ENGLISH STYLE I offer three basic styles of English browband.
1 - UnbackedFirm strand Generally i design these with two rows of beads or semi precious stones.This style is UNBACKED,It is NOT sewn into leather.The beads sit softly against your horse’s head.At either end of the beaded section i wire,rivet and sew on leather end loops.These can also be made to size to allow for different bridle options. Choice of leather colours for your loops range from Black,Chocolate brown and Chestnut through to special requests such as red or white! This style is suited for perhaps light regular use or for use in the show ring or on special occasions.This is because the beads and components are a little more exposed,Therefore need a touch more careful handling and storing.(This said,I have very many customers who have used this style as their regular browband for years.)Due to the threading medium i use,This style is semi rigid and generally holds it's curved / worn shape.
The slideshow below shows a selection of previous custom and SOLD English firm strand unbacked style browbands. Each photo holds a number in the lower left corner,Please quote this if you'd like to know more about the design.
2 - Unbacked soft strand The Second style of English browband i offer is a soft strand. Quite a simplistic design and as the name suggests,The beads are NOT backed by anything and this style is strung onto a flexible medium as opposed to a firm one. This creates a soft floppy design so it' s free to follow the contours of your horse's brow.This style is suitable for light use or for special occasions and photo shoots.As with the first option,You can choose the colour of your leather ends and i can customize the loop hole size to suit your bridle. The leather end loops on this style differ slightly from the firm strand.They are a generally a little simpler in design.They use the same quality leather and are riveted together and stamped with the Equus Spirit Jewellery logo but are not handsewn.Single strand designs work best here.Great for the minimalistic look and also popular for crystal healing and photoshoots.
3 - Leather channel style The leather is bought pre- made to an industry standard size.Within the leather channel i can sew in your design,Using beads or semi precious stones of your choice.The channel does however restrict the use of some larger or odd shaped components.I cannot offer custom sizing on this style,Just the generic industry standard of Pony,Cob,Full or X Full.Black and dark brown leather are readily available,Lighter brown or chestnut coloured leather may be sourced subject to availability from suppliers.This style is also available in various shapes.Straight,Curved or V. See below for more information.
The slideshow below shows a selection of previous custom and SOLD English Leather channel style browbands. Each photo holds a number in the lower left corner,Please quote this if you'd like to know more about the design.
Ready made designs Please contact me for custom adjustments
Well,I'm not quite sure which browband category this design falls into! It's certainly rather special and although the double stranded base of the browband will stand up to careful light use,The ornate pendant feature is a little more delicate and only really suited for photographic purposes like my Embellish pieces.For this reason,i have made the suspended pendant section detatchable.This can be done by unthreading the feature from the split rings which sit in amongst the bottom row of beads.A steady hand or a pair of small craft pliers would be needed for this.It's probably not something you'd do every time you used the band. I can of course offer the double strand part of the design on its own,Without the extra beneath if you prefer. The beads in this are wonderful, 10 mm Preciosa Czech glass.They are nicely faceted so catch the light beautifully.The colour is called Amethyst but as i hope you can see from my photographs,The depth of their colour depends on backing and light.To add a little twist i have formed a pattern with some small silver spacer beads and included some lovely, 10 mm Faceted Smoky Quartz beads. At the centre of the band sits a nicely detailed square concho type bead. The ornate suspended pendant is made up from a bronze filigree square which sits beneath the silver centre.To this i have added two, sweet silver metal feather charms plus a genuine Amethyst wand pendant.On either side i have attached some branch like connectors.These in turn are attached back to the beaded browband. As mentioned above,You can remove the whole feature or actually remove just the branches which will leave you with a simplified pendant.
I can finish this off to any size.Custom or generic.You can also choose the size and colour of your leather end loops. SOLD
FAQ ABOUT BROWBANDS
Q- Are your beaded browbands suitable for everyday use?
A- Some designs are suitable for careful regular use . This really depends on the individual design and the components / beads etc used.By their very nature,Most gemstones (and beads in general) are susceptible to damage if they are exposed to Extreme temperatures,Chemicals / essential oils (as used in fly sprays / coat gloss) and moisture.To prolong their life a little TLC should be taken to avoid the these concerns.Riding in the rain or on a sunny day will not make your browband fall apart but just take a moment to gently dab the band dry after use and store as advised.Of course, Gemstones,Beads and components may break if they are dropped onto a hard surface or if they are snagged. An unbacked double row bead design is generally a bit tougher than a single strand.A leather channel design is another option and is suitable for regular use. I have many customers who are still happily using their Equus Spirit Jewellery beaded browband many many years after purchase. As with anything we adorn our horses with,I advise you to check your browband regularly for any signs of wear and tear. Please only use designs for the purpose they were intended for. All designs should be considered as decorative accessories to your bridle.
Q - Do these browbands bobble about on the horse? A- Double strand firm style should Not if fitted correctly. A custom measurement is always best! A soft strand browband may move slightly if you wish for a loose fit.
Q - Can i choose my own colours and gemstones and are all beads suitable ? A- Yes,Of course you can choose ,That's what custom designing is all about.I am happy to offer many alternatives and advise on the suitability of components etc as not all will work.This is sometimes due to their shape,size or weight and Sometimes due to their threading hole,I can also advise on healing properties of gemstones if you wish.Prices will vary depending on what is in your design.
Q - How long does the custom design process take? A - Every design and each customer is different.On average i'd advise to allow for 2 to 3 weeks from start to finish,. This allows time for components to be ordered in.
Q- How much do you charge? A- Every browband is priced individually.Prices start from around 290 SEK and rise up to 590 SEK.Plus p+p. I do not charge extra for custom designing
Q - Do your browbands work with any bridle? A - Yes,As far as i know! With the unbacked style,I make the leather end loops myself so can adjust their size to suit your bridle. However,The dimensions of the leather channel style are pre-determined so i am unable to customize their fit.