XXF Bridles....are they a myth?

[Deirdrec1985]

Looking for some recommendations please!

I have a 17.2hh gelding who is built like a hunter. He also has a HUGE head which makes bridles hard to find.
He has been ridden recently in a Micklem, but the "flash" portion of the bridle is too tight and pinches.

I changed him to an XF/WB bridle with a standard flash. However, as the noseband is too tight (even with additional holes punched), the cheek pieces rise up and are causing significant rubbing on his cheekbones.
I have measured him up, and he realistically required a 30 inch nose band minimum.

Does anyone know where I can find such an illusive thing?

Thank you all in advance!

 

[cobgoblin]

Have one made... 27 inch noseband is the biggest I've ever found.

 

[Quigleyandme]

Jeffries Falcon XF bridles are very generously sized and mix and match. I had a huge hunter and still needed to get cheek pieces turned by the saddler and his Jeffries hunting breastplate was massive.

 

[Mrs. Glittery Jingle Balls]

I had to get another noseband XXF for my big boy too - the XFull bridle was perfect except for the noseband - I got a very reasonably priced bridle and the XXF nosband off ebay seller FFS - they have hundreds of bridles and bridle parts on there and where very helpful. I actually prefer this bridle for leather quality and manufacture compared to a couple of supposedly good quality well known make English leather ones. I was lucky they had what I wanted in stock but for the XXF you usually have to order custom made I think.

 

[Lintel]

I had a bridle made by my local saddle fitter for my Highland, he isn't XXF however is an odd shape and size.

Would highly recommend Milbrae saddlery! My bridle is lovely and will last years!... and makes me more comforted now I know I fits properly?
Wasn't anymore expensive than a good quality bridle is ie. Stubben or Jeffries

 

[Snowfilly]

Might be worth taking a look at Blue Horse Equine and the Big Horse Shop. They aim mostly at heavies but I know a few people who’ve kitted out their big warm bloods from there.

I had a bridle with a 29 inch noseband made for my Clyde by the local saddler, it cost about the same as a decent bridle, and that was kept for best. I didn’t bother with a nose and and cobbled together a mix and match for general use!

 

[Batgirl]

Try horsemanship saddlery, I got my Clyde's day to day bridle from there. I think the model was a Sabre? Or Scorpio.

Or as others have suggested, made to measure.

 

[deb_l222]

XXXF bridles aren’t a myth but XXXF nosebands are. From personal experience you will struggle to get anything beyond 29” on a standard bridle. I was looking for 34” so it was impossible.

I had a bridle made and it wasn’t as expensive as I thought it was going to be.

 

[Kaylum]

I think I have one knocking about its not the best looking bridle but it is good for a work bridle. I think it has got clips on as well and its for sale for a charity. I will get a photo tomorrow if anyone is interested.

 

[SEL]

Not a myth - you just need to look at the heavy horse suppliers instead of regular.

They are usually better at letting you mix and match as well if you need to.

 

[Firefly9410]

I have a huge bridle for sale. It was too big for an horse needing extra full size. It measures 34" end to end round the nose part of the noseband.

 

[cremedemonthe]

I made up a bridle as an experiment years ago, 36" noseband end to end to fit max 32" round the nose and 2" wide noseband, it's HUGE , Never found anything that it fitted so kept it as a wall decoration!
The photo is of it placed on a full size head, it's hanging off it!
Ask your local Saddler to make you up one, it will be custom made to fit and you can have final say on widths of nose, head, cheeks etc.
Good luck, Oz