Besides the saddle, a bridle is the most important item of horse tack you’ll use whilst riding – so it’s important to fit one that meets your exacting standards and suits your horse perfectly.

That’s why Dogwood has selected Stubben, world-renowned makers of saddles, tack and accessories, to supply a selection of the finely-crafted bridles in their range.

Stubben, a brand of unparalleled quality, have been supplying saddles and horse tack for over 100 years. This family business has matured and prospered without ever losing sight of its guiding principal: quality always comes first.

No item in the Stubben range can be considered ‘starter’ or ‘budget’ equipment – every piece of tack or saddle which passes though the doors is of a consistent and extraordinary quality.

Stubben craftsmen take the same pains over their bridles as they do their exquisite saddles, and use the same flawless materials in both. Thus, the wide range of styles available in the Dogwood catalogue means Stubben saddle-owners will find bridles here to perfectly complement their existing tack.

Bridle fitting
The first thing to get right when buying a bridle is the fit – and by ‘fit’ we don’t just mean leatherwork that does up. The perfect bridle not only fastens securely; it also flatters your horse’s features in terms of the thickness of leather and type of noseband used.

In the majority of cases, Stubben produce bridles at three standardised sizes – cob, full-size and extra large. With adjustment at the cheekpieces, throatlatch and noseband, they can be made to fit practically any horse’s head, comfortably and securely.

Exceptions occur when saddles are designed specifically to suit a larger or smaller horse. Take the 1001 Bridle, for instance, which is intended specifically to suit horses with larger features. At 3/4”, it is thicker than the other 1/2” and 5/8” bridles in the Stubben range, and sports a wider crown, browband and noseband than usual.

It’s no surprise, therefore, that Stubben don’t make a Cob version of the 1001 – it would work against the proportions of horses this size.

Decoration
Whatever your requirement in terms of colour, stitching and padding, chances are excellent that Stubben cater for it.

The 3000 Bridle for instance, a lined 5/8” style, comes in ten different colour combinations. These are a mix of solid colours – Black, Ebony, or Havana – and enough combinations to match with any existing tack and really complement your horse's coat.

For a more ornate style with the same full range of solid colours and combinations try the 161 Square Raised Bridle, which features a beautiful ribbed embossing across the noseband and browband, and along the length of the reins.

Nosebands
Stubben horse bridles are available in a variety of noseband configurations to give you exactly the level of control you need when riding.

For general purpose work, especially with an inexperienced horse, the simple cavesson noseband is perfect, and all Stubben bridlework is available in this configuration.

But if you require more control, many bridles in the Stubben range are also available with dropped or flash nosebands, which make it harder for the horse to open his mouth and evade the bit.

Stubben horse tack and other equestrian equipment at Dogwood
At Dogwood, we know how impressed you’ll be with the superior quality of Stubben tack. That’s why we offer a comprehensive range of Stubben leather saddles, reins, halters and accessories as well as the bridles discussed above. All are made by expert craftsmen from only the finest leathers and are guaranteed not just to meet, but to surpass your expectations.

The same can be said for our selection of exquisite equestrian clothing. You need only browse our pages of supreme long leather riding boots from Sergio Grasso and riding hats by Charles Owen to know that at Dogwood, we fill our stockrooms exclusively with the work of people for whom craftsmanship is the first and sole concern.

To learn more about Stubben bridles, Stubben tack generally or indeed any item in the great Dogwood collection, don’t hesitate to call us on 0845 30 10 365.