Product Review: Horze Venice Bridle

Jesse models his fancy Horze Venice bridle. Photo by Sally Spickard. Jesse models his fancy Horze Venice bridle. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Sometimes the search for the perfect piece of tack is endless. Between the varying price points and the different styles and quality of leathers, it’s a very easy way to give yourself a headache trying to find the right fit.

My horse is still growing just a bit, though he’s done most of his growing in the past 8 months or so. I noticed the other day that his head has gone from blocky and baby-like to much more refined and mature looking. It’s such a neat change, and to look at photos from when I first got him as a 4-year-old to now it’s a big difference.

But that also means that some of the tack I’ve used on him before is now outgrown. Now that his head is the right size and shape, I felt the need to start looking for a new bridle that I could use every day and also take to shows as needed. This is how I found the Horze line of bridles, which come in a variety of styles at a very affordable price point.

Upon unpackaging the Horze Venice bridle, I was immediately impressed with the quality of leather. Let’s be honest, when you find something at a low price point, you’re not 100% sure what to expect. However, I was really happy to see that the leather was soft in my hands and not in need of immediate oil.

The closures on this bridle are buckles, which I prefer because I always find the hook closures to be difficult and prone to getting stuck even with lots of care. I was able to easily adjust the bridle to fit Jesse’s head (he is a typical full size) and was pleased with the overall fit.

The Horze Venice bridle does come with a flash closure, however I do not use one for Jesse so I just took it off. The noseband is fairly wide, which I appreciate for comfort’s sake. The noseband is also padded both on top and underneath, which I feel Jesse appreciated! I was also really happy with the reins, which provide plenty of grip and are fashionable at the same time.

One test that needed to be done was the test of time. How does the bridle hold up with multiple uses? Does it start to wear down and does the leather deteriorate at all? So far, I’ve used this bridle for schooling each day with a wipe down after each ride. I am not the type to oil after every ride, and this bridle doesn’t need it. I am happy to use some conditioner on it to get the dust off, and the leather has stayed in great shape and has gotten just a bit softer over time.

After about a month of using this bridle, I haven’t seen any stitching coming loose or any other signs of wear or damage on the leather. A huge relief, as there is nothing worse than a bridle that won’t hold up! Our leather goods get a lot of use and I do not have the luxury of owning multiple bridles — I need to have my daily use items last!

Fortunately, the Horze Venice bridle has thus far withstood the test of time with no signs of slowing down. The design of the bridle is fancy enough to make me want to take it to a show and durable enough to use at home on an everyday basis. How’s that for versatile? I’ll take that any day!