Wellfleet Wide Noseband Hunter Bridle by SmartPak
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Amazing bridle!
I am lucky enough to live near the Smartpak retail store, and I bought this bridle on sale for less than $80. My plan was to use it as a schooling bridle, but the quality of it far surpasses the Red Barn bridle I was using as a show bridle, so I've switched! The leather is soft and supple before even oiling the bridle, and the leather accepts oil beautifully. I oiled mine to a dark chocolate color to match my saddle and it looks amazing. I am so thrilled with this purchase!
April 12, 2013
Buy this to show in!
Wow. Bought this as possible show bridle thinking I would just return it if it didn't turn out to be the highest quality. Surpassed my expectations. Really nice bridle, very high quality, broke in quickly, and absolutely nice enough for the show ring at any show.
Have relegated the old show bridle to a schooling bridle, have this as show bridle for gelding, Wellfleet Raised Fancy Stitch for the mare in the show ring, and the eventing bridle as the schooling bridle for the gelding. Smartpak Tack is great. If only they made a saddle.....
August 24, 2012
Great alternative to the big name high-end bridles
This bridle is well-designed, beautifully stitched and made from very nice (but not the best quality) leather. As other reviewers have said, it's a bit annoying that there is not a movable keeper to secure the long end of the noseband; I slipped a braiding elastic on to fix this problem. I like that it is padded at the crown and has two buckles on the side pieces of the caveson for ease in adjustment. I also like that it is NOT padded (and thus not bulky) elsewhere.
June 2, 2012
Love the color!
Okay, I bought this bridle after buying the Newmarket (for about $100 more) for another horse a month earlier, so it's hard to not compare the two!
The Wellfleet is a very pretty color unlike any I've been able to find (kind of washed-out and classic). It could use another keeper at the noseband (there are only 2), but the fit is good and it should be pretty durable for daily use. It is "rough" (not finished) on the inside of the noseband, and the whole bridle was pretty dry before a lot of oiling, which didn't darken it too much to lose that cool color. The holes on the cheeks of ours are unevenly spaced, which is no big deal. It is also a Monocrown, like the Newmarket bridle, which gives you another buckle on the off-side.
April 14, 2012
Great fit, horse loves it!
This is my first bridle purchase. It was for my daughter's first horse. The construction, padding and fit made the horse proud to be seen in the jumping arena sporting this bridle. Very happy with my purchase. It was just as described, shipped quickly and was a hit with my daughter.
March 7, 2012
disappointed
I was disappointed with this bridle and returned it. I was hoping for better quality leather. One of the reins did not match in color. I also did not like the raised reins, it made them too heavy to have a light feel of the bit.
April 11, 2011