What is your favourite tack manufacturer?

JDChaser

JDChaser

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Just out of interest? Do you have different ones for saddles and bridles, and for different disciplines? Or do you have a favourite brand that you can't really afford but would love to own :rolleyes: :D
 
I love Stubben bridles.

I've never bothered too much about saddles before, as long as it fitted the horse I'd happily sit in it but about 6months ago I got an albion jump saddle & I have totally fallen in love with it.
 
Bridles; I'm not too fussy so long as nice leather and not too expensive! Saddles are always Bates, saddlecloths; Jumpers Horse Line standard ones fit my saddles perfectly.
 
Sabre bridles, some of mine are decades old and they are still immaculate. I have a Stroud Saddlery IR bridle and that's stunning too, although it took a while to soften up (unlike the Sabre leather) and the keepers are all loose now (after only 2 yrs) which really annoys me!
Saddles: Barrie Swain's for horse as well as rider comfort. I might add Devoucoux to that as I'm going to try one soon, love what I see so far... The list of makes I wouldn't put on a horse's back for love or money is quitelong though, I'm not impressed by rider comfort or by how beautifully made the saddle looks from the outside - once you've seen inside some of them (appalling finished inside - totally uneven stirrup bars, rough unchamfered edges, lumps, bumps, tack heads poking through etc) you go off them really really fast!
 
Love Albion comfort bridles and girths - also have two Albion saddles, though mainly because they were affordable. A horse I'm riding for someone else at the moment is in a Devoucoux Mendia dressage saddle and that is just a fantastic saddle (makes my Albion feel like a plank of slippery wood) and does wonders for my position, so if I were to buy a saddle again, like Kerilli, I'd probably go for a Devoucoux.
 
kerilli said:
Sabre bridles, some of mine are decades old and they are still immaculate. I have a Stroud Saddlery IR bridle and that's stunning too, although it took a while to soften up (unlike the Sabre leather) and the keepers are all loose now (after only 2 yrs) which really annoys me!
Saddles: Barrie Swain's for horse as well as rider comfort. I might add Devoucoux to that as I'm going to try one soon, love what I see so far... The list of makes I wouldn't put on a horse's back for love or money is quitelong though, I'm not impressed by rider comfort or by how beautifully made the saddle looks from the outside - once you've seen inside some of them (appalling finished inside - totally uneven stirrup bars, rough unchamfered edges, lumps, bumps, tack heads poking through etc) you go off them really really fast!
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Kerilli - please elaborate on the bad saddle manufacturers, I'd be really interested to know!
 
Yes, me too Kerilli! :D

I've been thinking about getting some new tack, so thanks for all your replies... still can't decide which is my favourite though, which would help :cool: :rolleyes:
 
Antares saddles (only do jumping) they are just lovely - really comfortable for both horse and rider, their leathers are just so soft and well made as well. Stroud Saddlery bridles, the IR made to measure ones beautifully made and last for ages.
 
Equipe for saddles. They even do an 'eventers' dressage saddle with the stirrup bars in a slightly diff position than the pure dressage ones.

Not got a preference in bridles, have only bought cheapies so far, will be looking to buy a nice comfort double in the relatively near future so will be following this thread for any tips on that ;)
 
Love my Bates Momentum saddle and John Whitaker bridle. Have heard bad things about JW but the bridle I've got is lovely quality leather, also have the matching breastplate. Best thing is they're the exact same oak brown as the Bates saddle and Mark Todd leather tendon and fetlock boots!

Have gone off my Albion dressage saddle as it's not doing my lower leg any favours. Very much like friends Jaguar saddle but have heard bad things about them, but never direct it's always a friend of a friend kind of thing.

Am a big fan of Weatherbeeta for rugs, don't own anything else now. Did have Premier Equine and JHL but Weatherbeeta beat them both hands down. Had to replace as my mare's bum outgrew her 6'3s!

K would also be very interested to know what brands you won't touch.
 
local saddler in staffordshire as he put extra padding in the seat for me... nice saddle and all that sit on it say the same, also got the dressage one but its to big for my pony that I have at moment. Not going to sell it as never be able to afford it again. Was on a good job with real wages lol now self employed yuck
 
If money was no object it would be Passier bridles. I loved my choco stubben bridle and my sabre lasted forever.
As for saddles I loved my Frank Baines-it fitted my odd bod sec d and my fat arrrrrse perfectly.
Rugs-Rambo. Horseware can do no wrong and I like Shires for ponies.
 
Kate Negus all the way for bridlework ! can't beat the look and the quality. Not cheap I know but worth every penny ! All my horses have KN bridles, which are used for every day and then come up so smart for competition wear. Saddles - personal pref is Albion but you have to keep an open mind and find what suits your horse then you as a rider. As always tools for the job ! - Rugs again can't beat Horsewear - some of mine are the orginal Rhino rugs and still going strong - not good for repeat orders though !!
 
I love Ideal saddles which is just as well as they are one of the few makes that fit my horse :D Every one I've ridden in has been really comfy and look like new regardless of age.

Otto Schumacher leatherwork is heavenly, really soft etc

Rugs it has to be Fal for fit comfort and durability.
 
I love Stubben bridles, used to ride in a Seigfred CS saddle which I love but now have a GFS Pro event which is so comfy and the leather is fantastic, fits us both really well too :)
If I could have any saddles I would have and Ideal dressage saddle, rode in one and was fab, and I would have a Bates Caprillia Close contact one for jumping too just cos I think they look great(would ride in it first of course :) ) Have always wanted a Pessoa too...
I'm dreaming now :p
For rugs, Horseware and Weatherbeeta all the way
 
Saddles, it is Prestige all the way for me, I do still have an old Falcon Osprey saddle which is really wide (Touchy's) the quality of that far exceeds the new stuff. Bridle wise I go for Jeffries mostly and I have a Stubben that is over 20 years old, the quality of English leather IMO has detiorated over the past 20 years and I do think that I would like a Kate Negus bridle, but the cost is a little off putting for something that is an addition rather than necessity (tight moi?). Rugs I LOVE the Mark Todd Coolex range and KIngshead provide good value.
 
I do eventing and for my jumping i ride in a..
devacoux saddle :) which in my opinion is absolutly amazing had it for four years and its extreemly comfortable. Expensive but worth it.
And for my dressage I ride in a spalding dressage saddle which again is comfortable and very nice.
I also like the stubben bridles, I think its very nice leather.
 
Bridles: I'm not that fussy really- I have a variety of various makes - I do like Kate Negus bridlework as the quality is super, for every day then Rhinegold/Heritage are fine as well and the Eqvvs dressage bridles I have bought recently I like as well.

Re saddles- am very fussy! I know which to avoid rather than the ones to own!- I like anything that I can ride comfortably in and that the horse is free and comfortable in too! have owned and ridden in so many makes of saddle that it's difficult to give an answer, have Albions at the mo and have owned them in the past, very good quality and fit and have never caused any probs to the horses.

Rugs- love collecting rugs of all sizes, makes and colours!- top of the list for me have to be Thermatex, Bucas rugs (have loads of them) and Horseware Rambo's/Rhino's as these makes seem to fit well and have lasted for years!
 
Albion comfort elevator bridle is FAB really noticed a difference with the padded head piece and padded crank nose band.

Don't like Albion saddle though think they are too built up and too heavy

Love my Exscelle saddle so versatile and light :)
 
saddles - andrew sankey M2M all teh way - love my saddles from him :) i'd not bother with any other makes etc now as he makes me exactly what i want :)

bridles - i have a real mix and match - but i'm a bit traditional and like jeffries :)
 
Bridles: Sabre are gorgeous, although I'm not too fussy so long as the leather is nice ;)
saddles: Older Bates (can't stand the ones with HUGE knee blocks), I'd love an Amerigo.... Also loved my Sabre saddle
Boots: Sabre & Tri-zone
Rugs: Weatherbeeta though I love the Horsewear ones too
Girths etc. I'm not bothered as long as they're soft & supple, comfortable & preferably don't cost me the earth :p I like HKM saddlecloths for dressage & german shaped numnahs for jumping.
 
I love Stubben! I love the bridles, and the saddles! Really lovely and comfy to ride in :)
And Bates also, really good...
I have heard endless good things about Devoucoux, and know people who can't ride in anything else! I knew someone who said it was the securest XC saddle she had ever ridden in, she had a bit of a spook, and in anything else would have come off, but they're really secure and keep you in your seat.
Rugs, I like Mark Todd, Masta, Weatherbeeta, especially the very groovy joules ones lol :P
The worst saddle I have ridden in is a Wintec! When I have had lessons on the horses at a local riding school. Absolutely awful, but good for riding schools i guess because you can leave them out in the rain and drop them and nothing gives. But terrible to ride in.
:)
 
Bridle work, I love barnsby, albion and kate negus. Saddle wise, I love barnsby, equipes and butets. All beautifully made for horse and rider!
 
I guess I have to nominate my OH for best bridlework. He made me this for my birthday:

Australian Nut, all hand stitched and sized to fit my mare.

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Saddles: Barrie Swain's for horse as well as rider comfort. I might add Devoucoux to that as I'm going to try one soon, love what I see so far... The list of makes I wouldn't put on a horse's back for love or money is quitelong though, I'm not impressed by rider comfort or by how beautifully made the saddle looks from the outside - once you've seen inside some of them (appalling finished inside - totally uneven stirrup bars, rough unchamfered edges, lumps, bumps, tack heads poking through etc) you go off them really really fast!
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Are you me by any chance?!

Would have custom made barry swains on all horses if I could afford it!
 
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