Specifically, the USEF Talent Search…
Everyone seems to use pelhams, a few full cheeks here and there. Would a loose ring snaffle stand out too much? My mare is sensitive enough that I can ride smoothly in a loose ring…
Thanks!
I think that is fine. If you use the rubber bit guards take them off.
Ride in what works best for your horse (and is legal)…
I bet the judge would love it.
I think it would be fabulous! I’m not a judge and haven’t been competing in eq in years, but I would think that a judge would place a rider who could ride in a simple snaffle well much higher than a rider who has their horse “bitted up” so to speak. There is a reason dressage makes those bits illegal. 
I’m going to be the odd one out here. I would switch to a plain D. It really isn’t any more bit and looks a little more formal for the show ring.
yes, to me a loose ring without bit guards is improper and with them would be “unconventional”
I asked an R judge about loose rings this past weekend . He said he would never penalize for them and he wishes more people would use them… Said it shows a nice, uncomplicated horse
Thanks everyone!
My mare is also my mom’s dressage horse, which is why she is ridden in a loose ring. We’ve never needed bit guards, and I have actually never seen a dressage rider use them (maybe I just live under a rock lol).
But guards are typically only used in the gaited horse world. I don’t know too many dressage people that put them on their horse. I never do. I think it looks silly and I feel like their pointless. I’m sure someone has had a point in their riding where they served their purpose, but I’ve always ridden without them and have never had an issue.
[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8337969]
But guards are typically only used in the gaited horse world. I don’t know too many dressage people that put them on their horse. I never do. I think it looks silly and I feel like their pointless. I’m sure someone has had a point in their riding where they served their purpose, but I’ve always ridden without them and have never had an issue.[/QUOTE]
Not true, they’re used frequently in the jumper ring on loose ring snaffles and gags that have loose rings like a 2 or 3 ring gag bit. My jumper went in a two ring and got rubs if she didn’t have bit guards on it.
I think its funny that someone would automatically look at a loose ring and assume it meant the horse was simple or uncomplicated when there could be a double twisted wire in the mouth piece! And from further away where a judge is sitting it would make sense because you’re not going to be able to see the details on the the side of their mouth.
[QUOTE=Rel6;8337981]
I think its funny that someone would automatically look at a loose ring and assume it meant the horse was simple or uncomplicated when there could be a double twisted wire in the mouth piece! And from further away where a judge is sitting it would make sense because you’re not going to be able to see the details on the the side of their mouth.[/QUOTE]
That’s true with any bit though. The pelhams could be a happy mouth or corkscrew, and same with loose rings.
^ People do that with D rings too. “Oh, it’s so nice he goes in a plain D!” Er… maybe, but you don’t know that unless you’ve seen the inside.
I would use the shruggy-guy emoticon here if it were possible to do so.
[QUOTE=ponyjumps;8337879]
Thanks everyone!
My mare is also my mom’s dressage horse, which is why she is ridden in a loose ring. We’ve never needed bit guards, and I have actually never seen a dressage rider use them (maybe I just live under a rock lol).[/QUOTE]
mrhoades is a judge who, as we are fortunate enough, often gives us a judge’s perspective/view point. I’d listen to her, as she is giving you firsthand information (granted N=1) of how a judge may look at your bit.
[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8337969]
But guards are typically only used in the gaited horse world. I don’t know too many dressage people that put them on their horse. I never do. I think it looks silly and I feel like their pointless. I’m sure someone has had a point in their riding where they served their purpose, but I’ve always ridden without them and have never had an issue.[/QUOTE]
If I remember corrrectly you won’t see bit guards in dressage since they are not legal to show in.
They are not silly and pointless. What a ridiculous comment. My horse is grey. He rubs easily. If I don’t use bit guards on loose rings and on the Happy Mouth 2 ring elevator he gets bad rubs on the corner of his mouth. Then I can use a bit at all for a week until it heals. Tell me again how “silly and pointless” they are. I did not need them on my QH. Just because your particular horses don’t need them don’t mean they are not needed by other horses.
I always thought the purpose of the bit guard was to prevent the loose-ring bit from being pulled through the mouth if an out-of-control situation happens. In some cases, the loose ring goes right through the mouth if a rider uses a pulley rein, for example. That won’t happen with other types of snaffles.
At least, that’s what I was taught in Pony Club.
Dewey has it correct…as usual
I really wouldn’t care what bit you are showing in as long as your horse goes well in it. That said, let’s say someone cut you off in the flat class and you had to pull sharply to not have a collision, a loose ring with no guards could be a problem. Otherwise I promise I dont spend too much time looking at bits, it the overall presentation and effectiveness that counts
[QUOTE=SonnysMom;8338157]
If I remember corrrectly you won’t see bit guards in dressage since they are not legal to show in.
They are not silly and pointless. What a ridiculous comment. My horse is grey. He rubs easily. If I don’t use bit guards on loose rings and on the Happy Mouth 2 ring elevator he gets bad rubs on the corner of his mouth. Then I can use a bit at all for a week until it heals. Tell me again how “silly and pointless” they are. I did not need them on my QH. Just because your particular horses don’t need them don’t mean they are not needed by other horses.[/QUOTE]
Whatever works is what happens. I think people need to do what is in the best interest of their horse.
[QUOTE=mroades;8338220]
Dewey has it correct…as usual :-)[/QUOTE]
Thank you…:winkgrin:
[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8337656]
I think it would be fabulous! I’m not a judge and haven’t been competing in eq in years, but I would think that a judge would place a rider who could ride in a simple snaffle well much higher than a rider who has their horse “bitted up” so to speak. There is a reason dressage makes those bits illegal. :)[/QUOTE]
I really dislike when people assume that a loose ring/d-ring is harsher than a pelham- or should ‘do better’ based upon what the bit looks like from the side.
I would prefer to put a horse in a happy mouth pelham over a double twisted wire/bicycle chain d-ring any day. Sure if your horse can go in a d-ring snaffle, go for it, but with the technicality of courses in the eq these days it would be hard to find one that did.
Since you haven’t been around the eq in a while, you may not know that about 98% of eq horses go in pelhams, and the 2% that ride in non-pelhams aren’t always on top of the class.
