Ok so I dunno about all of you, but I managed to make it through all the Black Friday sales without buying anything for myself. And there's reason to believe I'll survive
most some of the next rounds of sales with the holidays approaching.
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| the best kind of mail day |
And why is that? Well.... because I already treated myself to something. Something I've never owned before: a fancy bridle. Courtesy of
Aimee, who posted about the struggles of too many nice dressage bridles and I was all too eager to help solve that problem. #noregrets
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| officially the nicest piece of tack i've *ever* owned |
Obviously part of me is trying to fill the hole that 5 wks out of the saddle will dig... but seriously tho, we could use a bridle that actually fits the mare, as she's been going in something pony-sized. Plus, ya know: it's very pretty; she's very pretty - so - a match made in heaven, right?
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| ugly crutches can't stop my excited ogling |
These pics were snapped right towards the end of my stint on crutches, meaning I was still a bit limited on my feet. As such, the bridle needed a few more adjustments... but eh. You can get the general idea.
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| and now for the mare. obvi i'm biased, but i think she looks nice from the left |
I've since shortened the cheek pieces & slightly lengthened the noseband. Tho this particular brow band won't go any higher.
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| and the center |
My first general impression is that it is a LOT of bridle. Like whoa. And that brow band is kinda low. And she's not exactly and understated kind of horse - she's expressive, right? So will the bridle distract or suit perfectly? Idk. But I think I dig it.
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| and the right |
An important thing to remember is how
tiny she really is. Especially with saddle and rider. So in a way, I think the big bridle adds a nice balance to the picture. And actually - the absence of a throat latch makes it even better (tho I do have the attachment piece for shows that require it).
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| wait a second - when did isabel go back to work?! oh right - super grateful for neighbors like Austen! |
So my impression of this bridle is fairly positive, even tho it's kinda challenging my established feelings about proportion and style. What do you think?
I do really like the look on her! And she was so nice in the contact, I imagine she likes it okay, too! Now... why can't I get my hands out of my lap? Omg.
ReplyDeletei can't wait to actually test it out for real - she looked so happy and relaxed going around like she never took a day off!
DeleteI think she looks GORGEOUS in it!!
ReplyDeletethanks!
DeleteI'm not generally a PS of Sweden fan, BUT I actually really like that bridle on Izzy. Maybe because her face is so dainty its not overwhelming. I'm not sure about the droopy browband, but that's an easy fix!
ReplyDeleteyea i was a bit worried about it being overwhelming (and i think other versions of their nose bands *would* be on her...) but this seems workable!
DeleteI normally don't like PS of Sweden bridles (Except their youngster bridle which I have been coveting but it is continuously out of stock!) and I don't like how low the browband sits on her head....but other than that I think it looks great on her. Not too big at all!
ReplyDeleteit is actually ever so slightly too big (esp in the nose band) but nothing that's really noticeable
DeleteI really like it!
ReplyDeletethanks, i think i do too!
DeleteBrowband could go up, but I dig the wide noseband on her!
ReplyDeletewell unfortunately this particular browband *can't* go up ... but perhaps another model would?
DeleteNice!!
ReplyDeletethat's kinda what i'm thinking ;)
DeleteI don't generally like that particular model but I do like it on her. With the noseband lowered a couple holes into the correct place I don't think the browband will look quite so low (although it fits as it's designed to - swoopy).
ReplyDeleteit definitely has nicer proportions when the noseband is lowered - tho it really only went down a smidge. i don't mind the swoopy-ness of the browband, but it seems to be fairly low on her temples - not sure if that's actually a design element or not
DeleteCan you push it up any higher or is it sitting right at the bottom of the padding? If you can push it up higher, try putting a braiding rubber band on each side under the browband. You should be able to tuck it just under the edge so it doesn't show, but the rubber will hold the leather in place and not let it slip down.
Deleteit's up as far as it goes - and doesn't seem to be slipping around or anything. she just has a narrow head and ear area so the padding comes pretty far down
DeleteGotcha. Yeah considering Henry wears a cob in PS, she has a much tinier head!
Deleteomg so tiny!! haha
DeleteLOVE the wider noseband on her, but agree with others that the browband looks a bit low/big. Maybe a smaller one?
ReplyDeletei like the noseband too! tho i think the actual size of the browband itself is fine - but it just won't slide any higher up bc the crown piece gets too wide and padded for it to fit. so i'm not entirely sure how to remedy that...
DeleteI love PS everything! Except that their browbands all sit on Prisoner's brow bones like that too, I just stick on a regular non swoopy browband:)
ReplyDeletehm, maybe i'll try on some spare browbands that i have just to see what it looks like - tho i suspect it might still sit too low based on how padded the crown piece is. we'll see tho!
DeleteGorgeous! I agree with Amanda - maybe it would look a little more 'right' if the noseband were a little lower, but either way, I think it looks really lovely and she can definitely rock it!
ReplyDeletethanks! i especially liked it more when she was fully tacked up and with a rider. the last pic is blurry - but the noseband is fixed there and i actually swapped out for the plain PS browband which maybe helps mute the feeling of it being slightly in the wrong place
DeleteI think you could lower the noseband more - that should help with the browband appearing to be low. I think rule of thumb is an inch below cheekbones. Or whatever they are called.
ReplyDeleteas noted both the noseband and the cheek pieces have been adjusted since these pics (lowered and tightened, respectively) - at the time i was on crutches and not able to keep fussing with it. however that hasn't changed the fact that the brow band still sits pretty low relative to her ears...
DeleteShe looks great in it! Love the sparkles!
ReplyDeletethanks! there's also a plain black brow band - same shape just no sparkles - that will probably get more use, but i love the sparkles too lol
DeleteI think she looks adorable. And I love that last picture of her and Austin. I agree about the browband being a little low, but I don't think it is so low that it needs an immediate replacement.
ReplyDeleteoh man, she looked SO GOOD w Austen - like she was just so happy to be back to work and was eager to please
DeleteI'm glad you got it! I think it looks great on her!
ReplyDeletei'm pretty excited about it :)
DeleteGo for glamor! Very pretty.
ReplyDeleteha it is definitely glamorous!! ;)
DeleteGo for glamor! Very pretty.
ReplyDeleteOoooooh I really like it on her (especially with the adjustments you made ;-) ) . The browband height isn't terribly adjustable. It worked fine for Courage, but obviously Izzy is a bit differently built. I'd ride with it for a while and see if it bothers her. FWIW, you can switch it for a straight browband with bigger loops and then it will sit up higher (we did that with my flat bridle+prisoner and his weird shaped head). But. Sparkles pretty. Love.
ReplyDeleteit's definitely growing on me, that's for sure. and honestly i doubt the browband bothers her. she's pretty explicit about what IS and IS NOT ok when it comes to her face, and didn't say a word about the browband. it's just ever so slightly visually off...
Deletebut yea, switching to something with bigger loops (like maybe something designed for a double?) would likely resolve the issue entirely
It's very pretty. Accentuates her little face. And can you ever get too much sparkle on the fancy red-heads?
ReplyDeletehaha nope - never too much sparkle on this fancy gal ;)
DeleteOMG OMG OMG.
ReplyDeleteIT LOOKS AMAZING
thanks :D i'm super excited about it haha
DeleteMy PS bridle's browband also seems to hang super low on Gina's head- and it seems like it dips further and further every time I ride in it!
ReplyDeleteI like the sparkles on Izzy, and I don't think the bridle overwhelms her or anything!
hmmm interesting. i don't so much mind how low it swoops in the middle, but where the browband actually meets the crown piece, it seems like it's too low there. idk tho. glad you like!
DeleteOoooo I DO like. Much.
ReplyDelete:D
DeleteYEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteit's soooooo shiny haha
DeleteI knew that bridle the second I saw it! She looks lovely in it! I don't think the browband is too low, but I like the swoopy-ness
ReplyDeletei don't mind the swoopy part,so much as i think it's too far from her ears at the attachment points. maybe not tho. haha idk
DeleteDefinitely love the wider noseband on her! Its just soooo pretty but of course Isabelle's face makes it! Shes just so pretty.
ReplyDeletei kinda like it too!!! wasn't sure i would, but i think it works :) and i happen to agree - we've got some very pretty mares at our barn!
DeleteI love it on her! She can most definitely pull it off. I am glad you bought it.
ReplyDeletei'm glad i bought it too! i think she'll like showing off all that sparkle at some shows this coming year :)
DeleteI actually really like it on her! She's a princess, so she can pull off a bigger, flashier bridle IMO
ReplyDeletei think you might be right - i mean, those sparkles are *almost* like a tiara anyway, right? lol
DeleteGorgeous! So good on her.
ReplyDeletethanks! i'm actually really looking forward to busting it out at our fancy pants dressage lessons SOON!!!
DeleteOoooo so fancy!! I think with a few adjustments it will be great on her!
ReplyDeletethat's what i'm thinking - tho sadly this particular brow band won't adjust any further
Delete