Welcome to the Verlane line of handmade bridlery. This is some of the most personal and distinctive bridlery you are likely to find anywhere. It is made and designed by one person: Verlane Desgrange. The name is so rare it has been trademarked to identify this precious bridle work. Each piece is individually made for you by Verlane Desgrange only and no other person. Verlane works alone to control the quality and to create designs expressly for you. Your bridle, browband, or reins are truly “bench crafted” in classic old world methods. Each piece you receive is signed with the trademarked signature, Verlane®, assuring you of strap work that is one-of-a-kind, made for you one at a time. It is a joy to use on your horse that only gets better with age.

            Verlane Desgrange was trained both as an English saddler and western saddlemaker. She has been practicing this art for almost thirty years. The English bridlery grew as a response to clients who had difficult to fit horses. Verlane’s first customer was her Arab gelding who seemingly fit nothing that was available. Because of this valiant little horse, others took notice of the beautifully fitted strap work and asked to have bridlery made and designed for their horses. These horses have ranged from international dressage horses, saddle seat show horses, Eventers, hunters, and beloved mounts of all breeds.

            Having a BA in Design, Verlane is always happy to work with you to design that one-of-a-kind look for the show ring, regardless of the breed you show. She will accommodate sizing from Minis to mules, Ponies to drafters. She works from your measurements to get an accurate fit. Verlane works with your designer instincts to create bridlery for your horse’s conformation, color, personality, and riding discipline.

Verlane is a current USA Eq and USDF member and is aware of show rules. She has managed dressage shows (recognized and unrecognized) for ten years and used to ride endurance and dressage. Additionally, Verlane is knowledgeable about a wide range of equestrian activities that began at eight years of age and has become a lifelong pursuit of information.

Naturally, leatherwork followed soon thereafter at age ten and saddlemaking was added upon graduation from college. She has worked with three masters of saddlemaking: first a US cavalry saddler, Hamp Brand; next a master western saddlemaker, Cliff Ketchum; and lastly a master English saddler, Hans Biglajzer. With her practical experience and knowledge, you can be assured of getting the right equipment to meet your needs.

Please use this booklet not only as a catalog of bridlery, but also as a catalog of ideas for design possibilities. If you don’t see it, always remember to ask. Not everything could be included in this booklet for it would have become too long and repetitive. The photos that were chosen were selected for clarity, representation of a particular genre, and to show a particular idea. The categories are traditional classifications, for there is no need to re-classify what horsemen and women have come to know over the course of a century.

No saddle seat bridlery has been included in this catalog as it is a very specialized form of riding. Should you wish to see saddle seat items, please inquire.

Also note that this is more than just a conventional catalog. It is also designed to be learning tool. Thus, many drawings and diagrams are included for your reference. The standard catalogs of bridlery never address the subject of properly fitted and styled bridles. Those catalogs offer very little information of substance, save for a quick mention of sizes that fit some, colors, and prices. Before you buy something as personal as a bridle for your horse, you must know something about the subject. Pages in this booklet attempt to teach you so you become a better-informed client, making both our tasks easier. It will give us a common ground of vocabulary and a place to begin the design dialogue.

Actual strap widths and hardware sizes are presented, for most people have no idea what all those numbers listed with a bridle really mean. By looking at the strap size and hardware size charts, you should have a much clearer idea of the width of strap you’re ordering. You can even lay an existing strap over the chart for comparison to check a size you like or already have. Granted paper charts will not tell you how a strap feels in your hand, but it will at least give you an idea of the finished size.  The hardware photos are actual size as are some of the product pictures, so you have a better idea of what those will look like as well.

Give a bridle purchase as much thought as you would a saddle, for this is the very instrument that gives you the most intimate contact with your horse. Each horse should have its own bridle, if nothing more than for your convenience. That way, constant adjusting and fiddling with the bridle is eliminated each time you ride, making things simpler for both you and your horse.

Contact Verlane when you are ready to order. She’ll be pleased to talk with you, either on the phone or in person about your needs in custom crafted bridlery.

Enjoy this booklet and ride well…………………………………..

Verlane

        (Verlane® is a registered trademark with the US Patent office)