I SWEAR I saw that the high jump and other anatomical flash were now legal for Dressage but I can’t find the pdf now. Can anyone confirm or deny this?
Best to contact USEF directly.
The rulebook does now have drawings of allowed combined nosebands, but not sure if the Jump Off is considered a combined noseband. (It’s not quite a Micklem, and not quite the same as a Tota.)
As well, the rules mention a crescent noseband (which is what the High Jup looks like, but there is no longer a drawing of one, which used to be in the rules.
So best to go to the source, and ask USEF.
I gather that throat latches are still required? I bought one separately, but never use it except for shows. It seems to be extraneous, so I wonder why USDF still requires one.
Yes, still need throatlatches.
You need that throat latch so your dressage competitors don’t come by, “Man From Snowy River” style and pull your bridle off your horse’s ears, as you are galloping madly chasing the Brumbies in your warmup.
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If you plan to complete, and I’d say this for any new/off-the-beaten-path/different looking tack or bitting - Send a photo of tack and/or setup to USEF, ahem, USE, and once they verify it IS LEGAL, keep a printout of that conversation and photos to bring to horse show should there ever be a questions or issue. If things are so new and/or different, especially given our judges and TD’s are people too, it is best to have direct clarification versus getting DQ’d. Just my 2 cents.
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^ What GreyGelding said.
OP, I seem to remember something similar but is it possible what you saw was the FEI equipment update? There is specific mention, with pics, of several PS of Sweden bridles: http://inside.fei.org/system/files/1_New%20approved%20equipment%202016%20-%20DRE.pdf
ETA: See the last page of the 2016 version of the attire and equipment booklet here. The bridle at the bottom (very last pic of the document) is a PS of Sweden. It is listed as illegal but the reason given is the lack of throatlatch so that implies that with a throatlatch you should be ok. I would still try to get something in writing though, just in case.
The High Jump cavesson contains wire (which allows the user to change the shape to accommodate differences in conformation), so it’s not dressage legal.
Reviving this thread as I just ordered a High Jump (for jumping) but am looking at this model for dressage. http://www.psofsweden.com/en/bridles/pioneer In black of course. I’m not seeing how this is much different from a Micklem which is approved. Any thoughts? I am an eventer.
Just in case you didn’t get a Pioneer yet, the High Jump is now legal for the dressage phase of eventing (specifically shown in the rules) providing you don’t use the bit cradles (they are optional) and you do add the throat latch (which now comes with all their bridles).
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Thank you so much!
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Hi Cindy, I have tried both the micklem and the pioneer, and by far I find the pioneer to be superior all around. The micklem (competition) is indian tanned leather which is processed with toxic chromium (google chromium sulfate toxicity and you’ll never buy indian tanned leather again) and the pioneer is english vegetable tanned leather.
The micklem never was able to fit with all the pieces in the appropriate places for my horse, and it cannot be purchased by the part to achieve a perfect fit like the PS bridles. I did not get to try riding in the micklem because the fit was honestly so poor that it was not safe, but from the first ride in the PS Pioneer my mouthy 4 year old was very content and quiet in the bridle, and was able to maintain balance over his back for a much longer duration than in his previous schooling bridle (courbette snaffle bridle from the 90’s)
What is the bit cradle? For dressage shows you cannot have the metal clip on the noseband., take it off and attach it using the leather piece, also add a throat latch.
The bit cradle is an elastic piece inside of the loop of leather that holds the bit. So you can either have it hanging from the leather like a normal bridle, or hanging from the elastic piece. It is not legal to show while using the bit cradle. I just recently saw a picture of it (been going back and forth on the PS of Sweden brand for my own horse), but now I can’t find it. Hopefully that explanation made sense!
Second last page of this document http://inside.fei.org/system/files/1_New%20approved%20equipment%202017%20-%20DRE_update%2007.11.17.pdf has a picture of the bit cradles. They are not like the plastic clips on the Micklem bridle. They are legal in FEI competitions, so I am guessing they will eventually be legal in USEF too.
^^^ this. I had a friend who was eliminated at our Regional Championships this Fall because she was riding in a PS Sweden snaffle bridle that had that metal snap on the noseband. The TD’s poured over the rulebook but eventually DQ’d her because it wasn’t fully leather.
Was it one of the interchangeable pieces that uses a metal snap to take it on and off in lieu of buckles?
Hi SnicklefritzG… you know, I’m not super familiar with those bridles since I don’t own one. I just remember instead of a buckle securing the noseband, it was a metal snap. Just wanted to mention it, because my friend is pretty knowledgeable about tack and wasn’t aware that snap would cause the bridle to be illegal.
Just got a response from USEF. The High Jump is legal for FEI dressage but not for USEF/USDF dressage. The Jump Off bridle is legal for dressage with a throatlatch added. Both bridles are legal for USEF/USEA Eventing Dressage.
Be careful with the bit cradles - the stewards I’ve asked (Canada) have said they are not legal for national dressage classes along the same lines as reins with elastic inserts. Don’t know about FEI
classes
