new bridle...any recommendations

[jodiTowne]

I am so sick of buying stuff that is crap!! I have received halters that aren't even put together the correct way!

So...I need a new bridle and breast collar, either black or with some color in it. I use an english hackamore. Any suggestions? Do you have something you absolutely love??? I don't care about the material as long as its comfortable. Price....prefer less than $75 but would consider higher if its worth it.

Also need non-slide saddle pad to be used with a treeless saddle. Any suggestions?? I'm considering the professional choice pad....any experience with it??

[CarolU]

Sandy Mixon (Mod on here) makes a very nice bridle out of English leather that is soft and very well made. No dry rot or cracking.

Take your horse's head, nose, and cheek measurements and tell her what color you want, she even makes them fancy with different colors of stitching if you want.

Riley Kester, the president of Georgia region, sells tack and stands behind what he sells. He isn't cusom made, like Sandy (who has beautiful stuff), but well-made and very reasonable.

[halfmoonfino]

I bought an awesome Beta bridle from Trpasos http://www.trpasos.com. IT comes in black, brown, and a few variations, with or without reins. I spent $130 on it. That thing has been the best money I ever spent. It stays clean, is easy to put together (no weird buckles), and looks just like leather. I used to use an english hackamore on it as well. I really reccomend Beta to anyone!

On the cheaper route is Wintec synthetic bridles. They feel really cool, but aren't quite as nice as my Paso one from TR. It's around $48, and the reins are $33.

In my Valley Vet Supply catalog I found a braided leather english bridle and reins for $35. It's really nice looking.

I'd check out State Line Tack or Dover Saddlery sites. They have a good name and stand by their products. Good luck!

[Linda Y]

Not sure what you want the end product to look like...how close to 'show standards' you want, but I have purchased a really good looking headstall made of braided nylon (I think) that is really pretty on the horse. It is well made and very inexpensive.
Also have a biothane bridle I had made by a local man that I am using now. I also use a mechanical hackamore, but a western one. The biothane headstall is great...no maintenance! :D
Here is a link to the braided headstall...
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=f32f99ab-0f3f-49ff-b7d0-e0dc9752fe6a

[Lynn L.]

For my treeless saddle I use a cheap Roma english pad plus the Old Mac all purpose pad. It is a really nice combo, not too thick, but pads nicely.

[Linda Y]

guess I should kick in here with the treeless pad, too, since I have one of those. I use an Old Mac Therapeudic pad with my Bob Marshall. No problem with slippage on my barrel shaped, witherless mare. But I wouldn't try to mount from the ground, and I do use a breastcollar with it. It is a very thin pad but between Cita's fat and mine we have plenty of cushion! :lol:

[Terry Wallace]

Have you looked at www.casadosa.com? I love their stuff..but...(always a but)..I do have to oil & condition everything I get there...once done...its GREAT... I like heavy leather that is supple...the leather is heavy..but you have to "work on" the supple part. I have many of their headgear(s).


I have been looking and looking for a breast collar with a neoprene backing, a webbing front, not more than 1 to 1-1/4" width.... BLACK in color..... anybody know where I can get one?

I may just have to break down and make my own....but I'm not sure where to get the neoprene backing...I'm so sold on neoprene..I don't want any other kind of backing...

[Linda Y]

Terry, by webbing front, you mean like the nylon web strapping??
I think I have just exactly what you are talking about. They carry them at our feed store here. Wait, I will go and photo it. The neoprene is white, but the breastcollar is black....
OK, here is the photo of the breastcollar...fancy little thing it is too!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/yorkhrse/breastcollar.jpg

[jodiTowne]

Thanks for all the sugestions!! I'll take a look at everything and let you know my final decision.

With my gelding I never worried about saddle slippage as he is always on the thin side plus short. The mare I'm leasing is taller and more "rounded" so have trouble keeping the saddle from slipping around when I mount.

[GeorgeGuns]

Limpet pads are great for controlling slippage. They are made of tempur, and open on the horse side.
Cashel makes a neoprene pad that is like this too. The open cell side provides grip. I really like them, haven't tried them on long rides yet though.

[stella]

Marelyn, Riley Kester's saddles/pads/bits etc arent handmade, but he HANDMAKES ALL his HEADGEAR, bridles and bosals, I should know, he was boarding with me in MD when he first started, and now he lives about an hour from me, and I've gone to this workshop many times, he hasnt gotten "too big for his britches" as far as handmaking stuff!
But I did Sandy's when she first started, and its quality, too!
The nice part about handmade, is if you have a bigger horse, it can be made to fit. That is some of the problems I had with imported stuff, too small, and also the hardware was cheap, and didnt hold up well....thats important to one's safety!

[Terry Wallace]

YES...Linda Y...that is exactly what I'm looking for ...except I want it no wider than 1" and black-on-black.... You see, it is for my "boy" Sultan...I had bought him a silver "Superman" S pendant at the state fair, with bling stones, and I'm going for a "look"!! I want that silver "S" in the center of the breast collar...for "Super Sultan"! :D