather quality. Do be aware though that some of the cheaper ones aren't as padded as the more expensive ones (its quite easy to wander round a shop and *squidge* them all - which is what I did!). I just dont like the leather on the elevators and I dont know why
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They certainly look ok from new but they just seem to look tatty really fast
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Thanks so much for that...hmm well if Im paying so much for a bridle I want it to last me a long long time!

Sadly we have no decent tack shops near us, none that sell good brands anyway, so its always a case of mail order, and trial and error.

Would love to be near a shop that stocked them all so I could go and have a good feel!
So hard to judge from pictures!
 
I cant rate them highly enough, the leather is far superior to any others I have seen/ felt and mine still looks new after 3 years daily use. I don't clean it very often either!
They are also the best design about, I had an Albion Competition before and didnt think much of it. It is very chunky across the headpiece and made no difference to my mare. It was also had a very chunky noseband. I really felt a huge improvement in my mare when I started using the Elevator.
Size wise they come up on the large size, X- Full fitted my 17.1hh Hunter type with room to spare!! I have a Full size on my mare now but its on all the top holes. She is 16hh.
£145 well spent IMO!
Hope that helps x
 
my 17'2 KWPN gelding has a full size elevator and its nearly too big for him, the flash strap is on the last whole and the throatlash is two from the top, with the cheek pieces also two from the top each side - however he dosent have a huge head!
 
I agree about the cheaper brands not fitting!! Pickle has a jefferies bridle and cheaper makes are just too small in the noseband and browband mainly
 
If it helps Megan has a Full and its on the big side, and both Lillie and Bailey X- Full but on top holes.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1517138/an/0/page/97#1517138

If you phone Horsesense they are fantastic if you tell them your bridle now etc they will be able to tell you if XFull will fit im sure and they exchange for other sizes if it comes and doesnt fit etc. If it arrives and you dont like it im sure they will let you send it back for a full refund.
 
Have you seen the Sabre Coborra, Ryu has one, simliar concept ie padded headpiece, it has a sheepskin padded bit on the crank, over a year old now and has worn very well, beautiful leather, plus I guess would be cheaper.
 
Give HorseSense a call. They are very helpful and sure they will tell you. If not you can email them straight form their website.
 
I think it depends on the horse...I was using a webbing bridle as an every day bridle which had 3 separate thin straps running over the poll, plus I jump in a dutch gag... Anyway he's always been v busy in the head but my comfort bridle sorted it out completely in about 6 weeks... poor horse must have been really suffering in the webbing bridle...you know how your hat can give you a headache sometimes... must be like that.

Didn't want to spend full whack on something that might not work, so bought a Gallop comfort bridle for £21 from E bay. More than does the job.
 
I luv the Elevator, but because of the cost it is not used for every day use. I have to say the cheaper padded bridles work just as well, & all the horses are now ridden in them.
 
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