To Beagler or not to Beagler??

[Lovejoy]

I will probably be showing in hand this year so I was thinking of getting a beagler as I think they look v smart. I know they are not approved riding wise in most shows though.

Its either that or the navy velvety hat that has the skin coloured straps. Both same price I *think* £120.

Question is, which one should I go for as I will be riding in a couple of years in show classes??

Mmmm decisions decisions..... Your thoughts please!

[coyote]

i ALWAYS show in hand in a proper velvet riding hat,its not my horse that i dont trust its everyone elses,ive seen FAR too many people get kicked in the head this season,its just not worth the risk IMO!!!:o

[Daffy Dilly]

I do inhand in my beagler, ridden in a harnessed hat.

What type of horse are you going to be showing and at what level?

You are supposed to replace riding hats every three years so you might want to take that into consideration.

You can get beaglers from www.dressageonabudget.com for under £40 I think. Both myself and Mehitabel on here have ones from there, and they are lovely. Then in a couple of years when you want to do ridden, you can get a harnessed hat.

[rtk]

If you can only have one I would go for the harnessed hat. We have come across a couple of county shows this year which insisted on safety hats in all classes, even for grooms and sidesaddle.

Having said that I dont use a harnessed hat for in hand but I always take one with me. I know its "do what I say, not what I do" but I have always insisted that my daughter wears a harnessed hat at all times. We had huge fall outs this year before I allowed her to do evening performance in a top hat and even then its only indoors and on one of our horses (I dont trust the others enough)

[Mehitabel]

I do inhand in my beagler, ridden in a harnessed hat.

What type of horse are you going to be showing and at what level?

You are supposed to replace riding hats every three years so you might want to take that into consideration.

You can get beaglers from www.dressageonabudget.com for under £40 I think. Both myself and Mehitabel on here have ones from there, and they are lovely. Then in a couple of years when you want to do ridden, you can get a harnessed hat.

yep - i love my cheapy beagler! and i'd also wait to get a harnessed one until you're doing riddens - if it's the chap you were asking about showing as a yearling you've got 3 more years to wait at least.

[Lovejoy]

Some good advice there guys thanks!

[chev]

Ok, dim question coming up now... is it only 'correct' to have black or blue velvet? I can't find brown beaglers anywhere. So would it be acceptable to wear a brown velvet hat with flesh coloured harness instead?

And on the subject of said brown hat; it used to be black but is faded to uniform brown except for the bow bit at the back. Any tips on how to get that to fade to brown too?!! :o

(Sorry for hijacking your thread Lovejoy :o )

[coyote]

my in hand show hat is brown ive never had a bad comment on it actually ive had some lovely comments on it from judges.:o



http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t209/coyotegreyhounds/nellys%20shows/Image011.jpg

[coyote]

my new hat that will be used for ridden classes in the new season is navy with flesh coloured harness,my jacket is a brown tweed with a navy velvet collar all suggested by mehitabel.:D

[Palomino Mare]

[QUOTE=chev;1502943]

And on the subject of said brown hat; it used to be black but is faded to uniform brown except for the bow bit at the back. Any tips on how to get that to fade to brown too?!! :o

[QUOTE]

erm...i doubt people set out to fade their hats, lol!!;) all i can of is you could put it in the sun everyday from now on:o

[chev]

Problem is the bow bit seems to be sun-resistant! :o

Ok... more questions. I will (if all goes well) be showing in-hand liver chestnuts and palominos. For the palominos, I figured brown tweedy jacket thing, brown trousers (their legs being pale and all that), and brown boots (I have a pair of wonderful short brown boots). Topped off with faded chocolate coloured hat. Then for the chestnuts, pale beige trousers instead.

Would that be ok? Blue looks fine with the pallies but not so great with the liver chestnuts.

[Emz]

Souns good to me Chev.

I wear a beagler for showing in-hand, and a harnessed for riddens.

[Jillybean]

I have one of each!!! No help really am I :)