Calling all hunters (what's acceptable in the show ring)

[shadedingray]

I posted about field boots a few days ago, and was asking about a particular type of field boots for the hunter ring. That started this particular train of thought. More like the crazy train. :lol:

I had my heart set on jumpers or eventing with my current mare. This might still be the plan, but we’re starting her over small jumps/combinations and she is going like a perfect little hunter. sigh My taste in tack is usually more jumper and eventing-esque, and I like trying to more unconventional stuff. This means that a lot of my stuff might not work in the hunter ring.

I already googled for more information on this and read the USEF hunter rulebook (which doesn’t have much of anything about actual tack besides bits). I also know that it highly depends on the judge on what you can and can’t get away with as far as placing well.

Short version of the question is: What is an absolute no-no in the hunter ring? Some of the main things I am questioning are girths, saddle pads, and bridles. I have an anatomic girth currently from Total Saddle Fit. I am about to buy a new bridle and found a Bobby’s Tack one I like from Riding Warehouse. Traditional hunter bridle except it has ear cutouts, which I love. Would that be okay? For saddle pads, I have a fleece saddle shaped pad I could use, but I just bought a lovely Sedelogic half pad. It’s black though. Is there any way I could still use that somehow while showing?

Any input is valued, even if it doesn’t pertain to the tack I listed. Thanks guys.

[AmmyByNature]

Anatomic (those are the shaped ones, right?) girth is fine. No one will even be able to tell.

I’d have to see the bridle to know how “unusual” it looks.

White half pads instead of fitted pads are no problem - used to actually be a super popular look - but I wouldn’t do black.

[AmmyByNature]

Anatomic (those are the shaped ones, right?) girth is fine. No one will even be able to tell.

I’d have to see the bridle to know how “unusual” it looks.

White half pads are no problem - used to actually be a super popular look - but I wouldn’t do black.

[kh209]

If you are unsure if it is acceptable for the hunters, chances are you’re correct.

Absolutely no black pad. I can’t even see that being okay at the lowest level of schooling shows.

[shadedingray]

[QUOTE=AmmyByNature;8504709]
Anatomic (those are the shaped ones, right?) girth is fine. No one will even be able to tell.

I’d have to see the bridle to know how “unusual” it looks.

White half pads instead of fitted pads are no problem - used to actually be a super popular look - but I wouldn’t do black.[/QUOTE]

This is the bridle. It really isn’t anything crazy. But I was planning on getting something from PS of Sweden originally, so that tells you where my head was at, haha.

http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Bobbys_Tack_Fancy_Stitched_Snaffle_Bridle_with_Reins/descpage-BTEB.html

Just thought of one more thing. I use a mullen mouth rubber loose ring snaffle. If not that, then a Myler egg butt, level 1 or 2. Would those bits be okay?

[AmmyByNature]

That’s fine. No one will even notice.

(I thought it had ear holes, like a western bridle. What do the PS of Sweden look like?)

[AmmyByNature]

And I’m assuming the girth is something like this:

http://www.doversaddlery.com/m-toulouse-anatomic-girth/p/X1-02027/?eid=X18A00U1005&utm_source=shopz&utm_medium=CSE&utm_campaign=MerchantAdv&zmam=1460880&zmas=1&zmac=125&zmap=0002027665520X1-02027

[shadedingray]

Thanks Ammy!

Here is the girth I have right now.

Here are PS of Sweden’s current bridle line. They are known for being very unconventional/non-traditional as they do not have throatlatches and are built to be anatomic for the horse. Some of the models are more traditional looking, minus the lack of throatlatch and the thicker crown piece, but many of them are funky looking.

[AmmyByNature]

Those browbands make my little H/J heart shudder. Just not my style! (But the bridles are objectively lovely and I’m sure very well made!)

Take a look at some photos from the hunter rings at HITS and most of your questions will be answered. You might see one of something wacky - if you only see one of something probably don’t do it. But other than that you’ll be able to get a good feel for what is acceptable!

[greywithchrome]

That bridle would be fine.

My no-gos for the hunter ring (and these are things ive SEEN):

• bridle charms … omg
• any boots, polos, whatever
• anything other than a plain cavesson noseband
• kimberwickes - i believe these are allowed but not in my books hehe
• running martingale - again i believe these are allowed now but NOPE
• anything other than a white shaped pad, unless you have a white half pad that can hide in there

I could go all day, definitely a proud hunter princess

[541hunter]

[QUOTE=greywithchrome;8504754]
That bridle would be fine.

My no-gos for the hunter ring (and these are things ive SEEN):
…

• any boots, polos, whatever[/QUOTE]

Boots and polos are prohibited in the hunter ring, so that’s not just your no-go, that’s an elimination any show that follows USEF rules.

OP, at a lower level schooling show a square pad in conservative colors is fine. My barn has dark grey ones with our logo that we use at schooling shows not approved by our state association. At nicer schooling shows and rated shows, a white shaped pad (NOT the kind with the number pocket – those look very breed show) that fits your saddle well is pretty much your only option. Some people use those sheepskin half pads as well – it’s a little outdated but certainly acceptable.

The bridle you linked to is also just fine. I show in a similar model from SmartPak at the moment (looking to upgrade soon) and the anatomic headstall isn’t obvious at all. Anatomic girths are good, as are loose rings and eggbutts, though you’ll see far more D rings in the show ring. If you’re using a loose ring, be aware that bit guards are “not permissible” under USEF rules (which many schooling shows use as their guidelines).

[shadedingray]

Thank you for your input! This is helpful. I use bit guards on my loose ring now, but I can show in my eggbutt Mylers as long as those won’t be an issue.

I know boots and polos are not allowed in the show ring. I’m not heartbroken over that, but my mare does wear a sausage boot/fetlock ring though as she tends to knock her one pastern sometimes. I’m guessing that is a definite no-go for shows right?

[LucilleBluth]

@shadedingray;8504738

Thanks Ammy!

Here is the girth I have right now.

I show in the same girth. No one has ever noticed much less said a word!

[shadedingray]

Thanks LucilleBluth!

I just purchased my Sedelogic pad (black half pad). I asked the distributor if it was possible to use the pad against the horse directly, so I can just place a hunter-appropriate pad over it. That would be short term. Sedelogic sells a shaped pad in black and white. If you go here and scroll down a bit, you can see the pad I’m talking about. Would this be suitable or is fleece a must-have?

[AmmyByNature]

In white it probably wouldn’t be noticable, but I can’t tell what the material is so I can’t say for sure. That’s a lot to spend.

Unless your horse is a Very Special Snowflake, just get something to use at shows - a fitted fleece pad or a white half pad if you need something to pad up the saddle.

Fitted hunter pads have some thickness to them, so using them with a half pad usually is an awkward idea. It’ll make your saddle too tight and perch you up. I hate to see it - always looks uneducated to me.

When I did the hunters I used either a Mattes 1/2 pad (the correction version, for the special snowflake who always went in that pad - just with a super thin baby pad under it for every day) or a plan jane fitted fleece either alone or with that very very thin Thin Line 1/2 pad underneath it - the ones that are only like 1/4" thick.

[shadedingray]

Thanks AmmyByNature!

That makes sense. I do have an old (but brand new) plain-jane, fitted fleece pad that I can use just for shows.

Just thought of another thing, ugh. I have Herm Sprenger Bow Balance stirrups. Are those going to be okay? The bigger problem would be that they are the anthracite color.

[silver_charm]

I could be missing it, but on the website it seems that the shaped pad only comes in black?

You can get very thin shaped pads. Plenty of my friends have the Ogilvy hunter half pads in white that they use while showing. A while half pad would be perfectly acceptable. I believe Ogilvy also makes a shaped pad with the foam padding built in, as does Thinline.

[AmmyByNature]

No problem in the hunters. Eq is a different story - not because of the jointed, but because black stirrups are recently banned in the eq.

[shadedingray]

That is great news, AmmyByNature. I am married to those stirrups. I don’t see myself ever competing in equitation. It’ll be hunters or jumpers most likely.

silver_charm, you’re right! Ugh, they do only come in black for the shaped pad. That’s ok. I kind of want the fleece look since that is so “in” in hunter land. I also love EcoGold pads and they make a fleece pad. Also would consider the Ogilvy, but I have not owned an Ogilvy pad yet. I’ve heard almost only good things though!

[AmmyByNature]

Don’t forget - you don’t have to buy it all at once! Some of those combo fitted pads and Ogilvy pads are very pricey!