The Hand making process
Each handmade bridle at Oakside Saddlery goes through a number of processes before being posted to you.
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Bridle butts are the the best selection of leather. I use 1st selection Bridle leather from JE Sedgwick & Co. One of England's finest leather finishers.
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Each bridle component is made from the same bridle butt ensuring consistency in colour, thickness and strength. Each part is cut to size and prepared by hand, burnishing the edges, creasing, punching the holes and marking for the hand stitching.
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All furniture (buckles and fittings) are made from stainless steel ensuring strength, durability, and rust prevention. Buckles are fitted using a reverse turn which again keeps the strength of the leather at the buckle. This also puts the best stitching against the horse's skin preventing any roughness. The back of the stitching is hidden in use behind the straps!
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Each part of the bridle are hand stitched using a traditional double hand technique with waxed linen thread. This means that the stitches are interlocked and will not unravel like machine stitches can. All parts are hand stitched in this way, even the non-stress components like the noseband. It takes longer but provides for a better quality bridle.
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Each part is finished, all loops are blocked and re-creased, the edges are polished giving that unique finish typical of a lovingly hand made bridle.
