Good Bridle for around $100??

[VCT]

My old Crosby bridle is due to be retired... the reins were recently broken and well, it's just gettin' old... I've had it for about 10 year and use it everyday.

Anyways, I'm looking for a new bridle. I would like decent quality leather but it doesn't have to be a fancy brand name. I will not buy anything with "fancy stitching".... I looooooove square raised but I will settle for plain raised if I must. I have all the catalogues but to avoid shipping/returning, etc. I thought I'd ask for some input. I haven't bought a new bridle in a long time...
There are no tack stores near me.

[jetsmom]

Bobby's bridles. Call Rose at Equusnow.

[Ambrey]

http://www.tackoftheday.com/default.aspx

[lcw579]

Tack of the day has two bridles today. I think they are $50.00.

ETA: Ambrey looks like we posted at the same time! Great minds and all!

[chawley]

Bobby's bridles. Call Rose at Equusnow.

I second the Bobby and contacting EquusNow!

[equusrocks]

Vita the Harmon Kraft bridles are nice enough, but not too nice that you wouldn't want to use it every day! ;) I've had two and I was happy with both of them.

The bobby's bridles I've seen are nice too though.

[BeastieSlave]

My Bobby's bridle was pretty much crap (I have and love old Crosbys). I didn't know there were different qualities, so I would advise you to go for the more expensive Bobby's if you go that route. BTW, the crinkly leather and funky finish on mine didn't show up until I had been using and cleaning it for a while - so it looked nice when it was new.....

[philosoraptor]

What part of PA are you in? I got an awesome custom bridle for only $80 from Bartville Harness Shop in Christiana(?) PA. Bit O Britain sells their own brand of bridles, which I have heard come from Bartville; these bridles should also be pretty affordable.

[VCT]

Thanks guys! I will google EquusNow and call them about the Bobby's Bridles... and I'm looking through my catalogues and can't find Harmon Kraft but I did have a bridle by them before and it was nice! Unfortunately it was for my husbands horse who we've since sold, and I sold the bridle because it was too big for my horses... maybe I'll google the Harmon Krafts too.

Equusrocks, how you been!!!!??? LTNS! :)

[VCT]

Beastieslave - thanks for the heads up!

MayS - I am in NW PA, near Erie - the land of no tack shops! There is not much going on around here in horses in general - not like the other side of the state!

[Just My Style]

Bobby's bridles. Call Rose at Equusnow.
You beat me to it. I LOOOOOOVE mine. Really nice bridle for the $$.

[VCT]

I can't seem to get a hold of anyone at Equus Now...
but I think I may just end up using the old Crosby for a while longer and saving up more to get the square raised Showmark bridle ... it's exactly what I want... dark leather, no fancy stitching, square raised and no flash... -sigh-
Maybe there will be good after Xmas sales :)

[VCT]

Oooooh... I just noticed! People have bid on some items I have on ebay... heyHEY! That Showmark bridle may not be as far away as I thought!

[VCT]

anyone gotten the Dover Circuit Raised Bridle. It's in the sale catalogue for 139...
any good? The Circuit brand stuff used to be good but when I tried a saddle 3 yrs ago it was... plasticy and flimsy feeling, as was the bridle that came with it as a bonus. However, I'm wondering if these other bridles are better?

[*Battle Worthy*]

I got my Bobby's bridle through them: http://www.eqtack.com/
The were fabulous to deal with, and even called me to make sure that my order was correct! I got this bridle: http://www.eqtack.com/catalog/product_info.php?pName=206-raised-snaffle-bridle-w-flash&cName=english-tack-flash-bridles and it still looks fabulous after 1-1/2 years of everyday use/cleaning.

[pattnic]

anyone gotten the Dover Circuit Raised Bridle. It's in the sale catalogue for 139...
any good? The Circuit brand stuff used to be good but when I tried a saddle 3 yrs ago it was... plasticy and flimsy feeling, as was the bridle that came with it as a bonus. However, I'm wondering if these other bridles are better?

This is what I was going to recommend. I have one that I use for schooling. It's a little bit older (about 5 years old, I think), but it has served me very well. It has held up very well, in both good care and benign neglect. The leather is not at all stiff and plasticy. I prefer it in every way to the Bobby's I had for a while (which is why I still have the Circuit, but don't have to Bobby's). My one complaint is that when caught in a light sprinkle, water spots were left on the crown, but these really aren't too noticeable, especially with cleaning and conditioning.

[BAC]

anyone gotten the Dover Circuit Raised Bridle. It's in the sale catalogue for 139...
any good? The Circuit brand stuff used to be good but when I tried a saddle 3 yrs ago it was... plasticy and flimsy feeling, as was the bridle that came with it as a bonus. However, I'm wondering if these other bridles are better?

I have the Dover Circuit Grand Prix, padded with fancy stitching. It is very attractive and people constantly mistake it for one of my more expensive bridles.

It is a bit stiff in the beginning but oils to a beautiful dark havana and I am very pleased with it and would definitely recommend it. Its even pretty enough to show in.

The Crown bridles are also nice, less expensive and don't darken as easily but they wear like iron, as has my Grand Prix, it is at least 3-4 years old and looks like new.

[deltawave]

Check on Ebay and see if you can find the Heritage ones from England. Very, very nice leather, and their prices are great, even with shipping. I have one that I've used on Bonnie since she was backed, and it's still in nice enough shape to be her show bridle.

[PinkPonies]

I was going to suggest Bobby's bridle but I see many beat me to it. So here's another vote for Bobby's!

[Ambrey]

Check on Ebay and see if you can find the Heritage ones from England. Very, very nice leather, and their prices are great, even with shipping. I have one that I've used on Bonnie since she was backed, and it's still in nice enough shape to be her show bridle.

I also have a heritage and like it... but I wasn't sure if they make a bridle like the OP wanted.

[VCT]

Hey, thanks for all the input and recommendations everyone, they've definitely helped me narrow it down and have a starting place to jump off from. I'm going to keep my eyes open for deals after Christmas and keep my eye on eBay and whatnot. Plus that will give me more time to save up more and be able to get a better quality one. The Crosby has lasted me 11 years and still looks and feels pretty darn good and I want my next one to be just as long lived :)

I decided for now to order a inexpensive but decent pair of reins for my good ole crosby... the bridle is still in good enough shape - very solid... however, the cheapo reins I happened to have laying around to replace the broken ones are so poor quality that I don't feel comfortable using them indefinitely. I have no idea where I even got those reins... they were in the bottom of my strapgoods trunk and I dug them out when this one horse broke the reins. He reared and jumped off his hind legs, did a big ole crow hop in the air and landed and proceeded to rear 3 or 4 more times, going pretty dang vertical. Right as I was thinking, It's time to get off this crazy train, my stirrups leathers slid off the bars because he was so high up. I landed on my feet next to him and holding the reins, but he took off bronc-ing around and I couldn't hold onto him and then he stepped on the reins or something and broke them while he was bucking around. My boarder/student said it was pretty impressive athleticism on his part and pretty amazing on my part, I guess she meant to have landed on my feet. Wish I had it on video! That would be fun to watch! Horse was straightened out and was actually sold recently.

Thanks again!

[Ambrey]

I got a few pairs of inexpensive reins from Saddlery4u (FSS) and they are pretty nice!
http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/saddlery4u2_W0QQ_dmdZ1QQ_in_kwZ1QQ_ipgZ50QQ_sopZ12

[Christa P]

Beastieslave - thanks for the heads up!

MayS - I am in NW PA, near Erie - the land of no tack shops! There is not much going on around here in horses in general - not like the other side of the state!

If you can drive up I-90 a ways into NY you can get to Stagecoach West

http://stagecoachwest.com/

They are at the Silver Creek exit, just north of Fredonia and they have a decent selection of all kinds of equipment.


You could also go to your nearest Amish community and ask around for, I am sure you could get a custom bridle for your price.

Christa

[VCT]

Stagecoach West is a good 1 hour and 45 minutes drive for me one way. While their store is okay for basic items or just to shop for fun without a specific purpose, sort of like Big Dee's... last time I was there they did not have a very wide selection of english tack or english rider apparel. Have they expanded their english section??? I called them this summer to see about going up there to look at helmets and when I asked if they had GPA's, CO's, IRH's they didn't know what I was talking about and mentioned 2 other brands they did carry. I didn't go though as I wanted to be able to try on a variety.

I live in the middle of an Amish community. There aren't any who make quality tack/strapgoods unfortunately. One of my neighbors actually thought about getting into it and came to my place to look at my bridles/strapgoods and talk to me about what was common, etc. He ended up deciding not to do it for some reason. Then he ended up buying a farm down the road in addition to his current farm and has been busy farming that land as well.

There may be some in other communities in my region but I would not begin to know how to seek them out. I think perhaps there are more opportunities for that sort of thing in SE PA, where the Amish seem to be more involved in commercial endeavors. Around here they are mostly farmers, sawmills, carpenters, etc.... I found an AWESOME Amish made leather halter for sale at my local grain co-op a while back. It was a ridiculously great deal, but on the tag giving the Amish persons name/location, showed it to be from eastern PA.

Anyways, I'd definitely be interested to hear if Stagecoach has expanded their English section... maybe I'll cruise up there sometime... I have a boarder who is a novice horse owner who has been interested in going to a larger tack shop. We have a tiny one here which has liniment, some supplements, and some other basics - hoofpicks,etc - but not very much selection of other merchandise.

One thing I miss about MA... the nice tack shops...

Thanks you guys!