Matching tack…?

[Amy3996]

Trying to decide if I can get away with keeping the black bridle/breastplate/girth I currently have with a new, deep brown saddle. It hasn’t been oiled yet so will likely darken a shade too.

We’ll be showing local unrecognized dressage and hunters, nothing too stringent on tack and turnout. I’ve previously had the TSF girth and Flexible Fit breastplate in brown - both are closer to a Havana brown than this so a mismatch might be more obvious than the black?

Photo of unenthused gray gremlin for tax.

[Jodyml813]

Looks good enough for me! I love it.

[Scribbler]

I can’t see a difference in the photo.

Also the judges are a long ways away so many small details or subtle variations just don’t show up. Stand 30 feet away and you don’t see much.

[BraveSC]

Nothing much to add but your new saddle looks like a Black Country ricochet? If so, be ready for a fantastic saddle! I LOVE mine and have had it for 9 years.

[Bristol_Bay]

I can’t tell, and I’m a Virgo.

[Amy3996]

It is! My first horse went in the Ricochet and I fell in love with it. After nearly 3 years of swings and misses with other saddles, I’m thrilled to get back in one. Patty Merli helped me with this and she is every bit the saddle fitting wizard she’s been billed to be!

[BraveSC]

Yes she is but I am biased since we are pretty close friends in real life so glad to hear this too! I bought mine from her in 2014 and its still going strong!

[LCDR]

It depends. Since you asked it indicates that you are concerned. Are you concerned enough about not having absolutely matching tack that you will allow your worry about this to distract you from your best riding? Or, if someone notices and mentions it and you overhear are you going to be hurt?

[hoopoe]

You will be absolutely fine. Save your money for things that matter.

[mroades]

I have been judging since 1996. NOT ONCE HAVE I EVER EVER EVER looked for matching tack. Ever…

[Amy3996]

I’m not going to be offended if someone points it out. I was raised in the school of “correctly fitting, clean, safe tack matters more than being perfectly coordinated, but also don’t wear anything that might distract or catch the judge’s attention in a negative way.”

So I’m reassured to hear folks that judge or do a lot more showing than me that it’s not really noticeable or likely to be seen from a distance.

[Equestrian24]

The saddle actually looks black to me. I honestly can’t notice a difference! Everything looks to match well.

[Training_Cupid]

If you’re worried about sticking out, I think the breastplate itself is the bigger issue. Even though they are allowed, I’ve never seen one at a dressage show. For hunters, I’ve generally only seen them in the over fences classes with a standing martingale, and they are typically the thinner ones that just go around the neck not attach to the saddle. Again, not prohibited but a tad unconventional and if you don’t need it to keep the saddle on I would not wear it.

[Amy3996]

Fair point, thank you. He’s grown and filled out enough that it probably isn’t as necessary now as it was when he was a baby stringbean, plus the saddle actually fits now. I may start experimenting with leaving it off to flat.

[fivestrideline]

Came here to say the same thing about the breastplate - I could be wrong but I thought only the “hunting” style that attaches to D rings (or savers) was allowed in the hunter ring at all. I do not think attaching to the sides of the girth is allowed, but it definitely would be seen as unconventional in anything other than low level schooling stuff.

I’ve never seen one like this in the show ring, though I’ve seen a few in the hunting style - breastplates in general are uncommon in the hunters.

[Amy3996]

My understanding is that breastplates are legal, though unconventional. Running martingale is an absolute no-no (which is a non-issue since he doesn’t use one).

For reference, this is a horse whose show experience consists of a whopping 2 intro dressage tests in his life and one hunter show where we schooled for exposure and didn’t compete. All were “all are welcome, come as you are” type grassroots schooling shows. I also haven’t jumped consistently since losing my schoolmaster in 2020. We’re just out there to have some fun, hopefully not eat dirt, and get some experience under our belts. I’m not sure my goals will ever move much beyond that as an adult ammy with limited time and resources and not much desire to chase points or go to big shows.

On the off chance that ever changes, though, this is useful information to have so thank you all for the thoughtful responses!

[fivestrideline]

@Amy3996

Running martingale is an absolute no-no

What’s funny is a running martingale is actually totally legal! And considered conventional. You’ll see them in the eq and medals sometimes, but you are right that they are uncommon. And smaller judges/unrated shows may not realize they’re legal and penalize them.

Obviously it doesn’t actually matter for your purposes, and I think your grey is adorable. Y’all go out there and have fun!

[mroades]

Yep, running martingales are actually legal in hunters

[Calvincrowe]

Echoing what mroades said: As someone who has judged the local “come as you are, all welcome” hunter shows, your “non-matching tack” will not matter one bit. As long as you aren’t jumping in a dressage saddle (that would stand out a bit!), you’ll be fine. Clean, well-fitting, discipline specific tack and clothing is always appropriate. I’m not looking at each piece individually, but instead the whole picture of rider and horse (and really, the brand doesn’t matter-- can’t see the logos from the judge’s booth!)

Breast plates aren’t seen much in the show ring, but are perfectly legal. Running martingales are not common in the hunters, but are legal of course.

[Pokerface]

OP, to add on to the feedback that you got, I would say that the only time color of tack really matters is if it is very light colored or something really off. As was mentioned, your saddle is so dark as to be nearly black, which is very common in well-oiled saddles, especially with the nicer leather. So you really wouldn’t see a difference one way or the other. Very light colored tack is more likely to look a bit odd, I think mostly because people assume lighter colored tack is not oiled, so therefore not cared for properly/stiff. My schooling bridle has light colored padding, it is soft and well cared for (well, moderately well cared for, I’m not great about taking care of my bridle on a regular basis, but that is not why it’s light), but that is just what it looks like. I have had people comment on how light it is and how it needs to be oiled, which it usually does not.