Recently, a friend asked if they are legal in the Hunter and Equitation rings. I didn’t see anything in the Rule book. I have not seen anyone showing in one yet. Not sure they would be considered unconventional tack? Thoughts?
Can you post a picture or link to what you are talking about?
Do you mean like the Miklem, PS of Sweden, Schockemohle Alpha/Beta styles?
The rulebook specifies “Snaffles, pelhams and full bridles, all with cavesson nose bands, are required… Judges must eliminate a horse or pony that competes in illegal bits or nosebands… Illegal nosebands include, but are not limited to, drop, flash and figure eight nosebands.”
I can’t see how the PS of Sweden High Jump and the Micklem could be considered cavessons as they all have a the strap running in front of the bit to stabilize it like as a flash/fig 8/drop. Best thing is to email USEF directly and ask.
Schockemohle does have the Equitus Delta Bridle which is their Alpha style without the flash portion - that’s probably technically legal but might be considered unconventional depending on the judge.
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Is the PS one the type you’re thinking of? https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/ps…p-bridle-21809
I’d think the big problem would be the noseband. I don’t think I’ve seen an “anatomic” without some kind of flash-type configuration.
I think this is the issue too:
JenEM: “I’d think the big problem would be the noseband. I don’t think I’ve seen an “anatomic” without some kind of flash-type configuration.”
But I have seen the noseband with out the flash effect…See below for Smartpak’s.
Harwich® Ergonomic Crystal Dressage Bridle by SmartPak
If there is anything below the rings of the bit, it isn’t legal. The Harwich Crystal has a strap below the bit. The Harwich Ergonomic https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/harwich-ergonomic-bridle-by-smartpak-18662 however doesn’t and I presume that it would be legal/acceptable.
Apparently my friend showed in one similar to the one you mentioned above and had no issues in the hunters at a USEF show, so that’s good. I personally think they aren’t flattering but if it is more comfortable for the horse, I am all for it.
I have a CWD mademoiselle bridle, which has an anatomical crown piece. It is a bit bulky, I wish they would make it in a slimmer less obtrusive design but it could also depend on your horse. I have a welsh/tb with a petite face. I have shown in it at AA shows and not had a problem but I did have a judge walk out before pinning the hack and do a circle around me which I later went and asked him about. It was the crown piece that looked odd in the glare of the sunlight and they were concerned it might be weighted (I had no idea that that was even a thing, people will really go to all sorts of extremes to cheat apparently). Once he looked at it he realized it was just the style of the bridle. To be fair to the judge, my horse was being an ass in that class (woke up on the wrong side of the stall that day) and was flipping his head a lot and chomping at the bit. So if ever a horse looked like he had a weighted crown piece on, mine did that day.
You can see it in the photo I attached. On the upside, my horse is very comfortable in the bridle.
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