Just for an FYI, the first and only place I ever heard people worrying if their bridle and saddle were the exact same color, was here on this BB. I’ve been going to A shows for 45 years. When I showed, almost everything I had was used, or off the rack. I did not have high end tack, my clothes were knock offs or the things that were fashionable a few years before. Not one time did I think, “If only I had something better than a Bobby’s bridle! I would have won!” That said, everything fit and my non custom boots were polished.
Beige breeches and a navy coat and you will be fine.
Yes, first impressions are important when show in the hunter ring because 1) your are judged from the moment you enter the ring and 2) your overall score is opinion based. That being said, in my opinion, a hunter judge’s first impression revolves around making sure your boots are polished, your horse’s braids are tidy and neat, the coat shins and the horse is in good weight, your horse is well trained and you enter the ring at your horse’s best gait. This helps the judge form an impression about the quality and movement of your horse. That is very different than assuming braids on the left, black tack or white breeches automatically makes a bad impression. Maybe I am incorrect, but I think you misunderstood what was being discussed at the clinic in regards to first impressions. I have attended these clinics regularly too. Did the clinician actually state during the clinic that a horse must be braided on the right, black tack is not acceptable and riders shouldn’t be wearing white breeches?
But I think that a left-braided mane would be much more noticeable on a photograph than it is live in person. I still would argue that if you saw a horse in the arena cantering around a course (and the braids were well done, meaning unnoticeable otherwise), I just don’t think it would be some bizarrely distracting detail (though the photos of the round afterward might be!).
@Pennywell Bay - I have a mare who has a left laying mane that I haven’t been able to get over to the correct side. As I mentioned above, I’m positive my braider would simply braid her to the right and be done with it and it wouldn’t be a big deal. But f I were braiding her myself I might not. She’s uber sensitive (like seriously sensitive) about everything. And I guess my thinking is that if it’s anything like changing a part in human hair it makes your hair sore when you first change things. If I were to braid her I might keep it on the side that her mane lies on anyway.
But to that point - I guess my point was not that “people should braid on whatever side they want.” But more that if you have a legitimate reason you need to do something minorly unconventional (and making the assumption that we’re not talking about something specifically against the rules), it’s really truly seriously not a big deal. And if your turnout around that little minor thing is impeccable, then I think that the majority of the time no one is going to notice.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’ve been in situations where I had to do something that I’ve heard trainers say would result in immediate implosion and absolutely make it impossible to place, and never had it be an issue under many, many different judges.
Would I recommend that people try to do weird unique things in the hunters? Of course not. But if the need is there I just think that the unspoken rules of hunterland are way WAY overstated.
I’ve had several horses whose manes naturally fall left, and I don’t fight it. I actually find those manes easier to braid right, because the rest of the mane is out of my way. That said, what the braider stated earlier in the thread about pulling it from the right is true. And a right pulled mane lying left does look less tidy.
See I find all these comments very interesting, only because I tend to score much higher under judges from the Eastern side of North America! The ones that, apparently, are the more “traditional " zones”! Yet, my attire and horses more forward pace, is definitely not the way a lot of you are saying these judges like! Guess they might secretly like the "mavericks " or could it be, they just judge the rounds and don’t notice the small stuff. As long as you’re horse is clean, in good weight, you’re tidy and clean, they really DON’T notice the side a braid job is done or you have a black saddle!
Watched the Hunter Spectacular from WEF last evening. Didn’t notice a single braid job UNTIL a dark bay horse came in with something white in a middle braid on his (right-braided) neck. It bothered me, wanted to pick it out like a big piece of shavings.
Yes,…but the judges scored the round not the braid job! I believe, if I’m remembering correctly, this was one of the horses that made the 2nd round? I found , overall, I really enjoyed watching this class and completely agreed with the top 3 placins!
I’m not showing anymore, so perhaps this is a moot question, but…when I was showing, every flat class I ever entered had an announcement of “You are now being judged” and it was always a couple of minutes AFTER everyone was in the ring and walking on the rail. That doesn’t suggest that (at least on the flat) riders are being judged from the moment they step inside the gate.
When I’ve sat next to judges as an announcer and they are getting ready for the flat class, the following is what is happening…riders are entering the ring, their numbers are being called up to the judges booth, the judge is busy writing the riders number down, judge will also keep a class count of how many are in the ring. Once he/she is happy that everyone is in the ring, we let the ingate know we are starting the class and to close the gate. We now say “you are now being judged” to let the participants know to come back to walk, as you can work at will until you hear this announcement. Judge now starts to make notes on the class in front of he/she and starts to move horses around depending on what happens within the class!
Yes, while you’re working at free will, first impressions are made…I’ve heard judges say “oh I like that horse” but they don’t start actually recording and making notes until the class officially starts, as sometimes you’ll loose that that nice moving canter because it overbends in the trot (cough…mine…cough…lol)
Oops…Davenrty posted at the same time…sorry…I agree, over fences you’re judged as soon as you step into the ring until you leave! I have learnt a ton sitting next to judges announcing!
As promised, here is my article on Hunter Myths: Separating Truth From Fiction. I interviewed A LOT of hunter judges across North America for this article but could only add in a few judge’s comments due to limited space. Most of the judge’s laughed at some of the myths that frequent the hunter bulletin boards and commented that they have more important things to worry about than what a rider or horse are wearing (as long as it is legal tack & attire) and what side the mane is braided on. Only one judge seems to care about black tack and braids and I included his comments in the article. Despite repeated attempts, he did not disclose whether marks would be deducted or not.
Interestingly enough, I did have two judges that stated that brown tack and braids on the right were considered traditional in the hunter ring but noted that they would not deduct any points for it. Yet, after asking them to explain where this tradition originated from, neither one had an answer. We continued to have a great discussion about knights & swords and dyed tack from the 70’s. By the time the conversation was finished, these judges changed their opinion in regards to what is considered traditional tack and braiding in the hunter ring…because there is no basis for the tradition.
Anyways, I had a lot of fun writing the article and listening to some of the most respected hunter judges in North America. An interesting note, Julie Winkel is currently writing a book, along with Tricia Booker, that is geared towards hunter competitors, parents and trainers. After interviewing Julie, she has agreed to address these hunter myths in their book and it should be available to the public by the fall.
I really heart it…