Over on the Dressage page folks are talking about the new PS of Sweden bridles. Since they don’t come with a throatlatch, you need to order one separately in order to show.
Is this also the case in Eventing dressage? My older bridle doesn’t have one and there’s no way to attach one. May need to buy a new bridle if I want to event this spring!!
There’s no rule that I can see specifying that you must have one. The Micklem is legal and doesn’t have one. There’s also another anatomical bridle pictured that it specifies doesn’t have one: http://useventing.com/sites/default/files/USEA_2016_Rulebook.pdf – it’s on p.89
I think your best bet would be email USEF and ask whether your specific bridle is legal. That way you can get a written answer in case anyone ever gives you trouble.
Yes you do. There’s no clear rule but when I asked USEA (I use PS of Sweden) they deferred to USEF, who deferred to their dressage rules and said yes for now it is required. There’s one tiny little bit of wording in the rulebook. I think that’s silly and am trying to get it changed, but for right now - you need a throatlatch.
You don’t have to have it for XC or stadium though.
Thanks guys! I did look through the USEA rules and saw some line saying Eventing Dressage: rider must use an approved bridle…but didn’t specify what that is. Was hoping to get out of another “show item purchase”, but guess not 
[QUOTE=Lusoluv;8566069]
Thanks guys! I did look through the USEA rules and saw some line saying Eventing Dressage: rider must use an approved bridle…but didn’t specify what that is.[/QUOTE]
Appendix 4 covers “PERMITTED SADDLERY FOR DRESSAGE” and explicitly shows two bridle setups without a conventional throatlatch. That seems reasonably straightforward–if somebody at the USEF is looking at the current rulebook and saying it’s required anyway, I would really like to know how they justify it. (Well, really, I’d just be inclined to ignore them as a bit misguided, but then I’m fairly willing to butt heads with authority and risk disqualification, however bogus. There are enough rules without people making stuff up.)
However, you may want to have a friend at bit check with the pictures ready for when a throat latchless bridle stumps a volunteer.
I had to come to the rescue of my friend last year when her rubber digbone bit freaked out but check. Lol.
Its almost not worth the trouble. Just toss in a 10 dollar throat latch when you order that lovely 300 dollar bridle. That’s what I did.
[QUOTE=amb;8566255]
Appendix 4 covers “PERMITTED SADDLERY FOR DRESSAGE” and explicitly shows two bridle setups without a conventional throatlatch. That seems reasonably straightforward–if somebody at the USEF is looking at the current rulebook and saying it’s required anyway, I would really like to know how they justify it. (Well, really, I’d just be inclined to ignore them as a bit misguided, but then I’m fairly willing to butt heads with authority and risk disqualification, however bogus. There are enough rules without people making stuff up.)[/QUOTE]
I was told it’s because those are allowed as very specific bridle designs. So if it’s not that exact thing, it’s not covered under that rule.
OP, I am not sure what kind of bridle you have but unless it has some other mechanism to keep the bridle on the head - Micklem’s straps serve the same purpose - then a throatlatch is a safety issue and I’m not sure why you wouldn’t want to use one.
I know not only are they required for driving horses but you use a strap that goes from the throatlatch to the noseband to make sure the horse cannot rub the bridle off.
That PS bridle just appears to not have one! Why would you do that?
I do not own or plan to buy the PS of Sweden bridle…lovely as it looks. My old Euro-style dressage snaffle doesn’t have a throatlatch. Used this bridle for years when riding with my Portuguese trainer as that’s what all his stallions go in and I had a Luso at the time…One less piece to buckle, it was their bridle style tradition, etc. Saw no reason to change…
I have heard the safety argument before, but have never had one of mine fly off, get rubbed off, etc. Decades ago I showed reining horses and you never saw throatlatches on western performance horse tack. My double bridle has a throatlatch and when properly fitted (1 hand width space between the jaw) a horse could theoretically still rub it off if left to his own devices. I even took off my double a few times forgetting to undo the throatlatch before I realized it, but I digress…
I will buy an economy dressage bridle for use the few times I plan to show. I don’t want to spend all the time, money and effort to show and worry about getting DQ’d.
Same. The only bridle of mine that has EVER come off is my hackamore bridle - which has a throatlatch. The others have never even budged. You’d have to make the throatlatch pretty tight before it’ll actually do much to keep the bridle on, and at that point it’s too tight. If you’re worried about the bridle coming off, tie it into a braid with some yarn. That’s the only thing that’s really going to help it stay put.
[QUOTE=Hilary;8566499]
OP, I am not sure what kind of bridle you have but unless it has some other mechanism to keep the bridle on the head - Micklem’s straps serve the same purpose - then a throatlatch is a safety issue and I’m not sure why you wouldn’t want to use one.
I know not only are they required for driving horses but you use a strap that goes from the throatlatch to the noseband to make sure the horse cannot rub the bridle off.
That PS bridle just appears to not have one! Why would you do that?[/QUOTE]
I don’t know how much of a safety feature a throatlatch is, I have seen traditional hunter type bridles pulled entirely off the horse a number of times through the years. Usually the rider sailed over the horse’s head while holding on to the reins, taking the bridle with him/her.
Also better check…to my information PS Sweden is Not legal,to show in for eventing…Dressage the nose band hasn t been approved…I have both styles and a Mixklem…I love the PS
The PS bridles have normal nose bands. Or you can put your own nose band on. It’s really just the crown that is so nice.
For the OP, make a throat latch. It’s just two pieces of leather. Just like the bridles that have a throat latch buckle on both sides (I have a kieffer like that). You just use the highest hole on the cheek piece straps to buckle the throat latch to.
I have reliably informed this is not acceptable recognized dressage. Noseband…
http://www.psofsweden.com/en/for-the-horse/bridle/high-jump-revolution.html
FYI- I have a PS of Sweden bridle and I inquired last year to the USEA and the USEF. The bottom line is you have to have a throatlatch. Unless it is a specific Micklem bridle, it needs to have a throatlatch. This is from the USEF dressage person. I can scrounge up all the emails, but trust me. I had started working on a rule change request but life got in the way. My solution- I bought the extra throat (you could probably have your local leather repair person make you one). And I carry it in my trailer. I don’t use it at home but make sure I have it at shows. I use the same bridle for jumping in brown and I don’t use a throat on that one at all because for XC and SJ it isn’t a problem. Good luck. It needs to specifically be a rule before we won’t have to use one. ??
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
