I have gfs bridles (£35-£50 depending on noseband) for everyday and a barnsby for posh stuff(should be about£120 but picked it up for£40 on ebay) both fit my tb's head nicely and don't look too heavy on him
Both of my horses have Stubben bridles, they are well made, quality leather & have various designs to suit any horse or discipline. They are hard wearing & due to the quality of leather used always clean up beautifully.
heheh
In an idea world I'd have a few bridles, for home & competition use, simply so I didn't have to keep changing noseband/bit for different things like dressage & jumping. Though right now I only use one bit and different nosebands so its not too bad
I cant say I rate Stubben anymore, not quite sure whats happened to them but they arent what they used to be. Fieldhouse are good everyday bridles but for best its definitely Sabre for me!
I have 2 bridles in use at the moment - one Jeffries and one Sabre. I like those because it's easy to get separate parts in different sizes if you need to, they are good quality and last well. I don't have 'work' and 'posh' bridles - don't see the point if you have decent leather in the first place and look after it
Re browbands - do you want a bling one? The albion browbands are lovely, but a bit pricey.
the jeffries bridle i have for one horse came in component parts so i was able to completely custom size it, by taking measurements of his head, so some bits are cob some full
(im a bit of an ex-showing perfectionist freak and my cheek ,throatlatch and noseband buckles all HAVE to line up with the corner of his eye
I have Sabre, im a tad obsessed with them lol, ive got 4!! 2 Sabre eton double bridles one black one brown, ive got a black eton snaffle for schooling in etc and ive just got a new brown one for hacking etc to match my new saddle lol.. my girl is spoilt!!
I am a bridle conioussour!!!! Depending on the horses head, my vote would be for a Albion KB comfort bridle for a chunkier head - about £200. For a more elegant head, a Passier basic line bridle - flash or drop (drops generally very hard to get on comfort bridles) comfort bridle with jelly reins and dimonte browband - about £175. If price no object, for shows go for a Passier rolled leather double bridle at approx £800!!!!
I have a GFS contrast padded bridle (£40 odd) and the Kincade comfort bridle, again £40 odd. Fab value for money and a year on the both look good as new
Have to add, when my mare arrived a week ago, she was a bit gobby to tack up, and would try to move her head away from the bridle. She has ben in my KB bridle for a week and is now happy to be tacked up and drops her head now
It is a bit chunky for her head, but she likes it so we are sticking with it
I love my stubben bridle, I use it for every day and best as it cleans up beautifully. It's had some tough wear and still looks good.
My friend has a sabre and thats nice too.