"Pink Equine bridles come in black or brown and just about any colour padding you can think of: http://www.pinkequine.com/
Here are a few I found...
Modestly priced bridles...
Padded crown swedish bridle $150 from Dressage Extensions
Swedish Weymouth bridle $189 from Dressage Extensions
Harmohn Kraft Self-Padded Bridle from Stateline Tack, $99. Also other modestly priced bridles from Stateline
Kieffer Belinda for $150 from Equestrian Collections
Kincaid lined event bridle $79 from Equestrian Collections
Dover Saddlery has brown clincher bridles that are suitable for dressage for about $100 ($70 at Millers Harness)
937 Bobby's Dressage bridle with flash around $144 from the TackZone
Ovation event bridle $134 from VTO Saddlery
Thornhill Shannon Raised Snaffle Bridle with Attached Flash for $50 from Bit of Bling
Bobby's Bridle Mirror Snaffle Bridle from Fox Den Tack Shop
Camelot lined event bridle for $60 from the Fox Den Tack Shop Heritage Saddlery sells English made comfort bridles on Ebay: http://www.heritagesaddlery.
Midrange bridles
933N Bobby's dressage bridle (brown and brown with black padding) around $200 from Harmony Farms Saddle Shop
939 Dressage Bridle with Flash (brown with black padding) around $170 around $200 from Harmony Farms Saddle Shop
950 Bobby's Dressage bridle with crank noseband $160
Kavalkade Snaffle Bridle with Crank & Flash for $189 from Bit of Bling
Courbette Snake padded bridle $229
Red Barn KL Select Center line dressage bridle for about $200
Courbette dressage bridles in Berber Brown
Passier Aries snaffle bridle $319
High-end bridles
From Dressage Extensions
Passier Regulus bridle and Passier Leo bridle for about $360
Otto Schumacher model Munchen for $500 from Dressage Extensions
Devon buckle end bridle by Otto Schumacher for $300
Otto Schumacher crank bridle $345
Laser contour dressage bridle $350
Royal Oak bridles in the $350 range at Dressage Extensions
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Can I ask why you want a flash bridle? I remember reading way back that you didn't want it but your trainer did (although I might be getting this wrong or mixing it up)... but yeah, I was just wondering. Everyone seems to be using them these days and I've always just found them a little cringe-worthy. Few people seem to have good reason to use them (although I'm sure you/your trainer do) so I'd like to hear, if you don't mind, why you use one since you seem like someone who makes pretty informed decisions about everything concerning your horses!
ReplyDeleteCan I ask why you want a flash bridle? I remember reading way back that you didn't want it but your trainer did (although I might be getting this wrong or mixing it up)... but yeah, I was just wondering. Everyone seems to be using them these days and I've always just found them a little cringe-worthy. Few people seem to have good reason to use them (although I'm sure you/your trainer do) so I'd like to hear, if you don't mind, why you use one since you seem like someone who makes pretty informed decisions about everything concerning your horses!
ReplyDeleteThe flash does seem to be part of "the look" but you're right I'm not enamored of the flash to tie the mouth shut. 3 year old Riley reacted badly to the flash (bucked till he fell on the lunge). At age 4, he accepts the tactfully adjusted flash with no fuss. Have you seen the last video of him? He seems very soft in the mouth to me, which is the goal. I'm not a pro, not an expert, but IMHO if a flash causes tension you might as well throw it out the window.
ReplyDeleteYes, I saw the last video/most of your videos (been quietly following for some time now) and he looks lovely, quiet and forward! I guess I was just wondering because I assumed that a flash bridle would be used to correct a habit on a horse who can't keep his mouth shut, evading the bit, doing something to warrant the use of the flash. Seeing as Riley is such a young horse, I was a little confused why your trainer would be using one on him... But maybe there's my confusion, I've always associated everything "extra" as corrective, whereas the flash is becoming increasingly commonplace. I hope you don't mind my questioning--and I'm really not trying to be critical. I'm a "rerider" getting into dressage after a four year break and a previous western background, so my first instinct is to ask why why why when I see anything... er... different or specialized or out of the ordinary. Well, after four years, everyone seems to be suddenly sporting a flash or a figure 8, and I just can't seem to hear justifications that make 100 percent sense to me. I was looking at dressage bridles on statelinetack, I think, and I think of all their bridles maybe ONE didn't have the flash. I guess I'm still just curious as to why use one and what's the advantage? As you put it, why tie the mouth shut? To not so subtly push the horse on the bit a little more? And if this is the big advantage, couldn't we (perhaps) modify our training rather than our equipment (as they did in the olden days... I thought... four years ago, or so)?
ReplyDeleteAgain, I want to forward a quick compliment to you on your horses, and actually add further compliment by saying the entire reason why I took my question about the flash here is that what I've read of yours, while perhaps "not an expert," you seem informed and genuinely out for your horses' best interest! Thanks for being so open to discussion!
I think historically the flash was an innovation to replace the dropped noseband -- started in the show jumping ring. I never used one on Harv b/c it made him tense, plus he had no really bad habits or behavior to lead me to use one.
ReplyDeleteI think when properly adjusted they do hold the bit more securely in place/stabilize it for better communication and they aren't all that restrictive. At 4 years Riley doesn't object to it, so I have no reason to :-). If he's ever sold it's likely someone will want to use a flash and it's better that he is used to it as a youngster. That said, a lot of people using cranks and the flash to tie the mouth shut -- for their convenience, control, whatever. Some grand prix BNTs actually need sheepskin pads under the crank so the horse doesn't get sores. A certain rider initials MB was criticized b/c his horse had open sores under the noseband.
A bridle is a bridle...you do not need a flash noseband to make a bridle a dressage bridle. Hunter bridles are essentially the same thing.
ReplyDeleteThey make various nosebands with padding if you want it. The only swap out I might do would be a decorative browband and some leather reins with rein stops.
Most of the black leather bridles I've found automatically come with a flash, however. It's hard to find one without--as if that's a necessity for dressage. I just take the flash strap off and leave the little leather loop there. You could also cut off the leather loop and have a regular noseband.
Guess I am more into function than appearance. But I certainly understand how nice it is to have lovely matching show tack that looks good, so I'm not criticizing that. It's just not "me."
I switched to brown tack after my new-to-me PERFECT saddle was brown (it fit both of us to a tee so the color was regardless, but I am into matching haha). Because my horse doesn't need any flash or crank nosebands, then a plain hunt bridle works for us, as they can come without the "fancy stitching". And the delicacy of it looks quite nice on her little head (dressage bridles can be a bit wide, but that looks really nice on big-boned warmbloods). Plus, the bridle can be used across disciplines if we ever decide to dabble in jumping haha!
ReplyDeleteAs far as flashbands being a "must" for dressage, I do like to see them used appropriately, like it is on Riley. What I don't like is seeing them used by some riders at my barn and elsewhere to make up for their unsteady or iron-grip hands, or because they sea-saw! Then they are usually too tight and the poor pony cannot breathe!