Steps in handmaking an IR Bridle

​Not only are IR Bridles hand crafted, they are designed to last. No part of the bridle is left out when thinking of the comfort of the horse and rider.

Every part of an IR Bridle is thought out to improve comfort for the horse and to last a lifetime, for example IR Bridles are hand stitching instead of machine stitching and using the very best English bridle leather.

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Processes of making a bridle by hand

1. Each IR Bridle starts with the very best in English bridle leather which has a straight edge cut into it, then the strips for the bridle cut off.
2. The straps are cut into the bridle components individual to each order. These are then edged to remove the sharp corner off the leather on both sides. These edges are stained and polished by hand to seal the edges to prevent the leather from soaking up water and sweat.
3. The next step is to hot crease a line around the whole strap which makes the leather look finer and finished. This line should remain in the leather for the life of the item.
4. Hole punching for buckle tongues follows on from creasing which then allows for stitchmarking.
5. Once stitchmarked, the raised straps can now be skived ready to be soaked, shaped and left to dry into their final look.
6. At this point it is a good idea to make the running keepers to allow them to dry into their square shape. Keepers are made out of the same leather as the bridle just split down in thickness with the back stained and polished.
7. Preparation can now begin for stitching by cutting out all the standing keepers and fitting the buckles/fittings into the leather then stitching them in.
8. Once stitched, loops are soaked in warm water, blocked square, re-creased and left to dry.
9. Padding is made up and glued to the noseband, headpiece and browband if required. The bridle now looks like a bridle and not a collection of leather.
10. When all stitching is finished the bridle is re-stained, re-polished and re-creased where necessary and fitted together to ensure all keepers are the correct size. The bridle is now complete ready for use. 

Each of the above steps can take years to master to be able to produce a bridle which looks like a new finished piece. 

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