What do you jump/flat/show in?

[7Seven]

I’m really interested in hearing what tack everybody rides their horses in when jumping, flatting, or showing, and why they made those decisions. Ill go first:

I jump and also show my horse in a figure 8 bridle with a 3 ring elevator bit with reins on the snaffle ring and the bottom ring, because he’s a big guy and likes to try to race around. He wears all 4 open front boots, for protection (cheapy plastic/neoprene Shedrows for schooling, nice leather/leather Prestiges for showing), and a breastplate, just as a precautionary measure. I also wear short spurs because sometimes he’s hard to get good upward transitions on, and might carry a crop. For girthing, I typically put him in a belly guard girth because he tucks right up, regardless of the height of the jump.

He flats in a slow twist D-ring snaffle and a regular cavesson bridle, because he calms down without a jump in front of him. I either use front boots or polos, and I don’t put a breastplate on him because my saddle fits him quite well, so as long he’s not jumping there isn’t really a point and I don’t really need more tack to clean. He goes in an anatomic girth, because it’s way lower maintenance than the big belly guard girth. I wear short spurs and carry a dressage whip

So, what do you guys use?

[superD]

For stadium and cross country I use a figure eight with either a Wonder bit or a Myler comfort french link. he also goes in a breastplate with a running attachment. He is an eventer so his breastplate is a 5 point which I feel gives him the most freedom for movement.

For dressage and just hacking he goes in a regular noseband with a flash. he goes really nicely in a french link boucher bit and a hunter breastplate with no attachments.

He goes in 4 boots or polos for every ride no matter what. If he goes on a shoe springing spree I will add bells, but I don’t like them for cross country,

I also always use a Thinline half pad with square pads/baby pads and a fleecy grith.

[Calvincrowe]

Myler comfort barrel snaffle with a regular caveson bridle, standing martingale when I jump, as Mr. Horse will try to flip his head if he tries to take control and “pack me around”. Open fronts to keep him from jumping by Braille. Leather Equalizer girth with my custom County Innovation built just for my horse and me.

Flatting or hacking in the pastures means no martingale, but the rest stays the same. Simple is the word for my guy.

[fourmares]

Loose ring french snaffle, leather overlay girth, no boots (e cept sometimes on the greenie when we jump), crop. Ancient pancake flat saddle. That’s it…always. I’m not against more, but my horses don’t need it.

[Duckz]

My go-to bridle at home is a figure 8 with a slow twist D-ring snaffle. Jump saddle, square pad, thinline half pad, professionals choice girth. I carry a dressage whip, or a jump bat if I’m planning to jump. I generally don’t wear spurs at home.

My favorite bridle for showing is a flat hunt bridle with either the slow twist D-ring or pelham. Same saddle set-up but with a fitted pad for the hunter ring. I carry a crop and wear spurs at shows, no boots unless we’re eventing. So pretty much this ensemble minus the breastplate and medical armband.

[supershorty628]

Nikki shows in a combination hackamore, also called a hackabit, with a straight soft rubber bit and a soft noseband. I use a slightly roughed curb chain as well; if I have it lying flat, it irritates her incredibly sensitive chestnut TB skin. Running martingale.

At home, we almost never jump. If we do, she’s in her show setup. Otherwise, I alternate between using a Paso Fino bit that’s straight hard rubber with fairly long shanks (it looks pretty intimidating, haha. I don’t have any pictures of it, sorry, but she’s in it in her galloping video) and using a hackabit with a waterford bit part. If we’re just going for a trail ride or a walk n’ graze, she’s in a plain hackamore. I don’t think I’ve used a snaffle on her in years.

We use a fleecy girth because she’s a delicate flower… she doesn’t jump in a style where she’d need a belly guard - thank god, as I think it would be really tough to find one that wouldn’t irritate her skin. When we jump, I always wear spurs and carry a stick. I might not need them, but I like to have them just in case. The stick is particularly useful for keeping her jumping somewhat straight IF I can anticipate which way she’s going to jump off that day - she’s not consistent that way, so I have to adjust accordingly.

Boots: galloping boots in front and Eskadrons behind if we’re flatting; same ensemble plus Davis boots if we’re jumping or galloping, as she likes to pull her front shoes off.

[DejaVu]

I school in a plain Smartpak bridle (Can’t remember which style) and a mullen mouth pelham. Martingale depending if I feel like it.Tad Coffin saddle with Mattes half pad and random saddle pad, and I switch off between my leather girth and a fleecy-nylon one (both from SmartPak.) I use my hand me down Eskadrons from an old trainer for muddy days when I jump, and my t-boots (also bought off of a trainer who no longer has a horse) on nice days.
When I show I use basically the same thing, but a nicer bridle from Smartpak (Can you tell my favorite place to shop), leather girth, and if we are going the eq, t-boots.

[Luseride]

I use a broken kimberwick for jumping and flat. He is a Wenglish horse and hates, hates a snaffle. Reins are on the bottom hole, curb chain is a bit lose as he rates well with just my seat.

Cavesson is a plain raised one that is also adjust a bit lose.

[toxicity]

I pretty much always use a simple d-ring snaffle on my horse. I occasionally use a rubber pelham to hack, more practice for myself in using two reins, my horse doesn’t care either way. I bought another bridle so I could have both bits ready for use, both are used for schooling and showing.

Naked legs for flatting, except for the bell boots he lives in 24/7. T-boots all around for jumping lessons; my horse suffered a thankfully minor tendon injury when I asked for way too long of a distance instead of adding in the line, not wanting to “mess up” in front of a new trainer. I believe if he had been wearing boots (was asked to take them off when he was hitting jumps earlier), the injury wouldn’t have been so bad.

I have a show girth just because I decided to splurge when I bought a new saddle. It’s Antares and probably the nicest piece of tack I own. :o

I’m behind the times and still use only a half pad in the hunters. Actually was using a fleece shaped pad when the half pads were in, I can’t win. My saddle is fitted to the half pad so I don’t want to mess with that. I don’t think it looks bad.

[Kat]

At home, all three of my horses (leases) go in a loose ring at home, no matter what. Ocassionally I throw on draw reins, my jumper needs them so he pulls less, hunter #1 needs them to help getting light in front and hunter #2 needs them to help bring his canter together. Hunter #2 also goes in a martingale when we jump or flat without draw reins.
jumper shows in a waterford two ring unless he’s really strong in which case we play around
hunter #1 goes in a pelham and a martingale for show.
hunter#2 goes in a rubber D and a martingale (not for show)
the hunters show with gel pads
all three school in a thinline sheepskin and the jumper shows in it too

Hunter #1 goes in polos all around and when we do the eq wears equifit/ CWD front boots
Hunter #2 and Jumper go in front polos and the jumper shows in the quifit/CWD open fronts

[woodhillsmanhattan]

My guy is probably one of the few horses that flats, jump schools, and shows in the same bit and bridle configuration…

His bridle has a figure 8 nose band and an egg-butt French link snaffle. My horse rides predominantly rides off of leg with a light but consistent contact. He has a pretty low palate so the French line mouth piece is more comfortable. The egg-butt is mild but keeps the bit steady in his mouth (he would likely go well in a egg-butt fullcheek too but the egg butt is just what I had on hand). He didn’t enjoy the loose-ring because of the movement of the bit.

A belly guard girth when showing or schooling jumps over 1.0m. A leather girth for flatting. Currently my leather girth only has elastic on one side (I lost my old favorite one). Preferably I will be getting another girth with double elastic or one of those equalizer girths.

We show and school in a white square pad with a black thinline pad on top.

A Nunn Finer hunting breastplate with elastic for jumping, showing, or riding on the trails.

He shows in leather Beval open fronts and ankle boots. Jump schools in ThinLine open front and ankle boots. In the ring he flats in at least ThinLine ankle boots. When flatting outside the ring he goes in Woof or Equifit galloping boots all around…I have a boot problem :winkgrin:. Bell boots for flatting, trails, jump school, and turnout. I usually ditch the bellboots for the show ring. He has pads up front and will occasionally over reach and rip part of the pad out of the shoe.

Spurs (about 1/2 inch rounded) for flatting depend on what I am doing that day. I usually wear them every day, but I most definitely have them if I am doing any lateral work or transitions. My horse is very well schooled on the flat so the spur is more of a cue for different movements as opposed to an engine creator on the flat. Always spurs to jump, lesson, and show. My guy will often get behind my leg in the corner so a spur is necessary to keep the impulsion. He can be backed off and overly alert in the show ring sometimes so again a spur to encourage a forward pace is golden :D.

Sometimes we show in an ear bonnet if we are feeling sassy :winkgrin:. But they aren’t necessary

Ear plugs when showing indoors. No earplugs when showing outside.

Small studs behind if showing in subpar footings. Studs all around if showing on grass.

That’s all I can think of…lol!

[hunterrider23]

Lessons: We lesson in a happy mouth french link hunter dee, which is really a flat link dr Bristol. He doesn’t like a metal french link for some reason. The bridle is a padded edgewood. Luc Childeric FM saddle with a forward flap, girths, boots, saddle pads and half pads are communal, but I also use a nonslip pad. Generally he goes in a front boot, or a front and back, a fuzzy schooling girth, a baby pad with girth straps, and a half pad. He goes in a martingale.
Flatting/hacking out: if I’m working on something particular than usually the same as above, the only difference is the bit. If I’m hacking out he goes in the same bit as above but it’s a loose ring, if I’m working on flat work, I either use the bit above or a plain snaffle. No martingale on the flat. Both bridles are ovation (which FYI is absolutely fantastic for the price).
Showing: dr Bristol happy mouth dee for o/f, semi-modified to have a true 15 degree angle. Bridle is a nonpadded wide noseband edgewood. Under saddle I use the bridle with the plain snaffle because he seems to move best in it. Show in a non slip pad and either a ogilvy hunter pad combo or whatever pad the amigos put on him. Martingale o/f and a Pessoa leather girth that I’ve spent hours oil to the same color as my saddle lol. Fake tail because his is wimpy.
Ear plugs all the time or else he’d be nuts. Always wear spur and stick just incase, spurs are tiny tiny rollers because anything else makes him nuts and we eat up the lines.

[woodhillsmanhattan]

@hunterrider23;7236331

Both bridles are ovation (which FYI is absolutely fantastic for the price).

Ovation has some great products! My belly guard girth was a little over $100 and looks great. Obviously it’s no CWD or Antares or highend French brand, but it is great quality for the price.

[TaterTotTB]

For regular rides my mare goes in a plain d-ring snaffle, and polo wraps on all 4 legs and bell boots. If I am going to be jumping, or would like some extra control for whatever reason (haven’t ridden in a few days, etc.) she goes in a jointed rubber pelham. She has the same set up with the polo wraps and all, too. I have not had her very long, and we haven’t shown yet, but she will go in the pelham then. Unfortunately, I will have to forgo the polos and bell boots because she will probably end up showing in the hunters, although I’d like to take a crack at doing her in the jumpers at some point.

Oh, she also has a really nice pair of Veredus boots that I bought for next to nothing (my best deal ever!), but they are nice enough that I am inclined to save them for shows if I ever do the eq or jumpers with her. They are too pretty for everyday use :winkgrin:

[GoneAway]

Mine goes in a loose ring copper oval mouth for everything with a regular noseband. No martingale, saddle is a CWD (always w/Mattes pad) and he has a synthetic sheepskin/nylon comfort girth. We haven’t gone cross country or hunting yet, but I have a five-point breastplate when we finally do. Front boots and hind ankles (he travels closely behind) for serious flatwork or long hacks in the country, open fronts and ankles for jump schools. Overall, a very simple set up. He has a lovely, soft mouth and is incredibly even minded no matter what we’re up to. His “brakes” are excellent and he’s very light in the bridle, so he doesn’t need much. Spurs and crop to help reinforce cues for lateral work and forward, respectfully.

[rosebudranch]

I have mainly babies, so my go to bit is a rubber mouth d ring, flat, jumping etc, if they need a little more as they grow up I have a rubber mouth pelham I’ll use but try to make a goal of going back to the d-ring. I stay simple, a padded girth and my back on track square pad (unless showing) and my equine comfort quarter pad with foam shims. Depending on what I plan to do that day I’ll use polos or boots (mainly if I am feeling lazy or not…). I try to stay away from martingales etc, simple simple… the more I can train my babies to do with less the better they will be as adults… that’s my philosophy anyway.

[7Seven]

I think I’ll join back in with my last 2 horses:

My last lease jumped in front boots and a martingale, which he basically never wore to flat (only boots to flat if it was yucky, only martingale if he was sassy). He jumped and flatted in a French link D-ring on a regular cavesson bridle (I only had the one at the time), and showed with a slow twist D in. I rode him with short spurs and a crop. He went in the anatomic girth all of the time… those were the simple days!

The horse I had on trial went in a running martingale and breastplate, hollow eggbutt, and a figure 8 noseband noseband every ride. For schooling, either jump or flat, he wore front polos and a fuzzy girth. He showed in front boots and a Pro Choice girth. I rode him with roller ball spurs, and carried a crop to jump and a dressage whip to flat.

[billiebob]

TB goes in a french link d-ring and figure 8 with rubber reins. He likes this setup and the rubber reins help when he gets a little fresh and starts to pull. Five point breastplate, Stubben saddle, Roma sheepskin halfpad, Smartpak neoprene girth. Jumping he gets open fronts and ankle boots (Horze, great source for cheap boots in fun colors). I don’t show but gear would be the same. If he’s anxious and/or fresh a stronger bit just makes things worse. Always carry a crop now that he’s desensitized to one, sometimes wear spurs if he’s been a little draggy for lateral movements.

QH cowpony goes in a western saddle (Stubben used on TB doesn’t fit his roly-poly-ness). Rubber loose ring snaffle, English hunting breastplate because I don’t have a western one. Woof boots up front or Horze combi wraps all around if doing poles and cavalletti (cowpony does not jump yet due to saddle issue). When actually working cattle he goes in a medium shank mullen mouth western bit and a tie-down, because he thinks a few too many steps ahead of me. Cowpony is attempting to learn basic dressage on the side. Currently has a bit of a meltdown when I carry a crop or wear spurs…that’s a work in progress.

My spurs range from little 1/4" nubbins to the smallest size rollerballs to those flip-up ones, which are maybe 1" with a large round end. I love spurs but keep them light as I have a bit of an electric seat.

[dani0303]

Mine flats and jumps in a Dr. Cook’s bitless. He’s always been happier with less and this works great for him. If I show jumpers I show in his bitless but when we play hunters he shows in a KK-Ultra D-Ring. I only use jumping boots if we’re jumping in the open field. I have an Antares saddle and neoprene schooling girth. We show in a leather pessoa girth. I do put eskadron boots on him in the jumper ring.

[shadowanne]

Jumping @ home

• SmartPak Harwich Fancy Padded bridle w laced reins (cuz it’s awesome leather and I don’t mind it getting wet)
• Pessoa Magic Half Moon D snaffle (right amount of lift when he gets low)
• Black Country Ricochet saddle, brown
• ADT 1/2 hole calfskin leathers, brown (love 1/2 holes)
• MDC Classic Jumper stirrups, stainless (knees need the flex, toes need the wide footbed)
• Lettia baby or SmartPak lite AP pads
• Fleeceworks FXK AP sheepskin half pad (for saddle lift/fit)
• ADT Anatomic girth, custom size brown (forward girth groove, calfskin padding)
• Veredus Olympus open front boots, black (because they are short enough (smalls) for horse’s super short cannons)
• Davis bell boots, standard style, black

Flatting @ home
-Everything above, minus open front and bell boots. No interfering.

At H/J shows

• ADT Gazelle fancy stitch unpadded bride with matching laced reins, brown
• Pessoa Magic Half Moon D snaffle
• Black Country Ricochet saddle, brown
• ADT 1/2 hole calfskin leathers, brown
• MDC Classic Jumper stirrups, stainless
• Fleeceworks FXK AP sheepskin half pad with front roll, white
• Black Country Anatomic girth, brown (this one matches saddle closer)