In-hand bridles..help needed please??

[Monty]

I have to admit at the outset, that I'm not a big show person, very much wearing an L plate, and all I've done really is Welsh Cobs, so sorry if I sound a bit 'fick'.

Taking Rubi, heavyweight coloured cob to Anglesey Show (Large county standard affair) to inhand chaps qualifier class. Spoke the other day to a lass on our yard who has done lots of judging of coloured classes, and discussed correct tack, and handler attire with her. As we've only done local with Rubi before, where you get away with more. I like to do these things properly,.....if only I know what properly is!! Apparently I need and inhand bridle, and this lass offered me use of hers for the show which was very nice of her. However, her neddy is a middleweight cob without a doubt, and the browband of said inhand bridle is fairly narrow with brass trimmings on it. Furthermore, it's havana, which though passable, doesn't look fantastic, on Rubi.

So I wondered, could I use her riding bridle which is black, has plain broad noseband, and browband, on her, and then add a Newmarket Coupling to it?? And if so, so I use a brass chain coupling, or a leather one?? I can't find a black leather one anywhere online, but plenty of brass chain ones. Or is this a job for Wally to make me one??!!:D

Your thoughts on this please?? Thank you very much. Here's Rubi to give an idea of what she looks like, to those of you who haven't seen her or pictures of her.

[Zingy]

I think it's been mentioned on here before that if you're using a riding bridle, then you should use reins, as a coupling and lead rein is only correct with an in hand bridle. And shouldn't showing tack strictly be brown, not black? :confused:

[Monty]

Thanks Zingy. Oh no!! Brown clashes with her coat and mane/tail!!!:rolleyes:

So what exactly is an inhand bridle then?? I've searched loads of images on Google and they all just looked like bridles without reins. She'd look really odd in a skinny skimpy little thing. Bit like me in a bikini really:eek:!!

[Zingy]

The main difference is that the noseband doesn't have its own cheekpieces - it goes through slots on the ones that go to the bit (like in a driving bridle). Presumably to have less bits of leather on the head to show it off more :confused: They're also nice and pretty and symmetrical with buckles on both sides, not just the nearside.

I don't know if they're all made in skimpy leather or if you can get wider ones for cobs. So more like a maxi swimming costume with added sarong ;):D

[Monty]

Hehehehe!!:o:o:D:D

[chev]

Some good examples of in-hand bridles here (http://www.horsingaroundsaddlery.co.uk/cat--In-Hand-Bridles--ih.html).

I'm sure I read on here somwhere that reins are correct if horse is wearing a riding bridle.

[Mehitabel]

yes - you don't mix and match - reins + ridden bridle or coupling + inhand bridle. if you can borrow your friend's try it on and see which suits her better, then use whichever one is more flattering. i've never seen a cob-style inhand bridle - only the raised ones like on chev's link. when i do inhand and i'm not in white i use petal's double rather an an inhand bridle - either is correct for an adult horse.

[Sexy Sietske]

I would use a riding bridle with reins over the head, inhand bridles are only really aimed for young horses/arabs/ect IMO, if its a ridden horse it should be shown as a ridden horse, even if its inhand :p

[eml]

I have never seen a chunky inhand bridle, I suspect those would look silly on Rubi, use normal bridle and reins.

[Monty]

Thank you all. Does seem strange doesn't it?? Perhaps I'll get a list of dos and don'ts of showing when my hand book arrives with my CHAPS membership??;)

It'll be an experience and a half for both of us anyway!:)

[eml]

What we do is go to some of the big equine photograpic sites and study the turnout of winners in the classes we are interested in.

[eml]

S_F_S here on eml's computer!

I was told by a local breeder/producer/judge (and we are talking HOYS etc) that anything that is old enough to be ridden should be shown inhand in a normal riding bridle, reins over the head.

If you had a foal/yearling you could show it in a in hand bridle without a bit, or an older but still unbroken youngster in a nylon bit with a coupling, but in your case definately a normal ridden bridle.

A thick flat noseband would dress her head well.