Tough choice - cheap crappy bridle, or a better quality one?

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wench

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A few months ago I noticed that part of the leatherwork on my horses bridle (the headpiece) had started splitting across some of the holes on the throat lash, meaning I was pretty unhappy about using it, and had to replace it ASAP. Went to the large local tackshop, and there was either a choice of their own brand cheap bridles, or some really expensive ones. I purchased one of their £30 cheapo bridles. So far it’s done its job reasonably well, but looks like I will have the same issue on the throat lash with this bridle as well.

So I have a couple of choices, but not really decided which is the best option.
1)Obviously can keep a look out on Ebay for a new head piece, but nothing on their currently in the right size and colour, and I would ideally like a standby there just in case an accident happens.
2) Have found a JHL cheapy one online, by the time I’ve factored in postage, will be looking at £10-£15 for the replacement part
3) Found someone on ebay that makes their own bridle parts, approx. £30 for a new head piece that would suit (potentially a good option as I have brownbands and nosebands left over from the cheapo bridles I can put on these!
4) My horse has a slightly funny sized head – she’s cob sized all over, apart from the noseband that goes around her nose (not the actual straps that go down the side of the head) where she is full sized. The currenty cheapo bridle has a grotty old full size nose band I picked up from Ebay to make it a better fit than what was on there before. There is a saddler local to me that makes bridles. Would mean I would get a quality bridle, that fits the horse properly. Downsides is, its going to cost £££ (I haven’t enquired to the cost yet, but I’m guessing £100+, which I don’t really have to spend on a bridle).

Added onto the fact my horse is on working livery, so my tack gets manhandled by every tom, dick and harry, having expensive shiney stuff is a no-go! Just wondered what options people think is the best as I really can’t make my mind up!
 
1. Get a saddler to repair the one you have? The throat lash is not actually a functional part anyway, so there is no bearing on it.

2. Cut off the throatlash altogether (see point 1. above).

3. Get a less cheap, but not sooo expensive, and definitely not crappy bridle.
 
Well by cheap crappy bridle I didnt mean I'm going to buy another £30 bridle again in a hurry - I pretty much knew when I bought the one I'm currently using that it probably wouldnt last very long, but needed one there and then, so it would have to do.

I could get a saddler to repair the other bridle with holes in the throatlash, but would probably have to post it to them as I don't live that close to the one that does make bridles!
 
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Cortez said:
1. Get a saddler to repair the one you have? The throat lash is not actually a functional part anyway, so there is no bearing on it.

2. Cut off the throatlash altogether (see point 1. above).

3. Get a less cheap, but not sooo expensive, and definitely not crappy bridle.
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This, Cortez beat me to it!
It used to be one of the more common repairs we do, as bridlework in general gets finer and finer and thinner and thinner you get more breakages but now people seem to just buy a whole new bridle instead of getting the current one repaired. Most Saddlers will repair it for you as Cortez has said there's no real bearing on it most of the time.
Oz
 
I am a great believer in you get what you pay for. The cheaper one might seem to be the best option but then other bits might ware out or brake easier then you would have to replace them again. The downside as you say is other people are using your stuff and as I very well now they do not take care of it as you would do. When I was unable to ride for several months I got a cheaper one for my so called friend to use, so that they would not damage my good one. Could you perhaps get a Cob size one and then buy a separate nose band for it. Its a hard call I understand that but I think I would still go with a more expensive one but that just my view, others will prop differ lol. Good luck with it.
 
Unfortuatly when I purchased bridle it was a choice between £30 or £100 one, so it had to be the cheaper one.

I do have a couple of nice quality bridles, but I'm not having those used in the riding school, as I wont be best impressed if they are broken.

I do have the full sized noseband my horse needs, however the straps that go around the head are slightly too long, hence my thinking for a custom bridle would be a potential idea.

The purchasing of the £30 headpiece from ebay was a thought on trying to save some money, but getting something a little better quality that will last. Would possibly also save me from having to try and find a saddler that will fix my bridle, and then having the time to take it to said saddler.
 
"I do have the full sized noseband my horse needs, however the straps that go around the head are slightly too long"

Hole punch?
 
ebonyallen said:
I am a great believer in you get what you pay for.
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And me.

Get something that's made to last.

You've already spent £30. And are going to spend another, what, £30-£60? Could have saved yourself a lot of hassle if you'd bought something better quality in the first place.
 
Yes I've done that. The buckle is right up underneath the brow band. Not ideal currently, but it does the job.
 
nikkimariet said:
And me.

Get something that's made to last.

You've already spent £30. And are going to spend another, what, £30-£60? Could have saved yourself a lot of hassle if you'd bought something better quality in the first place.
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And I would probably have thrown £100 down the drain if I had purchased the expensive one and gone to the stables to find it in bits and broken...
 
I'd get a cheap one if you're on working livery, letting people use expensive stuff and expecting them to treat it with care is stressful. I have a 30 quid bridle (excelsior) that is still going strong and I bought it because it was quite nice leather for the price. I'd love to go all British and everything but I'm a student so that will have to wait I'm afraid!

I find Shires quite good (the new chantilly comfort bridle is softer than a similar Mark Todd one which I also felt was good value) and the J Barclay bridles on ebay to be quite nice for the price, I think they are the same brand as heritage but heritage is slightly better leather. I tried my friends comfort one on my horse and it fit really well (space around the ears/brow and wider around the nose) as mine is a full but possibly an X full on the nose and head but then would need cob cheek pieces!

I bought another 30 quid bridle and it wasn't that great, the sizes were weird like a really long headpiece for the noseband but a crank that was too tight on loosest hole, it's hit and miss really and sizes can be all over the place!
 
If you bought a full size bridle could you put your cob size cheek pieces on it for a better fit? Or does the headpiece have to be cob size?
My mare has a full size bridle but although the browband and noseband are perfect it was too long so I put cob cheek pieces on to get a perfect fit.
Mark Todd bridles are nice and are a middle price range and if you shop around you might find one in a sale.
Alternatively either buy just the headpiece or get it repaired as others have said.
I can understand you not wanting to spend a fortune on something beautiful if its only gonna get scratched and damaged.
 
The headpiece needs to be a cob one, the cheekpieces arent quite at the top, but not far off it. A full one would be far to large for her!
 
If you have a nice on for yourself to use why not get a synthetic one for the riding school to use? PLAS equestrian (sorry don't know if they are still going) do some really nice ones with brass fittings that won't rust. Get proper reins thought. I would do this so maintenance is just put in a bucket once a week. They will probably mix and match the pieces too..........

Just a thought............
 
Hetsmum said:
If you have a nice on for yourself to use why not get a synthetic one for the riding school to use? PLAS equestrian (sorry don't know if they are still going) do some really nice ones with brass fittings that won't rust. Get proper reins thought. I would do this so maintenance is just put in a bucket once a week. They will probably mix and match the pieces too..........

Just a thought............
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This is what I'd do too. Maybe have a nice one for my own use, days out etc but a synthetic one for the riding school.
 
I've already picked up PLAS Equines name from previous searches on here, and tried searching for their website. it didnt work :(
 
wench said:
I've already picked up PLAS Equines name from previous searches on here, and tried searching for their website. it didnt work :(
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Thats a shame. Try asking on here for advise. I still have my PLAS burgundy one from my endurance days.....a bit faded but still in great condition. Current Endurance folks would know of a good quality make........
 
wench said:
And I would probably have thrown £100 down the drain if I had purchased the expensive one and gone to the stables to find it in bits and broken...
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I think the point NM was trying to make is that good quality leatherwork which invariably will be more expensive will be of better quality and less likely to fall to bits.

Imagine buying a cheap bridle and it compromising in the wrong place - I once bought some cheap reins at a show and within a matter of weeks I could see them cracking badly and as I clean my tack regularly, I figured it was the price I paid for buying tat.
 
I very stupidly forgot there is a mobile saddler just down the road from where I live during the week. Left a message asking if she can fix my bridles. Hoping for a yes! Thanks for the help!
 
A decent quality, basic leather bridle is your best bet. A cheap crappy one will not be up to the demands of a busy working livery environment, and I would never use a synthetic bridle either (it wouldn't break if the horse gets hooked up if tied up inappropriately).
 
I would be looking at the fit of the bridle as to why you have had one, and by the sounds of it another one, fail at the same point. The throatlash shouldn't be done up just under the browband, and it could be it is uncomfortable for your horse and is rubbing as a result, hence pressure being put on it.

I have had loads of cheapy bridles and none have failed, I have stopped using some as they just wouldn't soften enough to make cleaning easy.

I would hazard a guess that you could spend £100 on a bridle and still end up with the same issue.
 
The fit of the bridles are fine. The first one was a second hand one I obtained from God knows where, so it's not of the greatest quality.

I know the noseband isnt ideal, but I'm hoping local saddler can fix bridles, and alter noseband as well for me!
 
It is a proven FACT that equipment is destroyed when you only have ONE of the aforementioned items and no spares - good examples of this are:- leadropes and bandages. :D

Personally I go for Stubben every time, not cheap of course - but bought for the "lifetime of the horse".
 
If it was just me riding, I would use my better quality bridles, but I'm not letting joe public around them!!!
 
I too find it interesting that both bridles have problems in the same place. Especially as it is not a strap that is tight. Do the horses get left tacked up with the reins twisted a lot? As this could put a twisting/pulling pressure on it.
I wouldn't buy anything expensive for working livery, but if well cared for a cheap bridle should last. I got my girl a cheap £30 to break her in and still use it for hacking (use a different bit to schooling) 3 years on. Mine is JHL and I oiled it for 2 days and then at least weekly when I first got it and now barley clean it!
 
I'm a real convert to the Shires bridles, the ones with the comfort headpiece. I have bought a couple of Shires Avignon bridles and the leather is lovely and soft and supple. Far softer than many of the expensive brands such as Jeffries. They also look very smart and are comfortable for the horse. You can pick them up new from around £45. I would never buy an expensive brand now.
 
The reins are not left twisted for any period of time.

The older bridle is on it's third horse with me, I think that it's just coincidence.
 
I have to add, as someone who in the long distant past had a horse on working livery, that I would be less worried about the abuse my bridle would get, than about what happens to the saddle.

They get plonked down here, there and everywhere, dropped, etc etc., unless your yard is ruled with a rod of iron, in which case you probably wouldn't have to worry about your bridle, either.
 
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