| If you love the equestrian sport and own a stable of | | | | thoroughbreds that are favorites in equestrian sports, |
| fine thoroughbreds or even just one you care about, | | | | military and leisure horse back riding. |
| nothing but the best equestrian accessories for training | | | | There are a few noted Baroque bridles handmade in |
| and managing the horse will do. | | | | Portugal from a number of makers but a few of them |
| As a horseman and horse fan, you know that the | | | | stand out for their exquisite quality the do justice to the |
| saddle is basic and an indispensable partner to it is the | | | | tradition. |
| bridle. One can say they go together and not one | | | | • The Lusitano brand of Baroque bridles sport |
| without the other. There are a number of brands that | | | | simpler lines with a wider than normal leather bands |
| carry exquisite equestrian accessories. You have | | | | around and on the nose or brow band which get |
| fine choices among European hand made equestrian | | | | adorned with your choice of traditional or a more |
| equipage and one of the stand-outs have Portuguese | | | | cosmopolitan set of buckles and reins. The typical |
| roots like the Portuguese Baroque Bridle. | | | | ornamentation on the nose bands and buckles are |
| As the name suggest, its designs sport Baroque | | | | unmistakably Baroque-derived. |
| sculpting on the leather hide and metals buckles and | | | | • Then there's the more elaborate D. Dinis saddle |
| reins but it didn't start all the way from the 15th century | | | | that combines tradition and innovation in saddle-making. |
| design trends that characterize the Baroque era in | | | | It has a structure from dressage saddles directed to |
| architecture and furniture designs. Rather, its designs | | | | the Portuguese equitation and following the design |
| and crafting particulars were documented in an 18th | | | | principles from the Portuguese traditional saddles. |
| century cultural document called "Luz da Liberal, e | | | | • The D. Domingues saddle is a multipurpose |
| Nobre Arte da Cavallaria'" from Manoel Carlos de | | | | saddle. This saddle is an innovation having an |
| Andrade. | | | | intermediate design between English riding saddles and |
| Modern saddle and bridle makers are fortunate that | | | | the traditional Portuguese Relvas saddle. |
| the tradition has been handed down and now brings to | | | | These bridles have been designed with the Lusitano |
| modern equestrian fans what their counterparts of the | | | | breed in mind but are just as great with other |
| 18th century enjoyed – fine handcrafted Portuguese | | | | well-known breeds like Friesians, Arabian and the |
| bridles that preserve the unique Portuguese equestrian | | | | American Appaloosa. They are made with |
| heritage. | | | | traditional handcrafting tools and materials as if nothing |
| Today, the highly valued Portuguese Baroque bridles | | | | has changed since the 18th century. You get only the |
| remain handcrafted in the historic Iberian country of | | | | finest leather, buckles and hand-stitched patterns that |
| Portugal, home to its equally famous Lusitano | | | | are unmistakably Baroque-inspired. |