Albion Bridle

I bought this bridle two years ago along with a saddle and girth all made by Albion. The calfskin leather cracked clear through on my girth in two places. It also cracked completely on either side of the bridle's noseband padding near where the cheek straps attach. You can see the white padding underneath. The crown has alot of surface cracks that will probably go through also. I clean it after every ride with saddle soap and condition as needed with 100% pure neatsfoot oil. I've never had tack do this before.

I do like the fit, softness of leather and style. My horse seemed to like it too. We showed him in it for 2 years. However it just didn't stand up to being used 6 days a week. For the price I expected better wear.

I like the Albion Bridle, but not for the price. I thought it was a beautiful bridle, but I prefer something a bit less expensive. I just don't see why we have to pay so much for a bridle. I searched around and found that Dressage Bridles and Tack very in prices. I came across Bobby's Bridles and decided to order their Crank Bridle. I love this bridle. After using this bridle for a month, I have decided that the more expensive bridles are just charging what they charge because of the name. Bobby's crank bridle is every bit as good as Albion and Passier and far cheaper. I purchased the signature series English Leather bridle. I feel this bridle is far superior in quality and far cheaper than the Albion. While the Albion is a nice bridle, I just can not justify paying the price that they are asking. The bridle that arrived far exceeded my expectations. So while I do like the Albion,

The Albion is one of the many "comfort" bridles being marketed at the moment, the difference between The Albion and the many others is that along with the Horsesense Elevator bridle they were the first to utilise the comfort headpiece. Although I believe that the system Albion use looks "tidier" on the horses head then Horsense version.

The difference this innovation has made to my dressage scores is amazing, the change in my horses way of going unbelievable.

Rather than the cheek pieces going under the head piece as on a regular bridle they lie on top of it, on a padded section, hence reducing the poll pressure caused by "traditional" bridles, in turn increasing the horses comfort and way of going.

As well as the cushioned poll area the noseband is also thickly padded to decrease rubbing around this sensitive area.

The browband is also made a size larger then the size of the bridle purchased to prevent pinching around the ears.

Superb craftmanship as well as aesthetic design complement this bridles innovative advances. You get a superb fit and a bridle that sets off your horses head beautifully.

A range of options are available from colour and size, options of various styles of reins, to flash, cavesson, crank (with this option comfort is again increased by the dispersal of pressure) or snaffle noseband options.

The bridle on purchase is already soft and supple not requiring weeks of oiling and mine after 12 months of use still looks fantastic.

It is styled as a dressage bridle with a thick nose band and delicate cheekpieces therefore it would not be a bridle suitable for the show ring. If dressage were not your chosen discipline it would be an expensive choice for a second bridle costing in excess of £150 dependant on what options you choose.

There are many copies of this bridle available on Ebay etc... but none that I have seen live up to the softness of leather, the superb fit and the all round quality of this bridle.

The Albion bridle immediately made my horse more accepting of the bit and worked more effectively. The cushioned poll removed pressure from key accupunture points behind the ears, which I did not know about. The nubuck reins have a softness and elastic property which helps me ride with more of a soft giving hand, coupled with a more comfortable horse, the results have been outstanding.