The chestnut I tried a black bridle on is a very RED chestnut… I agree, a blond or dark chestnut might look better in black. But very orange/red chestnuts just look yucky in black.
I adore black on chestnuts, but my guy is a little lighter with very very minimal white.
I have him in a black bridle with white padding, but am thinking of putting him in a black rolled bridle as he has a dainty head.
Anyway:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/photo.php?pid=677627&id=511834097
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=29093&id=511834097#/photo.php?pid=677673&id=511834097 (ignore my retarded arms, haha. and yeah, he’s in a brown saddle, but I have since gone back to my old black collegiate)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=38514&id=511834097&op=6#/photo.php?pid=889839&id=511834097 (not so sure what I’m doing but…)
think outside the box?
I showed my 2 year old in-hand (sport horse) last year. I tried different dressage bridles and none looked right (esp. black). I felt the padding was just too heavy looking, riley has a nicely shaped “wedgy” head but it is rather large (he is big all over). He is chestnut with some white on his face.
I ended up buying the USHJA hunter derby bridle, which is a darkish chestnut and has some delicate detailing that I just love. I don’t care that it isn’t truly a dressage bridle, and the judges didn’t either.
Here we are at the last show of the season
http://picasaweb.google.com/sek4278/Rileystonetavern#5248527363202479154
And here is the bridle
http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-12544&bhcd2=1233142127
staceyk - your horse’s coat is just fabulous! was it clipped?
not clipped
Thanks! No, this was taken late aug/early sept. I have to credit a great feeding program (Progressive) for his coat and condition in general (and of course the wash and conditioner). I think also the lighting in the ring displayed it to advantage. He is not a super “showy” bright chestnut, at least not when he is on turnout.
I have had my horses on Progressive, and seen many others in the area on it too, but none looked as good as that. Wow!
can’t resist
Here he is as a yearling. For contrast 
http://picasaweb.google.com/sek4278/Riley#5169417267837821698
Actually his coat is the nicest thing about this picture
And to get back on track, the whole bridle thing is a dilemma to me. My saddle is black, but I really don’t like black tack on a chestnut. I may need to get a new saddle at some point for Riley, but brown is kind of limiting – isn’t it? Can you wear a brown saddle on a dark horse?
SEK
bit of britain Hampton
http://www.bitofbritain.com/The_Hampton_Bridle_by_Nunn_Finer_p/374.htm
I have the Hampton bridle for my liver chestnut mare. It is very comfortable for her with light padding on nose and headstall, but is pleasantly refined. I’ve tried it on some of her chestnut relatives and it looks very nice on them as well, especially her sister who has a big white blaze.
You didn’t mention if you need/want a flash or not, which is a consideration. I show under saddle in this (have brown dressage saddle also) and think it looks nicer for in hand work, but it is a question for you. Bit of Britain has brown without a flash and black with a flash - pretty much what I’ve found with others.
I like newmarket/london/chestnut on my copper chetty boy with WAY bling. You have to get hunter stuff or special order, luckily I like the look of the hunter stuff.
I have an illness, that I have been trying to find a chestnut/newmarket/london rolled double now for almost 10 years. I finally got one, wrong buckles, doesn’t fit, and seller wigged out, took 6 mos to get it (from England) and no return as seller went out of biz. :sigh: So The Quest continues.
This is his snaffle bridle. I would prefer a different cavesson–this one is too wide for his very fine head. Somehow it looks better in person though…
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/pintopiaffe/RPSI%20day/braidsnbridle.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/pintopiaffe/RPSI%20day/inspectionwalk.jpg
in his previous (chestnut) Courbette hunter bridle with wide french cavesson:
http://www.innisfailte.com/Pics/smallshow.jpg
http://www.innisfailte.com/Pics/blucha.jpg
Ok fashionistas, what color halter and lead shank for my black filly in her DSHB in-hand classes?
Here she is:
http://www.runningwaterwarmbloods.com/index_files/Page663.htm
Until I read this thread, I had no idea it was such a serious matter! Help!
Definitely black. Dark horses look stupid in lighter colored tack.
In hand I prefer a deep rich brown over black for a chestnut. I always show my mare in hand with a hunter bridle because I think it flatters her face/head better. Your filly is very cute, I think she’d look really nice in something light and elegant but if she were mine I think I would look for something that is light on top and wide (but not overwhelming) on the bottom.
Browbands such as these two, here and here but I wouldn’t do the white on the nose and wouldn’t go quite as wide as the first.
It’s all personal preference I guess! I’ve just bought a new black dressage saddle so I’ll have to find something else to match before show season gets underway. 
