Rules on saddle pad colour (dressage)

[Blugal]

I am doing a rule-change proposal on this. I almost got eliminated at a combined test this weekend for using a dark, navy pad. I knew I was risking it - but afterwards, I went and checked the rules. There are none on saddle pads for eventing. I’ve checked the Canadian, American, and FEI rules. In fact, I could easily make the case that they are not permitted at all!

I have spoken with the TD and she agreed - she said we fall back to Dressage rules, which are white, off-white, grey, or black.

Well, screw that. I wanted to wear one pad for all 3 phases on a wet, rainy, muddy weekend, and navy is plenty conservative enough. I think the same colour scheme could apply to helmets, jackets, jodhs, and pads without any problem. Conservative light or dark colours - that would include grey, navy, brown (to go with tweed). The H/J set could probably even pull off muted pastels, I bet.

I haven’t found where in our rules we agree to default to the dressage rules, so that is my next step. (As maybe I can just have a rule change that says “we don’t default to dressage”.)

ETA:
-Canada: the eventing rules state they are to be read in conjunction with the General Regulations (not dressage). General regulations say nothing about saddle pads. Under the eventing dressage section, (D303), 1.2 reads, ‘The rules governing the Dressage Test shall be as laid down in the FEI “Rules for Dressage” except where specifically modified in the following respects.’

-USA: any situation not covered by the USEF eventing rules default to FEI dressage rules.

-FEI: I’ve found the FEI eventing rule that says “default to dressage rules” - in the preamble. But the dressage rules don’t say anything about pad colour.

[runNjump86]

What area? I found the events I volunteered and showed at in CA were pretty lax on pad colors as long as it wasn’t a super bright color. Nobody would have bat an eye at navy, FWIW.

TBH the color rules baffle me in general. I feel like as long as it’s not distracting then why not have fun? Hell, even DQ’s are embracing colors!! If you start a petition, please post it!

[Blugal]

Here in BC - a terrific unrecognized show (the prizes are better than most of the recognized ones!) to start the season. They were pretty nice about it, and lent me a white pad. But, “be the change you want to see” :winkgrin: I’ve got a bee in my bonnet about a few rules, and since I’m ticked off at Equine Canada they are going to have to deal with me this year!

[Blugal]

Well, I’ve now found the Equine Canada dressage rule that may apply, and I was fine with my navy pad:

Article 4.6:
“If a saddle pad is used, it must be solid white, off white, grey, black
or other dark colour. It may have piping of a different colour to the pad.”

I am discussing with the TD whether the dressage rules actually apply. It appears to me that they don’t - the default is to the general regulations, or FEO dressage rules, not to the Canadian dressage rules.

Anyone else care to weigh in? I’m thinking that a nice dark chocolate pad with a brown saddle and the rider in tweed jacket and brown breeches would look mighty spiffy on a chestnut. And it would be a lot easier to clean than all this white crap…

[fanfayre]

Sure, I’ll back you with this! Just let me know where and when to sign!

[JP60]

I’d sign something as well for I find this an interesting topic. We are Eventers, not dressage queens/kings and given that we can wear our colors on cross country, cannot see why we cannot reflect them in dressage via a pad.

I did a show recently and in a small bit of defiance, and as I understood the rules I used my xc pad which is a medium red color. As I passed by the judge I heard her say “that’s a lot of red”. Later I felt the scoring was not reflective of the ride (I know I know, but I’ve done this too many times and I tend to agree with judges).

Did color impact my score, because I was not traditional? It should not. With all the crap changes going on in this sport, the least obnoxious would be setting an actual rule that allowed any solid color with or without piping.

[Synthesis]

Hey, I got mad at the ‘white or light colored breech’ requirement for dressage & SJ. I submitted rule change proposals for the Dressage and SJ portions of the EC event rule book applicable to Prelim and below AND the EC dressage rule book (4th and below). Because … consistency people!

Can the PTB please(!!!) get a grip on raising unnecessary barriers to entry? Do you know how many people I’ve heard over the years “I could never show dressage, not in those white breeches. Its embarassing!” There goes similar willingness to test out eventing.

A TD threatening elimination over a saddle pad color is sheer idiocy. A judge marking a rider down because of saddle pad color is sheer idiocy.

How does either one know if this is the one competition they could get to this season? Or if it is the person’s first time testing out a new discipline? Way to be welcoming and help grow the sport.

Arrg, rant rant rant. I actually wrote an entire rant about this last year

[PaintedHunter]

I’ve used a navy pad with white piping on it a gazillion times and never had a word said to me. I’d be pretty pissed if I did!

[Blugal]

@Synthesis;8636692

Hey, I got mad at the ‘white or light colored breech’ requirement for dressage & SJ. I submitted rule change proposals for the Dressage and SJ portions of the EC event rule book applicable to Prelim and below AND the EC dressage rule book (4th and below). Because … consistency people!

Synthesis, when did you submit these rule changes? Care to share with me - no point reinventing the wheel.

Oh yeah. I got in trouble for that too. I decided to wear my kinda brownish breeches (because… mud) and you’re 100% correct, white or light is mandatory, unless (in Canada) you are wearing a tweed jacket, then brown is OK. But not in the States.

I am seriously considering going to the thrift store, buying a tweed jacket, and wearing that and brown breeches, with a navy or chocolate saddle pad at the next event. I’ll speak to the TD beforehand (unless I have an 8 am ride time, which karma will ensure).

[kcmel]

[QUOTE=PaintedHunter;8636693]
I’ve used a navy pad with white piping on it a gazillion times and never had a word said to me. I’d be pretty pissed if I did![/QUOTE]

I think you are in the US. The OP is in Canada.

[runNjump86]

At a schooling show no less?! WOW!! Was the TD in a pissy mood that day or what?! At our schooling shows we have seen everything and anything, and the judge doesn’t bat an eye because it’s a SCHOOLING SHOW! Geeze.

The only time I’ve heard her make statements regarding what is and is not allowed is when someone comes in and they forgot to take off their horse’s boots. She would politely remind them to remove the boots next time, but never did she or any of the officials at the show threaten disqualification!

[PaintedHunter]

[QUOTE=kcmel;8636816]
I think you are in the US. The OP is in Canada.[/QUOTE]

I know, but since we have ambiguous rules about “conservative,” it’s not out of the realm of possibility for someone one day to take offense to it, ya know?

[Synthesis]

[QUOTE=Blugal;8636807]
Synthesis, when did you submit these rule changes? Care to share with me - no point reinventing the wheel.

Oh yeah. I got in trouble for that too. I decided to wear my kinda brownish breeches (because… mud) and you’re 100% correct, white or light is mandatory, unless (in Canada) you are wearing a tweed jacket, then brown is OK. But not in the States.

I am seriously considering going to the thrift store, buying a tweed jacket, and wearing that and brown breeches, with a navy or chocolate saddle pad at the next event. I’ll speak to the TD beforehand (unless I have an 8 am ride time, which karma will ensure).[/QUOTE]

I just pm’d over one of the submissions. I only have one copy left in my email, must have deleted the other 2.

There’s two things that make me crazy in competition, reps on a power trip and reps that don’t know how to read a rule book for comprehension. Oddly, I’ve seen the pair in combination more often than separate, usually related to threatening to eliminate competitors for legal equipment.

[Blugal]

Thanks Synthesis, I just had a busy day so didn’t have the chance to check your PM until now.

After I posted this thread, I realized that we are a bunch of grown adults arguing over the colour of our saddle pads. I cannot even believe I have to contemplate writing a rule change proposal over this. However, I feel quite strongly about the ease of washing a dark pad once rather than a white pad 3 times for every show, and even stronger about being right, so I think I will.

[Synthesis]

[QUOTE=Blugal;8637862]
Thanks Synthesis, I just had a busy day so didn’t have the chance to check your PM until now.

After I posted this thread, I realized that we are a bunch of grown adults arguing over the colour of our saddle pads. I cannot even believe I have to contemplate writing a rule change proposal over this. However, I feel quite strongly about the ease of washing a dark pad once rather than a white pad 3 times for every show, and even stronger about being right, so I think I will.[/QUOTE]

Oh I hear you!
On the other hand, we are grown adults TRYING to spend our money on competitions. Can’t we just do so without being told to spend MORE money on impractical and/or unflattering equipment?

If we spent less money on mandated riding coats, dirt magnet breeches, dirt magnet saddle pads and the like it would free up more money for the competing/lessons/clinics etc. I thought this is what the governance was all about?