Dressage newbie here with what is surely a very basic question… do dressage shows provide you with a number that can be pinned on your saddle pad when you check in at the show office? At H/J shows you receive a back number for this purpose - is it the same situation at dressage shows? Or does everyone bring one of those reusable number things for their bridles? Headed to my first show in a couple of weeks and realizing…I am probably in over my head 
My barnmates are all foxhunters so they are no help haha! (I am in Ontario, Canada if that matters.) Thanks in advance!
In US, the show will provide #'s. They are the kind that hook on bridle browband. Some shows give you two - one for bridle and one for halter. If you only get one, it needs/should be moved back and forth - if horse is handwalked or in wash rack it goes on halter. When ridden it goes on bridle.
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It depends which shows. Pre-Covid, you always picked up a number at the show office. Depending on the show, it might be one that attaches to the bridle or one that pins on the saddle pad.
Now, to eliminate people coming to the office and to minimize contact, some shows are asking competitors to bring their own reusable numbers. For example the Caledon Dressage show at Palgrave this month is doing that.
Bridle numbers are more common than saddle pad ones at dressage shows here in the GTA at least. And, as was pointed out above, makes it easier for hand walking as you can attach it to the halter. Numbers are supposed to be displayed anytime the horse is out of its stall.
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Thank you both!
No matter where you put the number, please be sure the scribe can see it! Far too often riders come around the outside with the number on the inside of the bridle… they dont come back the other way… and then when turning off the CL at the start of the test they again turn so the number is inside… help us scribes out and either go both ways past the box before the bell, or announcing your number as you go by!! thank you !!
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even if the show gives out an old fashion paper number card, or a bridle tag, you can still use your own bridle tag set, if you have one
I would like to add if you bring/buy your own numbers, make sure they are large enough. I have 20/20 vision but still sometimes have trouble reading them depending on how far away the judge’s stand is.
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Before starting the test I walk past judges booth and say my #, just to make sure.
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Learn from my mistake as I always used the numbers provided at the show. At a show last month, my new browband dipped, the number bobbed her in the eye which set off a series of rear/hops and we missed our second 60% for second level.
Get the numbers you can pin on your saddle pad and leave the numbers provided for the show on your halter.
Plus, I always stop in front of the judge’s booth at shows and announce my number at the scribe.
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if the numbers are disposable / one use, you can trim them smaller on the front and back edge.
I invested in a bridle tag set which I knew would always fit. They also make saddle pad number tag sets.
You can also sew two loops on your saddle pad and hook the bridle tag through that
sorry about your score. I had a deer prance through, behind the judges booth, and pretty much scotched my needed bronze medal score. I retired from riding a few weeks later.
You’ll getum next time
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Yikes. When we put on our schooling shows the numbers were entered on the score sheet way ahead of time, then given to the riders in a packet when they showed up at the office. The scribe just had to verify when the horse and rider approached.
How does it work if you supply your own number?
Yup! I like to put my number on the side that I’m going to turn after my halt. When I first go around the outside of the arena I turn so that the number is towards the judge the first time I pass in front (though I also say my bridle number for good measure because I’ve scribed and I know how helpful that is). Then I change direction so I’m going the way I’m supposed to turn off centerline. This system gives the horse a view of the booth from both directions, helps me remember where I need to go after the halt, and gives the scribe/judge a view of the number on my first pass.
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The show still assigns the numbers to horses. The tag sets that you buy come with numbers, so you make up a tag using whatever number the show assigned.
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OP here! The show we attended a couple of weeks ago ended up putting bridle numbers outside the show office so people could self-serve (to reduce COVID risks) - was very easy!
(This was my first foray into dressage land and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The atmosphere was so well-organized and relaxing compared to the H/J shows I’m used to. I’m definitely a convert! We ended up winning both First Level classes and were champion so was an extra good time.)
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Pro tip: Shows used to have a $2 number deposit fee so you’d return the number and they could reuse it. I haven’t seen shows do that in a long time. If you aren’t required to return your number, stash it in your show kit, along with a black marker. If anything happens to your number at another show (rain, dropped in mud, tossed off head, etc.) you can turn the pin of an old number over and write your current show number on the back. Perfectly acceptable. You can also just keep your current show number(s) on your bridle and use an old number (flipped over as above) on the halter. The number doesn’t have to go on the bridle if it bothers your horse. You can pin it to the pad or even hook it on your boot. I know one very gracious show that keeps a supply of used numbers in a bag with a marker stashed with the ring steward – if anyone shows up in warmup without their number, the steward can do a quick fix.
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