Nice everyday bridle recommendations?

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RIDMagic

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As title really. I'm currently riding in a cheap as chips snaffle bridle off eBay, and looking for something a bit better quality. Don't want to break the bank but not sure how much I need to spend to get good quality. My horse is a grey Irish Draught so I'm looking for a nice plain snaffle bridle without flash that's not too fine. Any recommendations would be very much appreciated! Thanks :)
 
I bought a Mark Todd 'fancy stitch' bridle for mine a couple of years ago. I don't know if they do a non fancy stitch one....

Anyway, it does come as a flash but the attachment for the flash is hidden in the cavesson so you can't actually see it at all and I wear mine as a cavesson, only using the flash bit for XC/SJing. It does have a crank style noseband but again, you don't have to use it that way and it means it has a nice padded bit under the chin of the noseband. The noseband headpiece also comes through a hole in the main headpiece and sits on top so as to avoid any additional pressure on the poll.

I have been very pleased with it to be honest. The leather has been very nice and soft and supple from day one. It came with rubber grip reins and was £120 from R&R. The stitch detail isn't in your face and I think it looks quite nice and the bridle looks more expensive than it is.
 
Thanks, I'll have a look at Evision :)
That one on eBay looks lovely too, I do like a nice wide baseband! Another question: I notice people look specifically for English leather... Is this really important? Is English leather much better quality? And do you think my horse will feel the difference if I use a better quality bridle for her?
Just seen your post too Ladyt25, I'll have a look at the Mark Todd ones too! I guess I've always stayed away from individually branded tack, rugs etc (like Mark Todd, Whittakers etc) because I always presumed you pay a premium for their name, but that's probably not true anymore.
 
I have an English leather bridle from my first cob [1972] and it has never even been repaired, the hides are best quality.
Foreign leathers are no use, they break, some are from dead animals [I mean they died, not slaughtered] and the tanning is not the same either.
It does not matter if you think it is "for every day use", you can still use a good bridle for showing even if it is not mint condition as it will "scrub up"
 
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I bought a Collegiate English leather bridle about 3 years ago now and it still looks fab. Think I paid about £65 for it from a local saddlery.

Now looking to buy a comfort bridle and keep my Collegiate for lunging. Any ideas/ reviews on comfort bridles?
 
I've just bought a Heritage bridle. It's English leather and looks beautiful on. It was in the sale of my local tack shop for 44 quid. Was 60.
 
I paid about £50 for a collegiate padded hunter bridle (no irritating flash loop), English leather and has been used every day for a year and a half and still scrubs up well for shows. The FSS bridles are also very nice, have one for competing, but they don't last the same. Love my collegiate bridle :)
 
dollymix said:
Have a look at English bridles (google them). Their bridles are beautiful and very reasonably priced
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Second this.

Mine looks brilliant on my Irish Draught and great quality.

Lots of their stuff isn't on the website so do speak to them. Not only did they make up a bridle to my spec ( padded headband, wide noseband, Plaited browband) but I sent a pic of my horse with its current bridle so they could ensure all the buckles lined up! (important if you ever compete).
 
Evison bridles are nice and I bought a nice Whitaker one with a padded headpiece for under £100.
If you want to splash out, Elevator bridles are lovely and they come up nicely. I've got an elevator that's must be 5 years old - it's used almost every day and it still looks like new.
 
http://www.olddairysaddlery.co.uk/k...p~15490.html?gclid=CPeyj4XQ5LsCFWmWtAod_H8AoQ

I use these for everyday use, I detest flash nose bands and pretty much every bridle comes with them so was v happy when I found these.
I've had one for years and bought another last year in a different size for new horse, just oil them and they look very good and last well. And at £35 you really can't go wrong!

ETA Totally misread your OP, thought you were looking for a cheap as chips everyday bridle! :D
Oops!
 
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I brought the shires avignon comfort bridle for at home for £54. It's nice and supple and although it has a flash it comes straight off if you want it to. Pic of a full size on my ID
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I have a collegiate bridle that I bought off eBay, as new for £20. Really pleased with it but I also have a GFS bridle that matches the saddle and in comparison the GFS is much better quality.
 
Fransurrey said:
I've just bought a Heritage bridle. It's English leather and looks beautiful on. It was in the sale of my local tack shop for 44 quid. Was 60.
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I've had one of these for year and still looks good. If I were to upgrade it would be to english bridles or schokemohle
 
Thanks for all replies. I will have a look at English bridles also. I did look at Jeffries and they are pricey but look fantastic and very comfortable. I'm surprised there are so many recommendations for Collegiate bridles as there are a lot of bad reviews for them (cheap leather, stretches, breaks etc).
 
RIDMagic said:
Thanks for all replies. I will have a look at English bridles also. I did look at Jeffries and they are pricey but look fantastic and very comfortable. I'm surprised there are so many recommendations for Collegiate bridles as there are a lot of bad reviews for them (cheap leather, stretches, breaks etc).
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That does surprise me. Ive had mine about 15 months, and its been fab, despite me not being very good at remembering to give it any care at all. I also thought the quality of the leather very good - far superior to my old GFS and my FFS. However they could be a bit like zaldi saddles with varying quality... Mine however has been top notch.
 
Evening!

Ebay is your friend..! I bought an almost new Stubben with flash for about £30 a few weeks ago. Prices seem to vary a lot (the ones I had on my watch list went for between £25 & £70) so if you're not in a hurry you can get a real bargain. I know some people say Stubben aren't what they were but I'm really chuffed with mine - it looks great on the pone & you wouldn't know it had been used :)

D. x
 
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