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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Bobby's Tack: Dressage Bridle

6/18/2018

 
Last week while letting Izzy wear his bit during breakfast, he hooked the throat latch of his bridle on something, probably his hoof, and snapped it down the middle. I was disappointed for about a nanosecond. It's not that the bridle is ugly or ill-fitting, but it was starting to show some wear. Izzy is hard on his tack. As I held the flapping piece of leather, I realized this was the perfect excuse to buy a new bridle.
Picture
End of the throat latch.
As I poured over website after website, my practical side took over. Izzy isn't ready to show yet, so he doesn't need a fancy bridle. Besides that, he's hard on his tack - he sweats like a teenaged boy, throws foamy spit everywhere, and rubs his face on his legs every chance he gets. I decided to replace the bridle with something very similar for under $200.

I don't like to think I am that picky about bridles, but as I looked over my list of must haves, it would seem that the opposite is true. My must haves include:
  • monocrown that is contoured and padded
  • not willing to commit to ergonomical 
  • buckle ends, not hooks
  • normal-sized crank noseband 
  • removable flash since I don't use one
  • black only
  • no patent leather
  • reins don't matter as I ride Izzy in my own rubber reins
  • plain browband as I have my own
The monocrown is the one thing that strikes 50% of the bridles off the list. I just can't stand cleaning a headstall where the noseband slides through keepers over the headpiece. Price eliminated a lot of other bridles.
Picture
Checks off all the boxes.
With my must haves in hand, I went back to the internet to see what I could find. Searching with a clearly defined list makes the process much quicker. Before long, I ended up at our ever favorite Riding Warehouse. They have a good selection, and without too much searching, I landed on the Bobby's Tack Padded Crank Dressage Bridle with Reins.
Picture
It's not fancy, but it's actually pretty nice. Shown with my browband.
The bridle checked off every one of the items on my list. The monocrown is padded and contoured, there are buckles instead of hooks, and the crank noseband is just the right size. Two things that were bonuses were that the throat latch is adjustable on both sides, and the leather is Italian. An additional perk is that the leather reins are actually quite nice. I've put them in storage for now, but I may bring them out to try later.
Picture
Mr. Grouchy Face
The bridle runs $182.95, but with a 15% discount, I only paid $166.78 which included free shipping. The bridle is not fancy, but it will work great as an every day schooling bridle. ​​
Tracy link
6/18/2018 07:34:17 am

Apparently I am also UBER picky about bridles -- add to that I'm a total leather snob, and well... you can see where this is going. It's hard to me to find a bridle I love.

Bakersfield Dressage link
6/18/2018 07:41:25 am

Coming from the endurance world where there's not much leather involved, I am not a leather snob. Thank goodness or I wouldn't have been able to find something for under $200. LOL

Olivia link
6/18/2018 03:20:22 pm

I have bobby's leather girth that I really like. It's soft, supple, and has held up to 18 months of constant work without a single problem. I've been thinking about getting one of their bridles the next time I need one.

Bakersfield Dressage link
6/18/2018 04:27:48 pm

My rubber reins are Bobby's and those are doing well too. The bridle is a wee bit stiff, so I hope it softens up quickly. I used it today and as usual, Izzy got it gross and funky. LOL I am glad to hear that you like their products though. Ive heard similar things from other people.

Suzy link
6/18/2018 08:03:17 pm

I have this same bridle, but with a regular noseband. I've had it about 2 years, it's holding up very well and I'm quite happy with it. :)

Bakersfield Dressage link
6/19/2018 07:15:24 am

Thanks for sharing, Suzy! Good to know. :0)


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    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
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    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
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  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
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    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
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    • 2019 Dressage Tests
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