Bespoke Bridlework
My passion is bespoke bridle work. Completely handmade and handstitched, each bridle is made to measure in order to fit the horse perfectly, with choices of:
Size
Colour of leather
noseband and browband styles
padding
rolled leather
alternative thread colour
not forgetting any bling!
I aim to design and make the best and most comfortable bridle for the horse, which in turn will help the horse achieve top performance.Most of the bridles I make have a padded ergonomically shaped headpiece. This design lifts the headpiece off many of the sensitive nerves on the horses face and keeps the bridle away from the ears making the bridle comfortable for the horse.
I can produce any style of noseband and brown, with or without padding, round or square raised, fancy stitching or can use any other ideas you may have. I also make a large selection of different reins, matching requirements for any discipline and your preference.
Materials
I use the highest quality English leather from Ridgways English leather.
All the buckles I use come from Abbey England, who supply top quality equestrian fittings. All their brass work is made in a UK foundry. For padding leather I tend to use butter soft goat or sheep skin leather, which gives a very soft and supple finish and is available in any colour of the rainbow.
For the actual padding, I use a revolutionary new Dual Padding Bridle. Designed in conjunction with Issi Russell of IR Brildes, this innovative new bridle design features a new gel and foam padding. Chosen to distribute pressure evenly and stay soft and function for many years to come, the padding is a combination of a soft foam and Rolyan© viscoelastic polymer gel. The gel is carefully inserted in the pressure points of the bridle, offering an incredible level of comfort for the horse and dispersing any pressure generally associated around the ears, poll and noseband. This medical-grade gel doesn’t compress or flatten out over time. It is also resistant to freezing and degradation from the moisture in rain and sweat. To ensure the bridles are not bulky, the gel has been carefully set into the foam padding itself.
What is the TMJ?
The influence of the TMJ on equine wellbeing
One area I frequently collaborate with fellow equine practitioners on is issues around the temporomandibular joint. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is found in all mammals, and it’s the hinge between our upper and lower jaws that allows us to open and close our mouth. In equines, the TMJ is just below and in front of the base of the ear, behind and slightly above the eye, on both sides of the head. It’s the raised bump that you can see and feel, and it moves as the horse chews - as you’d expect! It’s a key junction between the bit and the contact you take on the reins, and the rest of the horse’s body.
We are still learning about the role of the TMJ in influencing the whole body of an equine, with more research being undertaken at the moment. But virtually every physio, vet, chiropractor and equine dentist will tell you that inflammation and pain in this area will have an impact on a horse’s ability to be ridden. Plus, if you aren’t sure something that looks relatively small can have a big impact, look up the range of symptoms that TMJ disorders cause for humans. Humans who don’t have metal bits and leather bridles placed on top! Well, we hope… Some horses with TMJ issues present with headshaking, others have been noted to have hind leg engagement issues, others will lock their jaw and can’t accept the contact, no matter what bit or noseband is used. While this evidence is anecdotal, I'm sure all horse owners would prefer to err on the side of caution and ensure their bridle isn’t contributing to TMJ issues.
So my Bridles have been designed to relive pressure from that area with headpiece padding that expends well below the browband also with a low profile browband loop that is half the thickness of a regular bowband that offers further TMJ relief.
Why not “off the peg”?
Many off the peg bridles won’t completely fit your horse, or may not suit your horse:
the fit of the bridle may mean that when the buckles are done up they sit on sensitive facial nerves, or pieces of the bridle that are too tight or too lose can pull the bridle or rub the horse.
the look of a bridle may not suit your horses head due to standard styles and strap thickness.
Off the peg bridles may not be as safe, due to a lot of the bridle manufactures who machine stitch parts or the whole bridle, which often means that the stitching wears and breaks quicker. With traditional hand stitching if one stitch wears or breaks the whole line won’t undo compered to machine stitching. Most manufacturers split down the buckle turns and billet platforms as it makes them easier to stitch. I leave them full thickness which means they are far stronger.
Pricing
£450 snaffle bridle -£545 snaffle with reins
£530 double without reins-£695 double with reins
£990 rolled doubles with reins-£745 rolled Snaffles with reins
plus postage please contact me for a quote
8% Surcharge for international orders
I can come out and measure up your horse for a price of £30 plus 45p per mile for anything over 10 miles of my Midhurst workshop (GU29). Or I can send you a bridle fitting form and instructions on how to measure the bridle so I can ship bridles internationally.
If you are not in the south or international you can use my Design and Measure your Bridle section.
Every bridle takes around 2-6 days to make and takes a lot of skill so I personally think a bespoke bridle is a good long term investment and it eliminates guesswork, and gives you a truly perfect bridle.I’m always happy to explain how I make my bridles and answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to send me email to discuss further.
I love hearing from happy customers, this lovely review was from Fiona Stephenson. I hope my bridle gives her luck gives her Luck in there eventing.
"Received my gorgeous new bridle today! After struggling to find what I wanted 'off the peg' I had one made by Kelly J Leather and it is PERFECT. Sedgwick leather and brown stitching and padding to complement the browband. All hand stitched and made to my measurements :) Shorty approves and was extra jolly and spooky on his hack in the wind and rain to give it a thorough test....
If anyone is looking for a perfect new bridle and wants to remove the guesswork out of whether the stitching would be up to scratch or leather would be decent quality ect ect... Then I would highly recommend KellyJ Leather. Received my bridle today and it's STUNNING!"
