I'm really getting fed up with this...

This company sell lovely English leather bridles and you can make them up to your own spec (mix znd match) They are ultra helpful and will measure stuff and answer endless questions. Highly recommend and not too pricey. I buy ALL my bridles from them. Horse and Rider, Sheffield - 10/10
 
My mare broke her bridle and I went to get another but could only get one with reins, I have plenty of reins and didnt need any, but they wouldnt take the reins off.
It was a nightmare trying to get one, I also only wanted a normal noseband and there was only one bridle that had a normal noseband all were drop ones. Ended up getting spare parts on Ebay and a lot cheaper, yet the shops complain ebay doing them out of business, but if they not stocking what you need then you have to go elswhere.
 
Ironically, I have a Stubben bridle with a plain raised noseband which I bought as a competition bridle for a horse I've since sold......... I've been trying to sell it for ages and no one wanted it as it didn't have a flash on it...... I wish I'd known when I was advertising it that all your guys wanted plain cavessons lol!!
 
I was going to post a ranty thread, but took a deep breath & did a search on here.

Went bridle shopping today for (what I thought would be easy) a bog std full sized bridle for biggest Fuzzy.

Blow me down - everything had damned flashes on them (just like OP found) :mad: and some had odd functions like the noseband head piece having a buckle on each side (how odd! :confused: ) and most had rubber reins with them, or ones with leather martingale stops ........

I did manage to find one outlet with just what I wanted (plain cavesson with leather plain reins) but starting price was £155............

which is far too much just for an every day bridle that 'could be polished up for the odd outing if needed'

So, as biggest fuzzy doesnt need a flash, and we already have a big stock of rubber reins (on the short side, just as these were)....... it seems I need to put pennies in a pot for a lot longer :(
 
I'd also take a look at the kentaur bridles. They aren't bad quality at all, and do flash bridles, but that annoying little loop comes off with the flash :D

J&C
 
collegiate for me - my hunter bridle was £66 but my comfort bridle was £££.
worth it though - the comfort bridle is 6 years old and scrubs up like new with minimal effort. nice soft leather too :)
 
rhino said:
If you have a local saddler you can have the flash attachment bit taken off and restiched to form a cavesson - I had this done with my lovely stubben bridle and you cannot tell... although it helped that my 'local saddler' was also a friend. Still don't think it would cost very much if you found a bridle you really liked.
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Why, why, why have I never thought of this?! Off to the saddler for me tomorrow to see what he can do!
 
Mucky Shavings said:
I just cut off the flash tab with a sharp stanley knife, you couldn't tell at all
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I did this with one with my pba's bridle, as couldn't find a bridle without the loop. I did eventually get a bridle to show her in. A GFS, really nice bridle. Bought brand new from ebay for £20, RRP £50 :D. Came with reins too!

Then I got Enys and his head is lots bigger so had to buy a new bridle...had to go with one with a flash loop as couldn't find one without. Annoying! If I want to show him I am going to have to get another noseband.
 
I love the traditional hunting bridle, with thick cavesson noseband, out of friggin stock everywhere, so they either dont make too many any more, or theres lots of people like me, that want them, probably the first!!!
 
I was looking forward to going horse-shopping this weekend... but now I know there's little point because I won't get what I want!

I hate the flash part on the bridle too... utterly pointless.. but I need something big with a very thick noseband to fit a large draft head!


What am I going to do! I can't take him with me to try them on lol!

Is there a way of measuring for the bridle? I was just going to take my boys old one and say "it needs to be bigger than this" to the shop assistant lady :s
 
I dont think many people make plain cavessons anymore because they arent as fashionable! Sad but a sign of the times. Agree with rhino, you can get a saddler to take the loop off for you. Although its annoying you have to do it!
 
marmalade76 said:
Crikey, my latest bridle purchase was just a drop noseband, and that alone cost £50!
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I got one for £25 in the end from Derby House.

I didn't need an expensive one as it was just going to be used when I put him in his other bit which is often and I didn't see the point in paying £150 for a bridle used a couple of times a month. :p
 
fitzaud2 said:
I love the traditional hunting bridle, with thick cavesson noseband, out of friggin stock everywhere, so they either dont make too many any more, or theres lots of people like me, that want them, probably the first!!!
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I think they do the kind you like at my local saddlery, if you want I can get photos and if you really want, I'll buy one and you can buy it off me :) they are only £25.00 max!! Ok so they may not be stunning but my old one used on my old hunter lasted really well, in fact its still in use now (5 years later)
 
Same problem here, and quite often the nosebands (on a full) are too tight for Shy. I bought a fantastic thick cavesson at a tack table top sale for £2 and it looks fab !!!

it really does annoy me that because of these flash/grakle bridles, riders end up using the damned things when the horse does not need them. The point of a flash is to keep the mouth shut. Which begs the question - WHY is the horse opening his mouth in the first place......could it be the bit that is hurting him :confused: The bit will hurt even more when the mouth is effectively tied shut, and the horse can get no relief, or show his discomfort.

rant over, I thank you
 
JessandCharlie said:
I'd also take a look at the kentaur bridles. They aren't bad quality at all, and do flash bridles, but that annoying little loop comes off with the flash :D

J&C
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Cheers for the Kentaur suggestion :)

However, have decided to wait for this months salary to come in then add to penny pot & get a lovely Jeffries for just £30 more with cob cheek pieces in it (and nice plain reins with it too :) ) as i find when one has an 'odd sized' one to fit, that it best to be able to measure up before buying :)
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
collegiate do a plain cavesson im sure, and pink equine, although not sure of their prices.

TBH its the price thats limiting you, elevator, passier, inch's dressage own brand, albion, all do plain cavesson but are more ££££.

or you could look for a budget double bridle and take the sliphead off?
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Just bought an Elevator, it's beautiful!!
 
We have a saddler that supplies our shop and can do made-to-measure or off the peg sizes. A plain hunter cavesson bridle with reins (lovely English leather and English craftmanship) is £90.00. All our horses wear her bridles now and I like my 'boring' cavessons! :)
 
I also had the issue of finding a bridle without a flash about 6 years ago... in the end I just ended up riding without the noseband, and I have not looked back since! I do now own a very nice bridle without a flash but this only come out on special occasions, everyday riding is done without a noseband. :)
 
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