LeenieBean

wow its been a while since I checked up on this thread. Thank you for your replies and tips! I agree I don't like the buckle placement, and quite honestly I ride english most of the time, but have a very western type horse I wanted to use it as an opportunity for creativity with some leather working. what I also have found is that the crown piece is quite long as well given the over heavy buckles the ends end up kind of flapping around which I dislike. I adjusted the browband by removing the stitches that divided the crownpiece from the throatlatch, restitching leaving a slot at both ends. It measures 15.5" across, which would be a pretty standard cob size, but my horse seems to have a bigger forehead than I expected and I won't use it on him, unfortunately as it pulls the crown piece into the back of his ears and pinches. I have yet to try it on my more delicately structured arab cross but I expect it would suit him better. I can easily shorten the cheek pieces to fit him. Here is what it fits like after the adjustments.

I tried it on my horse today. He doesn't look impressed LOL I have to make a couple minor modifications. I need a couple more holes on each end of the crown piece because its a bit too big. I also need to modify where the throat lash and crown piece slide through the brow band on both sides, I need the brow band crown piece to crown piece another inch or two wider. I will also be adding a 1" concho where the brow band and crown piece intersect on both sides. are the buckles in the right spot on his face? any suggestions?

I've done a few projects along the way to get to this point, some knife sheaths, belts, cell cases, wallets, halter, dog collars. This is the project I was aiming to do, a handmade bridle for my horse, a 2 year old buckskin few spot appaloosa, Ned. Made with 10-11 oz tooling leather.stamped and handstitched. Conchos and buckles are tandy leather's diablo set. I've yet to try it on him but will take pictures when I do!