Padded Bridle

[TomE]

Finished my second bridle.  Appreciate your comments and suggestions.  HO bridle leather, stainless steel hardware, hand sewn with waxed #207 nylon thread.  I'm trying a new-to-me edge treatment - burnishing with hot beeswax.

[Brushpopper]

Nice work. Hot beeswax? How do you go about it?

[TomE]

21 minutes ago, Brushpopper said:

Nice work. Hot beeswax? How do you go about it?

I use a heated brass lollipop burnisher from Duane Watts.  Warm the beeswax in the flame of an alcohol lamp, dab on edge, smooth and work it in with a hot burnishing iron.  This video from Cary Schwartz shows the traditional Dixon style edge iron, which is hard to find.

 

[Klara]

This is a seriously beautiful bridle! The padded, wide headband looks super comfy.

[Bert03241]

I know nothing about bridles but I do know perfect leather work when I see itI can't imagine the hours you have into this, hand sewn woe beautiful work.

[TomE]

4 hours ago, Klara said:

This is a seriously beautiful bridle! The padded, wide headband looks super comfy.

Thank you @Klara!  The headpiece design is based on an Antares bridle.  

3 hours ago, Bert03241 said:

I know nothing about bridles but I do know perfect leather work when I see itI can't imagine the hours you have into this, hand sewn woe beautiful work.

Thanks, @Bert03241.  It's not perfect, but each one I make gets a little easier and I like it better.

[PastorBob]

Simply elegant.  That could don any of many show horses and the owner would be proud to show it off!  Wow!!!!

[TomE]

2 hours ago, PastorBob said:

Simply elegant.  That could don any of many show horses and the owner would be proud to show it off!  Wow!!!!

Thank you, @PastorBob.  I appreciate your encouragement. Having fun learning new things after putting leathercraft aside for ~45 yrs. 

[crazytailorlady]

There is a very lucky horse right now. Gorgeous bridle

[TomE]

1 hour ago, crazytailorlady said:

There is a very lucky horse right now. Gorgeous bridle

Thanks.  He's a 4 year old warmblood who started under saddle last fall and is learning his job. 

[KatieTroyer]

Looks amazing! How do you go about padding the headpiece? Process, materials? I’m thinking of doing something similar on a western headstall since they are so rare on the market.

[TomE]

9 hours ago, KatieTroyer said:

Looks amazing! How do you go about padding the headpiece? Process, materials? I’m thinking of doing something similar on a western headstall since they are so rare on the market.

Thank you!  The pad is 1/8" thick neoprene wrapped with 3-4 oz. chrome tanned leather.  The pad is assembled with glue then glued to the crown/headpiece and sewn. Can see the process on JH Leather Youtube videos for padded dog collars.

[ShellCordovanFan]

Beautiful work @TomE! Your keepers look great and excellent attention to detail.

 

I’m glad someone else mentioned J.H. Leather - she is awesome. I’d also admit to a slight crush. <blush>

 

I just started using Biothane - good for lesson tack, but lacks the refined beauty of leather like your example above.

Edited December 19, 2022 by ShellCordovanFan

[TomE]

11 hours ago, ShellCordovanFan said:

Beautiful work @TomE! Your keepers look great and excellent attention to detail.

 

I’m glad someone else mentioned J.H. Leather - she is awesome. I’d also admit to a slight crush. <blush>

 

I just started using Biothane - good for lesson tack, but lacks the refined beauty of leather like your example above.

Thank you.  Yes, she's cute but even better she is a highly skilled craftsperson who teaches the traditional methods of saddlery/harness-makng. We use biothane for every day halters.  I buy them from 2 Horse Tack bc their stainless hardware is first rate and I wouldn't save much buying the materials and making them.

[Basically Bob]

A lot of work went into that!  Great job!

[TomE]

Thank you, @Basically Bob.  I'm getting faster but I am basically a 2-trick pony -- bridles and halters.