My experience yesterday with Fairfax bridles - and a moan (sort of)

[Sasana Skye]

Yesterday I met with a Fairfax fitter and took both of my horses to be fitted with new dressage and jumping bridles and saddles (cavesson and grackle bridles). I've wanted to try one for years but always thought it far too expensive for 'just a bridle'.

My 5yo felt no different to ride to be honest, but I was told that I probably wouldn't feel much as she's so inexperienced, and the change is felt by horses a little more up together. Saying that, same bit but she was quieter in the mouth and didn't snatch the rein off of me as she started to get tired which she might sometimes do.

However! My 15 year old felt like a completely different horse in hers. She's always been very tense and short, not happy unless going 1000mph. But after a brief 10 minute walk around to settle the tack she opened her neck up, took longer, bigger strides, felt more uphill and just relaxed completely. We put a couple of jumps up and I had a play, she jumped me right out of the saddle and I almost came flying off when she's usually a fairly flat jumping horse. The fitter took pictures of her in the grackle bridle to use to train future fitters because he said it was such a good example of a great fit. It felt positive to be putting so much attention on their bridles and understand how it affects their whole body, I don't think collectively riders have put that much attention to bridles as they have saddles historically, but apparently that's starting to change now.
I know these expensive products receive some scepticism as being the latest fad but genuinely noticed it with mine. We have two more events left before we just hack over winter so we'll see if it continues...

The slightly moany side - I have never had to work so hard to give someone my money before! I spoke to Fairfax initially and was given some advice and a list of my local stockists, I contacted all of them asking for available appointments/stock availability and order options for either them to come to me or me to go to them. I said I needed new jumping and dressage saddles and bridles for two horses - so I wasn't half spending (thank you interest free credit card and large limit) I also wasn't in a rush saying that I needed an appointment imminently, I thought it would be a good commission opportunity. I had to chase for a response from some of them, some I got, one I didn't - called the branch and was promised a call back that I never got. Another was quite blunt as if I dared ask them to sell me something. I was so excited at first but it was a bit disheartening to be honest.

Also slightly moany is how different the advice was to that I've received in the past - I get that saddlers are subjective and have their own thoughts and experiences with tack - fine I get that so I'll forgive some of the contradictions between them. But I was told by my usual saddler who has done all my saddle checks the past few years that my horse could absolutely very easily take a 17.5inch saddle, yesterday she was properly chalked and measured and i was told she had a very short back so her absolute max was 17inches. Good job I didn't just go out and order a 17.5 inch saddle online.

I ended up using Unicorn saddlery and Phillip who btw were fantastic and so thorough, the customer service I got beforehand was second to none, they were very proactive and prompt. I was with them for a few hours, lots of measurements were taken, horses trotted up and had their movement analysed. I'm going back in 10 weeks for my check up so maybe I will report back to HHO then and see if I'm still feeling the benefits from the horses.
So from my experience, if you get the chance to try a Fairfax bridle I would go for it. I work full time, I don't go on holiday, I don't drink (much ), I don't smoke so if I want to buy a pack of £400 bridles, that's what I will do!

 

[milliepops]

Interesting.
I keep on thinking about trying one for Kira. I don't do any of those things either but the doubles are even more spendy so it keeps getting pushed down the list of things that have to be paid for Maybe if we get to Inter2

 

[be positive]

We must be in a similar area.
The last time a client of mine tried to spend money on a new jump saddle the first saddlers approached at a BE event were unhelpful and almost dismissive without even asking what the budget was, we did look a bit scruffy at the end of a long damp day but I was unimpressed so we moved on and the owners made a few calls with Unicorn being the best response, he came out and fitted several saddles, the best for horse and rider was the most expensive but it was purchased there and then.
I found him helpful, not pushy like some, we started with the lower end price range, his choice, we had plenty of time to properly assess each one and there was no pressure to purchase any, I have since recommended him to others although use a local saddler for most things.

 

[Rowreach]

That's an interesting report and I agree, a lot of people don't put nearly enough emphasis on bridle fit and head conformation. When I was doing saddle fittings I nearly always ended up digressing into what the horse had on its head and in its mouth

 

[Tiddlypom]

Interesting about the Fairfax bridles, I’m going to trial a cavesson one at my next saddle fit check. My saddle fitter sells them, but doesn’t like to combine fitting them with a new saddle fitting as she doesn’t like changing too many things at once .

She recently sold me a new Fairfax (!) GPD Classic sadddle. The fitting was most interesting. I’ve been riding the horse in an old 18” Ideal event saddle for the last three years. It’s been fit checked and the flocking adjusted by another saddle fitter several times. Steph showed me how wide Tammy’s backbone is, and how far her shoulder comes back, so the Ideal, while not a disastrous fit, was definitely impinging on her. She also can’t take an 18”, despite being a long horse who wears 6’9” rugs. I didn’t think I’d fit in a 17.5”, but I do in the Fairfax.

The horse is now striding out much more freely, and moves laterally off the leg much more freely, too. And the new saddle is a better fit for me, so win, win.

Her existing bridle is a cobbled together old Evison equine flash bridle minus the flash strap, so it’s letting the side down a bit, now.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

I've had a horse bit fit consultant out and they look at bridles as well as bits and my horse had the biggest difference in the Bridle change than the bit change.

It was unbelievable.

The Bridle came from horsemanshipsaddlery.uk

 

[milliepops]

That's an interesting report and I agree, a lot of people don't put nearly enough emphasis on bridle fit and head conformation. When I was doing saddle fittings I nearly always ended up digressing into what the horse had on its head and in its mouth

agreed, the cynic in me wonders how much of the reported improvements from the fairfax clinics is just down to someone having taken the time to combine parts in the correct sizes so the bridle actually sits right on the horse's head.

Poorly fitting bridles are so common. Off the peg sizes are rarely correctly sized IME and often even if, say, a noseband has the correct dimensions sometimes the hangers are in the wrong place. With the exception of an old IR bridle which was made with that in mind, all of mine are a mix of different makes/parts that are chopped and changed until they fit right. Currently waiting on an XF browband for the latest one who is between cob and XF apparently

 

[DirectorFury]

I had the same problem when I was trying to buy a Fairfax bridle. The nearest fitter is an hour away and he just wasn't interested in coming out to me and he didn't have any onsite facilities so I couldn't even take the horse to him!

 

[Rowreach]

agreed, the cynic in me wonders how much of the reported improvements from the fairfax clinics is just down to someone having taken the time to combine parts in the correct sizes so the bridle actually sits right on the horse's head.

Poorly fitting bridles are so common. Off the peg sizes are rarely correctly sized IME. With the exception of an old IR bridle which was made with that in mind, all of mine are a mix of different makes/parts that are chopped and changed until they fit right. Currently waiting on an XF browband for the latest one who is between cob and XF apparently

Yes, that's generally all I did (not having a car full of bridles with me to sell), I adjusted what was there (generally the height of the noseband) and recommended bigger browbands almost every time. I think people are gradually becoming more aware about bitting, and mouth/tongue conformation, but there is still an overwhelming belief that you have to buy the most expensive bit out there to solve what is essentially a simply problem (and a £20 bit might well do the same job).

Equally some horses do not like anatomical bridles at all, but will benefit hugely from a standard bridle made up of pieces that are the correct size for it

 

[milliepops]

but there is still an overwhelming belief that you have to buy the most expensive bit out there to solve what is essentially a simply problem (and a £20 bit might well do the same job).

I think it's encouraging that the OP was told they wouldn't notice much difference with the fairfax on a green horse.
It's kind of the reason I haven't prioritised saving up for fancy tack but have a tentative promise to myself that if/when the Pi/Pa is sorted then we might look into it.
Up to now £5 or 600 would pay for a big chunk of lessons that will make a bigger difference to my horse's way of going and I believe, rightly or wrongly, that if your tack basically fits right then tinkering round the edges might make a half-mark here or there difference. Whereas the lessons might pull EVERYTHING up by a mark.

I tried, oh I tried Kira in all the expensive bits I had for Millie but she settled on a £10 snaffle and a £20 weymouth, lol! the other reason why I am unsure how much effect we'd see from a fairfax bridle at £600 a pop

 

[Sasana Skye]

Yes, that's generally all I did (not having a car full of bridles with me to sell), I adjusted what was there (generally the height of the noseband) and recommended bigger browbands almost every time. I think people are gradually becoming more aware about bitting, and mouth/tongue conformation, but there is still an overwhelming belief that you have to buy the most expensive bit out there to solve what is essentially a simply problem (and a £20 bit might well do the same job).

Equally some horses do not like anatomical bridles at all, but will benefit hugely from a standard bridle made up of pieces that are the correct size for it

Very true - I bought the Fairfax bridles to replace my Albion (which was fitted by yours truly using instructions on their website) and a couple of Collegiate Comfi-whatever-it's-called (fitted from online instructions and videos again but I also sent off pictures and measurements), and a PDS (measurements taken). My saddler gives them a check over when she comes to look for problems but maybe those bridles would have given us the same results if a professional had actually seen it in the flesh and fiddled to make it fit exactly...who knows.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Tagging on to this, as it's an interesting discussion, I went to a biting consultant and once they'd talked through bit design I was shocked at how poor some of the big brand/ expensive bits are. Really opened my eyes to expensive does not equal better, and those with the biggest budget for marketing don't always have the data behind them to back up what they claim...

Saying that the bit Skylla liked wasn't cheap, but still considerably less than the one she was in beforehand.

I tried Topaz in a Fairfax and to be honest felt zero difference, but it was a while ago now, I think she was at elementary level at the time, so maybe I'd see more of a difference now shes more advanced? I try to just go with correct fit now over special designs.

 

[Rowreach]

Very true - I bought the Fairfax bridles to replace my Albion (which was fitted by yours truly using instructions on their website) and a couple of Collegiate Comfi-whatever-it's-called (fitted from online instructions and videos again but I also sent off pictures and measurements), and a PDS (measurements taken). My saddler gives them a check over when she comes to look for problems but maybe those bridles would have given us the same results if a professional had actually seen it in the flesh and fiddled to make it fit exactly...who knows.

I'm not saying the expensive stuff doesn't work, I mean the saddles I was fitting were £2000+ ten years ago, but they aren't a magic fix for all things, and sometimes the simplest adjustments to existing tack can make a big difference.

On the other hand I see some things that are glaringly wrong and can never be altered, and require a radical change of equipment, and yet someone else says nope, a minor tweak here and you'll be grand - but the glaring problem is still there if you look

I used to love doing fittings, loved seeing horses go better, riders sitting better, everyone looking happier, but I would never hard sell a saddle to anyone, and if a customer wasn't convinced by the principles behind the saddle and the fitting, then that was fine too. Quite often they'd come back a few weeks later for another trial, and they'd buy one anyway. But if I could see a way of fixing whatever equipment they already had, I'd do that.

 

[Rowreach]

Tagging on to this, as it's an interesting discussion, I went to a biting consultant and once they'd talked through bit design I was shocked at how poor some of the big brand/ expensive bits are. Really opened my eyes to expensive does not equal better, and those with the biggest budget for marketing don't always have the data behind them to back up what they claim...

Saying that the bit Skylla liked wasn't cheap, but still considerably less than the one she was in beforehand.

I tried Topaz in a Fairfax and to be honest felt zero difference, but it was a while ago now, I think she was at elementary level at the time, so maybe I'd see more of a difference now shes more advanced? I try to just go with correct fit now over special designs.

A few years ago there was someone doing the rounds with a bitting demonstration, giving out some pretty spurious information, and then trying to flog her own brand of bits to everyone there - and a certain brand of saddle at the same time. Every one of her bits was a copy of a fairly standard range of inexpensive bits, but at about four or five times the price, and she wasn't even giving the best advice as to which bits suited which mouths. She was being promoted by a rather large equine organisation, and sold a lot of bits, including to clients of mine who were then coming back to me wondering why their horses weren't going quite the way they wanted them to ....

 

[Kaylum]

A good well fitting, well designed bridle is as important as a well fitting saddle, as is the bit. I have seen some very badly fitted bridles. Thick padded crank nosebands should be banned and you should be able to compete without a noseband.

Small browbands, incorrect size of bridles, headpieces causing pressure, horses with their mouths strapped shut. The list goes on.

 

[Goldenstar]

I have two fairfax bridles and all the nose bands I really really rate them although I don’t like the look of the caveson noseband the look does not suit some horses the grackles really are lovely .
I have two Fairfax dressage saddles they are really comfortable saddles with moveable blacks under the panels really good .
I have the girth’s which make a huge difference to some horses .
But my favourite thing is the breast plate I put in on the horse and the difference in the jump was wow completely amazing I was stunned .I hope it fits my new horse .

 

[sbloom]

Panel length on saddles varies so much that I don't really see that you can say an absolute maximum, but I see probably 50% of horses fitted too long, if you fit correctly to have the front edge of the tree points 2" behind the back edge of the scapula and the weight bearing area extending only onto and not beyond the back rib.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I have two fairfax bridles and all the nose bands I really really rate them although I don’t like the look of the caveson noseband the look does not suit some horses the grackles really are lovely .
I have two Fairfax dressage saddles they are really comfortable saddles with moveable blacks under the panels really good .
I have the girth’s which make a huge difference to some horses .
But my favourite thing is the breast plate I put in on the horse and the difference in the jump was wow completely amazing I was stunned .I hope it fits my new horse .

This reminded me; I once put a hi-viz breast-plate on a horse and it made a difference (for the better) in the way she moved. I have never been able to understand it as it was a very loose fit. The same horse came to me with a too-tight browband and a reputation for biting when being tacked up! I wonder why