Brand: PS Of Sweden
Products:
Pioneer Bridle
Click-It™ Browbands
Chicago Reins
Price Range: $$$
First Impressions
PS Of Sweden creates some of the most highly sought after products on the equestrian market. One of them being their bridles. But are they worth the hype or better left in the tack room? I’ve tried 3 of their bridle models: Pioneer bridle, High Jump bridle, and Wellington bridle. Here are my very honest thoughts on them.
Design that is chic and functional
Each of the 3 PSOS bridles I tried had very different designs. The Wellington bridle is a very demure traditional hunter bridle. The High Jump bridle is it’s own unique design with a flexible (almost like clay!) noseband. The Pioneer bridle is a hybrid between a higher english noseband and dropped noseband. All of the PSOS bridles I tried were beautiful and innovative. Ultimately my horse, Toby, decided which bridle he loved best: The Pioneer!
At first glance, the Pioneer bridle looks similar to a Micklem or Drop Noseband bridle. But, every aspect of this bridle differs and provides a substantially longer list of benefits for the horse. Many of which I felt after just one ride! Don’t worry, I’ve been using this bridle now for 2 years so I can really vouch for it and so can my horse.
The Pioneer noseband is completely adjustable in height, you can choose where to place it. I like this because I can fit it to my horse’s anatomy and liking. But it is not for inexperienced riders who could place it too low on the nasal bone. When fitted correctly, the bridle is designed to remove pressure from the airways and eliminate pressure around the bit. I really noticed that the Pioneer design helps stabilize the bit and jaw when riding my horse. The inside of the noseband also has a pillow of extra cushioning that provides additional comfort and stability.
The wide, extra padded headpiece has a curved cut out for the ears which helps relieve poll pressure and distribute pressure evenly.
If that wasn’t enough, even the cheek pieces are unique! The Pioneer cheekpieces have Cradles™, an extra elastic band that the bit rest on allowing the bit to "spring" which aims to relieve the teeth and jaws from static pressure ultimately providing more comfort. The Wellington bridle did not have these cheekpieces and neither did the High Jump. I absolutely love the Cradles™ and think everyone should try them, they are awesome.
Every PSOS bridle has their Click-It™ browbands. Their U-shape design prevents pressure on the horse's forehead and eye sockets. The inside of their browbands are rubber-coated to keep the browband in place and prevent it from slipping down. The Click-It™ function allows you to easily remove the browband as needed, even when the horse is wearing the bridle. This really makes swapping my browband to match my outfit easier than ever. Huge win!
Now reins are one of the few obscure items I am extremely picky about. But I absolutely adore my PS Of Sweden reins. They are so soft, supply, grippy, and excellent quality. I have had these Chicago reins for 3 years, and just love them. I am dying to get a few more pairs, but they are constantly sold out (understandably, they’re the best). If you see them in stock, snag a pair while you still can!
Size & Fit
The awesome thing about PSOS is that you can customize the size of each piece of the bridle: the noseband, headpiece, cheek pieces, browband… My horse can be hard to fit and he required a mix of X-Full (Size 4) and Horse (Size 3) sized pieces for the Pioneer bridle.
Overall with the sizing, I find the bridles run small. I tried the Wellington bridle all in size 3 and it just fit, with all pieces on the last holes. For the High Jump bridle, it was just not the best fit for him. However, size 4 does fit a big 17hh+ Warmblood head.
The PSOS team is very knowledgable and can help you decide what size would be best, and they have an awesome customer service team that is very helpful with returns, exchanges, and replacement parts!
Quality & Value
I really like the quality of all 3 bridles I tried. The leather is excellent, it is soft, supple, and beautiful. They are low-maintenance bridles, no fancy cleaning required. I just wipe them with water and use the PSOS tack cleaner and conditioner as needed.
Final Verdict
So, should you add PSOS bridles to your cart, stat — or leave them for someone else?
I can say that PS Of Sweden bridles are definitely a splurge you can brag about, better yet your horse will thank you for it!
Rating: ★★★★★
Before you trot off, don’t be shy — drop your thoughts in the comments. I know you’ve got something to say… After all, the best gossip is always shared.
xoxo,
Marina.
