My grey mare has a decent tho thin mane, quite braidable for shows. Her forelock is just a little wisp, tho, and looks really silly braided. I would like to use a fly veil, white with black piping to match my saddle pad. Is this acceptable? We are low level and my show clothes are very conservative with black coat, boots and helmet.
They are legal, even, now, the ones with some “soundproofing.”
Totally acceptable, the only word of warning is that a really white bonnet can make a light or white grey look not so sparkly clean.
Thanks Dutchmare- my mare is flea-bitten so never really looks sparkly clean anyway. The only other option would be black, but that is too much of a contrast. I find the black piping sort of separates the not- so sparkly flea bitten coat and the pristine saddle pad!
I always show in a pretty fly veil and his never have to braid the forelock. The steward may ask to remove it at tack check and the one with soundproofing are not legal everywhere (Canada for example) so just make sure your veil complies with your local rules.
I always use a fly veil. I had a bug land in my horse’s ear during stretchy trot and finish the rest of the test with her ear sideways and head tilted. I also don’t clip ears, and my mare objects to having her forelock braided.
I’d consider charcoal if I were you, including for the pad - but think matching pad and fly veil works nicely whatever your selection.
I don’t use them but my trainer and most of my friends show in them. As a steward, I’ve taken them off to look for ear plugs.
No steward should be removing a fly bonnet. Only the rider/designee.
Let me rephrase. The steward can ask you to remove it at the tack check
Yes, that’s what I meant. Most riders dismount to do this…
I use a fly bonnet since I can’t braid a forelock to save my life, and I love it. Just make sure your horse is not headshy and okay with having it taken off after coming out of the ring when the steward needs to check it… I saw a horse having a total meltdown about having his owner take it off at a show this summer. Took the owner and the steward probably ten minutes before they got it wrestled off.
My horse just wants to rub the bonnet and bridle both off on the steward.
I have a flea bitten grey and use a charcoal fly veil. It blends in well with her coat and mane colors.
And not doing so is… unwise. I had a trainer’s groom decide to do it and rip off the fly veil and bridle all in one, with trainer still sitting on horse. A little patience and common sense helps.
NETG- wasn’t there a case of an eventer whose bridle came off with the fly veil and who went careering around the show venue creating havoc for quite a while before anyone could catch it?
Fortunately, my mare is calm (almost to a fault!), no problem removing the veil for a steward. She will probably enjoy the extra attention.
I think the horse was injured, too. I don’t remember exactly. Luckily when I saw the groom rip the bridle off the horse didn’t go anywhere, but the groom and trainer were yelling at ME about it. Seriously, I’m not the one who had a brain fart! That’s also the reason ring stewards are told to NEVER be the one to take it off.
(That incident is why I am now super careful when removing my own, though!)
