On bridles..

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ngrace

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9 January 2010
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Just wondering, why is it so hard to find a good quality, traditional, english leather bridle? I mean without padding, flash nosebands, buckle billets, etc.. Raised nosebands and browbands are fine but other than that just a good old fashioned bridle would be nice! Not that I need a new bridle :P Anyone else found this?
 
Pretty much impossible! Esp if you don't want a flash or crank!

I am a grumpy old cow and I only want what I want, so I took some courses and made my own!
 
See, I just find that annoying! Why should buying the constituent pieces cost so very much, esp when it is generally to get someting with less (not more) bells and whistles!
 
I didn't want a totally plain hunter bridle, I just didn't want a blinged up flash or crank one either! Just a raised caversson noseband and brow band, nothing else flashy!
 
I went to five saddlers before I found a narrow black leather bridle with a raised browband and raised CAVESSON noseband. I was getting to screaming point as everything had ****** flash nosebands . . . . what IS the obsession with strapping mouths shut, for goodness sake?
. . . and, please, could we have buckle fastenings not those inventions-of-the-devil billets - they are very difficult to do when you have arthritic hands.
 
Can't beat Jeffries IMO, loads of choice and quality second to none.

I love the Jeffries traditional range and I like to buy the parts seperately, I have a cob size headpiece and browband with pony size cheeks and noseband. A pony size browband is too small, a cob size nose band too big and cob cheeks would be too long for using certain bits, eg dutch gag. If any parts get broken you can replace them without having to buy a whole new bridle.

Mangan and Webb in Stow-on-the-Wold have a good selection of Jeffries gear.
 
I know what you mean OP.

If it isn't a flash it's probably a crank!!

I gave up and have a crank on mine, I just don't do it up tight. It is frustrating when you see something nice and then pick it up and realise they've ruined it!
 
I get all my bridlework from Kis Vihar saddlery :) They have never failed me in making exactly what I want need in a bridle... I have two bridles from them one everyday and one that I keep for competition which I have interchangable browband and nosebands for whether I am showing or dressaging :)
 
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