Will I get eliminated or otherwise penalized if I go into the dressage ring with a red ribbon still in my horse’s tail? I thought there was a line in the rules forbidding ribbons and baubles from my horse’s mane/tail, but I couldn’t find it- mostly it just mentions no boots, wraps, etc. I use a 1 inch wide red satin ribbon. It is quite noticeable but not over the top.
I do not know the current rule, but 2 years ago a friend was warned by a judge at a schooling show that if she entered the arena with a ribbon she’d be eliminated at recognized.
There’s nothing in the USEF Eventing rulebook about it (or about tails at all.) It specifically IS allowed in the straight Dressage rules. I’m assuming you don’t have a ground person who can just pull it for you? I think it’s unlikely to be an issue at most events, but I would email USEF and ask for an official ruling in writing that you can pull out if there’s a problem.
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I know I’ve seen tail ribbons in some of the Grand Prix jumping streams I’ve gotten from FEI, can’t recall if I’ve seen it in any of the eventing dressage streams. It would be monumentally stupid on the part of the rule writers and stewards to prohibit it, though, I would think. “Hey, I haven’t seen nearly enough horses being kicked in the face in the warm-up ring/barn aisle/in gate lately, Steve.” “I know, Marion, let’s make rule that red tail ribbons are prohibited in the ring for dressage, so people make sure to take it out early and then forget to put it back in!”
Apologies to any Steves or Marions in the audience.
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Right? When the judge told my friend she’d be eliminated, we both said the same thing!
I’m now extra curious to find out if this is actually against the rules or just a judge being picky. My friend currently has to dismount or get someone else to remove the ribbon before going in.
You know, that judge was a stupid asshat. It’s about safety.
Now, if he wants to penalize under judge’s discretion because it’s an indication that the horse isn’t truly obedient…okay, whatever, mental note never to show under that judge again. But I would hope the association would see the folly of that logic.
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Is it possible that the schooling show “judge” might not have been qualified to judge at a recognized competition?
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There is nothing in the EVENTING rules about ribbons. I know because a USDF judge asked me about my colored yarn for my braids, and i went and looked. The comment in straight dressage rules is about ribbons and decorations in the mane…
You CAN wear a red tail ribbon in dressage at a recognized USEA event. I have done it many times.
Pro tip- figure out at home how to tie it on well so it doesn’t slide down as you ride! Ended up bugging my mare worse than a horse running up behind her would have. There is a reason I don’t have this mare anymore.
If you feel like a judge may (either consciously or subconsciously) penalize for it, you could wear it in warm up and pull it off as you go into the ring. FWIW I scored well and never got any comments about it. (mare was a witch, but at least she did well in dressage!)
No, she’s a legit judge although she predominately judges straight dressage competitions. Maybe that’s where the misunderstanding originated.
I 100% agree that it’s ridiculous to penalize for it. I also don’t see it as a sign of “disobedience.” It’s not like the horse is a danger to kicking me, the rider, just other horses. And yes, it’s definitely a safety issue!
Ok so I decided to do what Highflyer suggested, since it never donned upon me to ask someone at USEA/USEF! The consensus between Sharon Gallagher and Shealagh Costello was basically that it shouldn’t be a problem, but I better check with the TD at each competition to be sure. Shealagh was particularly concerned that a judge might construe it as a “gadget”. But the nice thing is that Shealagh has offered to take it to the USEF Rules Working Group for further clarification, which I believe I will take her up on. Surely I can’t be the only one with a naughty horse and a sense of responsibility regarding the safety of others around him in the warmup.
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I show with one in all phases and no one has ever commented on it!
What a frustrating response. Either it’s against the rules or it isnt, the TD (and the judge) are bound by the rules, they don’t get to make up their own. USEF is so chaotic.
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USEF rules for « straight » dressage says a red ribbon is allowed in the tail for kickers.
Its not like if it was a decoration anyway or if it could enhance the performance.
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enter all hunter riders suddenly inserting red ribbons in tails as a work around gadget… 
(I’m show hunters so I am being self deprecating…)
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The reality is that they totally get to make up their own rules, perhaps based on whim, or what the rules were 20 years ago, or the rule change that was proposed but didn’t make it that they like anyway, or FEI driving rules, or whatever really. Much like “oh we threw out your ride time to make room for BNT”, any recourse you get won’t fix your screwed-up weekend and is a long time coming and is mostly likely to take the form of a letter saying “you were right, sorry, oh well.”
I think as a practical matter we mostly get to put up with the bullshit and then vote with our feet, but I’m frequently told that event evaluations are read and acted on. I do fill them out, I’m just cynical about the results–I’d love to hear about how there’s an effective system on the other end of things to help judges and TDs get feedback on where they could do better. I don’t expect anything made of people to be perfect, but it all feels too one-sided right now.
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