Ok, so my colt and I have our first show ever coming up in December.  It's a only schooling show, but considering I've never done anything outside of our barn shows, it's a big deal.  I have an older (but very nice) dressage saddle that's brown.  My bridle is just a plain black snaffle which doesn't look that nice anymore.  I have a black padded comfort girth.  I would like to get a nicer bridle - but am confused as to what color to buy.  I think it would bother me that my tack didn't match - but all the nice dressage bridles are black.  Does it matter if it matches?  I want to have a good turn out (read too many George Morris articles).  I've looked on Dover and there's a lot of brown "flash bridles".  So what's the functional difference in the "dressage bridle" and the "flash bridle"?  I see a few cosmetic differences - Is one just as good as the other?

 No, your tack does not have to match at all.  Any piece can either be black or brown, even in a recognized show.

I personally do not like a flash at all, it's an ineffective version of a figure 8 that people use to strap a horse's mouth shut to hide their heavy hands or lack of training and it drives me BATTY that you pretty much can't buy a black bridle without one.  Occasionally you will find an event bridle with a removable flash.  What I do though, is take off the lower flash strap, cut off the little loop with sharp scissors and then VOILA you have a nice, plain noseband.

There are no functional differences in the types of bridles, they all do the same thing -- hold the bit in the horse's mouth.  If I had a brown saddle, I'd probably actually get a plain hunter bridle to use with it.  I like the horse to shine, without being distracted by the tack he's wearing.

Thanks for the response.  The bridle I use had a flash for about 2 seconds before I pulled it off.   What I really like is the look of a plain, flat hunter bridle.  I just wasn't sure which route to go.  Just b/c it's not mentioned in the rules doesn't mean it necessarily "acceptable" in the ring according to current trends or what judges prefer to see.

 Actually, in dressage, the rules ARE what is acceptable.  Having scribed for judges, I can tell you they don't give a flying flip what you or your horse is wearing as long as it is clean and legal.  They are looking at so many other things in the brief time you are in the ring, your bridle colour or type does not even register on the scale of "noteworthy to judge."  You are just fine to ignore whatever random DQ's decide is trendy!

 What Solo's getting at is true - dressage is much less "trendy" than the h/j or even western shows. There may be trends in colors (most mid-higher levelfolks just seem prefer black tack), but it's the rule book that counts.

As long as you have a legal bit, you can use any bridle it fits in. If you (and/or your horse) don't like to wear a flash, don't do it. IME, it's mostly the horses who like to gape or play w/ the bit too much that need a flash as a reminder to keep the mouth closed.

The same thing goes for grooming (braiding/clipping) and rider apparel. Don't ever braid the tail, braids in the mane are optional, and keep to light (white/khaki/tan) breeches and a conservative coat (I wear black or navy). I believe it also specifies white or pastel for the shirt, but at the lower level you can go with either a stock tie or rat catcher. So if you are worried about tying a stock, stick w/ a hunt shirt, lol. Not really applicable for December, but if you think it will be hot (and coats excused), be sure the shirt has sleeves (long or short are acceptable). If you are sleeveless, you will need to keep your coat on.

Even these rules (except for the bit - you MUST have a legal bit) can be just guidelines at schooling shows. The show management can allow stuff (like half-chaps instead of tallboots - it's legal now, but my barn's schooling shows allowed it before the rule was changed).

 I forgot to add the most important part - HAVE FUN!!

When we had our first off property show last year (3 adults and several kids were riding), our goals were simple:

1. Stay on your horse
2. Don't injure yourself, your horse, or cause injury to anyone else (or their horse).

Anything else you do is gravy. (One little pony jumped right out of the ring. Perfect little hunter jump over the chain - to get over to the people he recognized from the barn. The judge (when she stopped laughing like the rest of us) let the girl go back in and finish her test even though she was DQed.)

And don't underestimate the power of a smile. Even if you have to fake it at first - smile, look the judge in the eye before your salute. The smile will help you (and because of that your horse) relax. And looking the judge in the eye will help your confidence.

If I make it into the ring without chickening out,  crying or throwing up the rest will be gravy.  I think I should get points for that, actually.  And I should also get points for the new movements will we undoubtedly make up on the fly.  I'm hoping to have fun, I'm going to build confidence.  I have a great little horse,  however, the thought of riding in front of a judge/strangers makes me physically sick.  I forget all my Sally Swift analogies and get all tense.   I have a clinic the week before which may help.

 Just my opinion, but I would go with a white (or ivory) turtleneck rather than black - since it more closely resembles a showshirt w/ ratcatcher. I may have actually ridden in one (w/ a black or navy work blazer for my show coat, and a silky T underneath for added warmth) in cooler weather back when I lived in NY (doesn't get that cool during daylight in TX, lol).

As for the strangers watching, there will most likely be more of that at the clinic than at the show. The judge will be the only stranger paying you much attention at the show. Possibly the rider after you, but she will be thinking through her own test. Other people may glance over if you or your horse make some sort of commotion (like a lound noise), but will be more interested in their own horse (or their friend if they are there to support someone).You need to be well-known or extremely good for someone to say "watch this rider!"

If all else fails, focus on your breathing (deep and slow) and keeping a steady, supple connection. Well, and not stepping out of the arena, lol. If you miss a movement, the judge will let you know (ring a bell).

My sister scribed a few times at rated shows, and while the judge said many critical things, a horse with a different colored bridle and saddle wasn't an issue. If the horse has too much bling (e.g. distracting browbrand) that can be a problem. As long as the bridle is clean and fits you will be fine!

Some additional thoughts for you. Do a dress rehearsal. The week or two weeks before the show, put your show clothes. trailer your horse to a different property if possible. recruit some friends or barnmates. Set up a chair for a judge and scribe. Have them sit there and pretend to do what judges and scribes do.

Do your normal warm up, ride the test. If you are going to have a reader, have them there and read for you.

This will simulate the schooling show setting as much as possible and let both of you work through your nerves before the big day. Additionally, write out the test. include where you know you need to half halt to rebalance your horse. If he wants to cut the corners one direction, the note should say "leg yield into corner" to push the haunches out. Whatever your particular horse's quirks are, write your "corrections".

Sit in a quiet place, visulaize the test you want to ride. Visualize the smile and your joy of being with your magnificent horse, visualize those half halts and corrections. Most of all, visualize yourself having a great time and you will have one.

Solaris:

 it drives me BATTY that you pretty much can't buy a black bridle without one.  Occasionally you will find an event bridle with a removable flash

 

HDR now has a black dressage bridle that doesn't have a flash, but you usually have to ask your tack shop dealer to order it for you, fyi they run big.  But I completely agree that flashes are pointless and annoying.

 I'd also just like to say that for the longest time I took dressage lessons and went to schooling shows in my close contact saddle because I didn't have a dressage saddle, and no one cared or even seemed to notice.

 

lovmyhorses:

HDR now has a black dressage bridle that doesn't have a flash, but you usually have to ask your tack shop dealer to order it for you, fyi they run big.  But I completely agree that flashes are pointless and annoying.

Yeah, that HDR is about the only black dressage bridle I've seen that has no flash nor crank. I think the Equestrian Collection has HDR on-line. Classic Dressage in the UK and on-line has Otto Schumaker bridles that you can order with options, and one of the options is a French cavesson which is a flash-less cavesson.

 The smile will help you (and because of that your horse) relax. And looking the judge in the eye will help your confidence.