Fellow Araby headed horse owners - bridles!

[HufflyPuffly]

So baby Beryl has shown she is going to be a good enough girl to do some showing this year and so I need get her her own bridle that fits!

Any recommendations for makes/ brands that either fit the typical Arab head, of short but wide, or who does made to measure that’s not going to cost the earth?

Picture of tonight’s trial, browband still too tight and thick (needs 16” and thinner) and noseband on the very last hole but could do with being shorter in length down the face, also, the cheek pieces might be a touch long, especially if I change the bit to one with smaller rings…

 

[teddy_]

Vortex Equestrian do the most lovely show bridles with anatomical headpieces (quite hard to come by).

They run true to size.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Vortex Equestrian do the most lovely show bridles with anatomical headpieces (quite hard to come by).

They run true to size.

Will check them out thank you, can you mix and match parts?

 

[Shilasdair]

My Tb had a small muzzle (4.5" bit) and I ended up making a bridle of parts- full headpiece, pony cheeks and cob noseband.

 

[HashRouge]

I had one made to measure for my little Arab. She didn't get much wear out of it sadly as she retired a few years later and I probably kept it for best for a bit too long! But it's served me well as my share horse wears it now. He's also an Arab, though much taller, and it fits him perfectly. Sadly I think the lady who made it has retired now, as it's lovely leather.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

So first of all how is she bred? And yes I find you need pony cheek pieces full browband and noseband, and I tend to just use shires and just use whatever for everyday, but for showing it's different it has to look perfect. I have previously bought a full bridle and had the cheeks altered.

Did you want in hand bridle?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

So baby Beryl has shown she is going to be a good enough girl to do some showing this year and so I need get her her own bridle that fits!

Any recommendations for makes/ brands that either fit the typical Arab head, of short but wide, or who does made to measure that’s not going to cost the earth?

Picture of tonight’s trial, browband still too tight and thick (needs 16” and thinner) and noseband on the very last hole but could do with being shorter in length down the face, also, the cheek pieces might be a touch long, especially if I change the bit to one with smaller rings…
View attachment 92473

Had a proper look you need a raised noseband or a much thinner one and the browband needs to be smaller and with several colours not a block colour, cheeks are too high they need to be eye level.

 

[gryff]

Look at English Bridles. They mix and match parts and the quality of their work is absolutely lovely. I've got their show bridle because it was the daintiest bridle in their range. I think it is 13 years old now and is as good as new, used every ride.

 

[conniegirl]

Had a proper look you need a raised noseband or a much thinner one and the browband needs to be smaller and with several colours not a block colour, cheeks are too high they need to be eye level.

No!!!!! Flat nosebands always! block colours are absolutely fine.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

My Tb had a small muzzle (4.5" bit) and I ended up making a bridle of parts- full headpiece, pony cheeks and cob noseband.

I think I will have to do this, the only bit that might be tricky is the noseband as I could do with slightly shorter than cob but wider round her nose…

I had one made to measure for my little Arab. She didn't get much wear out of it sadly as she retired a few years later and I probably kept it for best for a bit too long! But it's served me well as my share horse wears it now. He's also an Arab, though much taller, and it fits him perfectly. Sadly I think the lady who made it has retired now, as it's lovely leather.

Haha well it’s no good if they’re retired ?!

So first of all how is she bred? And yes I find you need pony cheek pieces full browband and noseband, and I tend to just use shires and just use whatever for everyday, but for showing it's different it has to look perfect. I have previously bought a full bridle and had the cheeks altered.

Did you want in hand bridle?

Ok she’s by Cwyrtai Marko out of O Fon Melody.

I think for only one season of in hand showing a bridle that can go on to be a ridden show bridle makes more sense, I just want to get a better fitting one for Cheshire!

She needs 16” browband, cob/ full headpiece, pony cheek pieces, and then the noseband is the hard bit as cob is a touch too long but only just goes round!

Look at English Bridles. They mix and match parts and the quality of their work is absolutely lovely. I've got their show bridle because it was the daintiest bridle in their range. I think it is 13 years old now and is as good as new, used every ride.

I’ve been recommended them by someone else too so will have a look thanks .

No!!!!! Flat nosebands always! block colours are absolutely fine.

Haha what she ^ said. I had originally planned to use my old show bridle but her head is way too big for it to fit. Plus the browband is too busy and the noseband just wasn’t right for her, especially as she greys out more:

 

[conniegirl]

I think I will have to do this, the only bit that might be tricky is the noseband as I could do with slightly shorter than cob but wider round her nose…



Haha well it’s no good if they’re retired ?!



Ok she’s by Cwyrtai Marko out of O Fon Melody.

I think for only one season of in hand showing a bridle that can go on to be a ridden show bridle makes more sense, I just want to get a better fitting one for Cheshire!

She needs 16” browband, cob/ full headpiece, pony cheek pieces, and then the noseband is the hard bit as cob is a touch too long but only just goes round!



I’ve been recommended them by someone else too so will have a look thanks .



Haha what she ^ said. I had originally planned to use my old show bridle but her head is way too big for it to fit. Plus the browband is too busy and the noseband just wasn’t right for her, especially as she greys out more:
View attachment 92506

She is lovely.

my current lad is not an arab, he is welsh but he has a very araby head. I’ve also shown arabs in the past.

my welshie is in pony cheek pieces, cob size headpiece, fullsize noseband and an Extra large browband (which is still a bit tight!!
My arab was in cob sized bridle with an XL browband
I use jeffries for bridles as you can get separates easily.

if you are looking at buying a made to measure the anna pennel does incredibly beautiful bridles.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

She is lovely.

my current lad is not an arab, he is welsh but he has a very araby head. I’ve also shown arabs in the past.

my welshie is in pony cheek pieces, cob size headpiece, fullsize noseband and an Extra large browband (which is still a bit tight!!
My arab was in cob sized bridle with an XL browband
I use jeffries for bridles as you can get separates easily.

if you are looking at buying a made to measure the anna pennel does incredibly beautiful bridles.
View attachment 92508

Oh he’s lovely, do you have a link for Anna Pennel I’m struggling to find them?

 

[Polos Mum]

native pony bridles .co.uk do mix and match where you can buy components in different sizes and a nice padded single part headpiece which is comfortable for them. (no pinching from noseband over the poll).

Or horsemanshipsaddlery also they have 7 different headpiece shapes to suit different heads.

Both of the above are nice quality English makes

I had mine altered by my saddler as even pony cheeks were too long and cob headpiece was too small / full too big !!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

No!!!!! Flat nosebands always! block colours are absolutely fine.

Why the attitude with you always, alot of Arab's are shown in raised noseband for ridden classes and not many have block colour browbands I have been to so many AHS shows I'm not idiot I know what I am talking about.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I also think with a small Arab head a block colour browband can tend to look chunky and detracts your eye from looking at the pretty little arab head, if your trying to disguise a not so nice head we'll then a block browband is the way to go in my opinion.

If you Google and look at pictures of Arab's at Hoys a lot of them have raised nosebands so it can't be that incorrect, I think its basically down to personal choice at the end of the day and what looks best on your horse.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

I also think with a small Arab head a block colour browband can tend to look chunky and detracts your eye from looking at the pretty little arab head, if your trying to disguise a not so nice head we'll then a block browband is the way to go in my opinion.

If you Google and look at pictures of Arab's at Hoys a lot of them have raised nosebands so it can't be that incorrect, I think its basically down to personal choice at the end of the day and what looks best on your horse.

Oh definitely it’s personal choice! Doodle had the typical very dainty Arab head and looked super in her raised noseband and multicoloured browband that Beryl is modelling further up.

Just Beryl is erm, not dainty ?? so I think a little bit thicker noseband looks better, browband might look good thinner and with one other colour through it though x

 

[GoldenWillow]

For another awkward shaped head, although cob rather than Arab but short and very wide, I bought separates from Sabre to get exactly what I needed.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Oh definitely it’s personal choice! Doodle had the typical very dainty Arab head and looked super in her raised noseband and multicoloured browband that Beryl is modelling further up.

Just Beryl is erm, not dainty ?? so I think a little bit thicker noseband looks better, browband might look good thinner and with one other colour through it though x

Off course you have to go with what you think suits your horse but at least you have a bit of a choice, red and navy would probably look nice.