Dressage Bridle Recommendations ($100-150)

[jlmckinley]

I'm going to purchase a (black) flash dressage bridle soon and am looking in the $100-150 range. I'm almost decided upon getting a Crown from Dover, but wanted to see what other recommendations were out there in this price range.

Many thanks!

[Ambrey]

My Heritage bridle is much nicer than the $140 bridle I got from a local tack shop. I don't know about the Dover Crown, but my heritage was soft without even oiling and is gorgeous.

I ordered it from Stylaway's in England, about $100.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Heritage-English-Leather-Comfort-Bridle-All-Sizes_W0QQitemZ280213057465QQihZ018QQcategoryZ7258 2QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Jasper'sMom]

Bobby's bridles are really nice and available in this range. I think they are much nicer for the money than the Dover bridle, although it's not bad. I bought my Bobby's at eqtack.com

[mew]

I had a crown and it was a very nice bridle, the reins were not the best but the over all I like it a lot and where I to buy a dressage bridle for my current horse I would buy another one.

[hluing]

I would look on ebay. More choices, and often you can find a gently used higher quality bridle. I have never tried the Crown. I have only been modestly pleased with a Bobby's snaffle I bought for around $100. I just got an RTS off ebay for around $60 that I was very pleased with. Have fun shopping,

[CDNJumperGirl]

I got the Passier Aries bridle from 123tack.com, I got it for $179.99. Thats a little more that your budget but in my oppinnion it was well worth it.

I just checked their site and they now have the bridle listed for $258.00, you might want to email them and see why the big change. Otherwise good luck to you! Bridle shopping can be a bit of a pain sometimes!

[CLB15]

Stubben! Affordable, lots of options, hold up *really* well.
The Crown bridles I've seen have always become "swollen"- like the leather gets too bloated to fit into the buckles or keepers.

[elmerandharriet]

dressage extensions has lots of options

[Bugs-n-Frodo]

dressage extensions has lots of options

I agree :yes: That is where I got my bridle and I got a Kieffer brand. They have lots of choices and they concentrate in dressage.

[vagabondrider]

I have a Crown bridle from Dover and never had any of the swelling problems some previous replies mentioned- that's my recommendation for a budget bridle. I've used mine as an everyday schooling bridle for about 8 years now and it's held up really well. I like Crown better than some of the other inexpensive bridles because although it's assembled in India, the leather is pretty nice quality English bridle leather. Most of the leather that I've seen from India, Pakistan and other countries that make inexpensive bridlework is not of very good quality, so it doesn't tend to last very long. I have replaced my reins a couple times because I had the web/rubber reins, and the rubber woven through the web has worn out, but I've not had any problems with the leather. Good luck!

[zagafi]

Bobby's

[HeavenlyJumper]

I have had wonderful experience in that price range with Bobby's and also Treadstone bridlework. I have used their snaffle bridles so I can only vouch for those.

[Elegante E]

Stubben lined snaffle from VTO saddlery, just a bit over at $160, but you get a choice of reins, with or without flash and color padding choices. Really like this bridle as it's not a crank but they padded over the caveson's chin buckle so no chafing for my sensitive mare. It also fits nicely size wise.

Also had luck with the Avalon bridle, $119. Nice bridle at a very reasonable price.

[WrenTF]

Bobby's. The leather is far superior to bridles I've seen for $250 and up. They last and they look great. I have 2 of them and I wouldn't buy anything else.

[shamrocker]

Ditto on Bobby's. I've got two of them for my event horse. I just bought the bridle without the reins, as I use two different types of reins, Eventa, and leather stops.

[hoser1]

I got a Crown several years ago as an inexpensive replacement to a broken bridle and thought it was poor quality. Sure, it's a bridle, but you get what you pay for with that brand imho.

[STF]

Im very happy with this one.
Not the BEST leather I have had, but def not the worst.
(Im a leather snob!)
On a 1-10, I give it a 8.
http://www.dressageextensions.com/ProductDetail.asp?KEY=20191

[Oldenburg Mom]

WOW! Everyone has their opinion, that's for sure!!! Ok. Can we look for about $100? I did a bit of digging about the Heritage ... and it's coming up pretty good so far.

[WWGeorgeMorrisD]

I got a Bobbys and it was supposed to be the high end Bobbys. It was junk. Never again.

[Rhiannonjk]

Love the Heritage. We've gotten two off Ebay. They have the crown piece that loops over the padding - something that I've only ever found in $300+ bridles in any other brand. Mine has held up well for about 4 years now (I can't remember exactly when I got it).