they look good and riders in Europe love them.
Perfect if you intend on keeping it.
Just be careful if you ever intend on selling your saddle in the US, there really is no market for black jumping saddles over here…
I think the balack will look much better on your horse, who is, BTW, super cute!
I say good for you, too! :yes: I LOVE the dark shades of tack (black, chocolate) and think they look sharp on just about every color horse. The lighter colors like orange and brown aren’t my cup of tea on anything really (though I’ll be the first to admit if I could ever get my hands on one of those WHITE bridles, I’d be all over it :D)
When I ordered my Antares jumping saddle I requested the dark chocolate because it looked almost black. My trainer had a cow at first, and then went even more crazy when I adorned it with a GASP SILVER nameplate instead of the traditional gold. But even she ended up admitting that it looked fabulous on the gray I had at the time, and now is just as good on my black bay. I can’t tell you how much I love it!
If it’s what YOU want and it works for you and your horse, that’s all that matters! 
If it fits, judges won’t notice! It’s only the exibitors that are tack snobs. A judge is going to see a good ride or a bad ride, not what color the tack was! Won’t care if it’s rust breeches or lime green lining flapping under that jacket either! Even if I’m judging a scooling show, where they wear some crazy stuff, it’s the ride that counts! I only see them for a few minutes, I don’t have the time to write down what they were wearing!!! 
and yes, I think brown dressage saddles are pretty and love black jumping saddles on my bright chesnut with flaxen even, cause the browns clash!
Thanks guys! 
I wasn’t too worried. Just wanted some moral support for a wild and RADICAL decision! :lol:
If it doesn’t work out, hopefully some eventer would want it!!
And thanks for all the nice comments about my horse. He’s a very good boy.
I think that as long as your butt is in ( or near) the saddle when you’re in the ring, you’re good. Of course the fashionistas will think the less of you, but as long as the judge is not a fashionista, you could take that as a compliment…
I chose black tack for my white (NOT gray) Thoroughbred. I show jumpers and foxhunt (anything but brown is a sin) in it. NO ONE has ever commented. As long as YOU like it - that’s what counts!! Your cute horse must look nice in it!! Enjoy!!
thanks Crosscreek. Foxhunting is one of our goals. Glad to know nobody noticed!
I always figured that if my butt was IN the saddle no one would notice anyway. I also hold to the theory - hunting especially - that other folks should have more important things to keep their eyes on than the color or my tack!!
I love black tack! Just bought a black saddle. But I show jumpers so slightly different. Actually my mare shows jumpers I do not. I kit her out though. She is a very light blood bay. Black tack, black pad, black sheepskin half pad, black boots. Yup I loves me some black tack! Haven’t gone the diamanté route yet thank goodness. I suspect I might have a problem finding a trainer then.
Terri
I love black tack! Just bought a black saddle. But I show jumpers so slightly different. Actually my mare shows jumpers I do not. I kit her out though. She is a very light blood bay. Black tack, black pad, black sheepskin half pad, black boots. Yup I loves me some black tack! Haven’t gone the diamanté route yet thank goodness. I suspect I might have a problem finding a trainer then.
Terri
There isn’t a single picture or video linked on this thread in which I can tell what color the tack really is. If it fits you and your horse, you’re good.
Haven’t gotten the saddle yet. Pictures will follow next week
I have a black Bates A/P that I absolutely love! Super comfy and fits my current mare well. I got it because it was the right price and it fit the horse I had at the time - I could’ve cared less about the color, though I thought it would look good on my almost-buckskin bay gelding. Since I like things to match, I use a black bridle, a black riser pad and a colored (usually purple) baby pad. I’ve gotten several compliments on it - even got one from a hunter rider/mom, who said she liked it better than her brown Bates CC. :winkgrin: So, I say enjoy your saddle!
I bought a black jumping saddle because I am a dressage rider who has all black tack, but couldn’t ride in a dressage saddle anymore. It looks fantastic on my dark bay horse.
I love it and I have had no trouble finding black accessories to match.
And it will never be subject to unauthorized “borrowing” by any of the barn rats, because they think it’s weird.
They are very popular in Europe so just pretend you are a few years ahead of another trend.
I have used a black Stubben Rex on my white (I mean grey!) section A welsh, along with a black crupper for years. Granted, we’re not doing the bigger rated circuits, but have certainly won many a championships in our black tack
OK, here we are at our first show
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150311480209755.344715.653874754&l=bc8cf4fd59&type=1
The INFAMOUS black saddle. I really like the Bates. I was a bit worried that it would be slippery. So I emptied half a can of Effax on it over the last month and it’s sticky as my trainer’s Buffalo CWD.
I LOVE darker tack. I think it looks much sharper and clean cut. My current saddle is a very very dark brown, and I think it looks much better than all those caramel colored saddles out there
Love it! It looks great! Very sharp indeed. :yes:
