Choosing Tack for the Dressage Horse



When you're learning about something new, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This informative article should help you focus on the central points.

Dressage is a riding discipline that celebrates discipline, grace, elegance, and beauty. It is a riding discipline that is made even more beautiful by its simplicity.

When is comes to outfitting the dressage rider less is better. A rider competing in the lower levels should be wearing well polished black hunt or field boots. They should have invested in a pair of britches. A clean white shirt should be worn with a collar and ta stock pin. Covering the white shirt should be wearing a dark colored jacket. The riders hands should be covered in dark colored gloves that will help disguise the movement of the riders hands. If the rider has long hair is should be gathered up and tucked neatly out of sight. On the riders head should be a black helmet. If the rider is a junior rider, under the age of eighteen, many show committees require that the rider's helmet should meet ASTM/SEI standards and have a fastened harness. Unless the rider is aboard a hot horse (high spirited horse with an excessive amount of go) the rider should have a pair of spurs which help dress up the rider's leg.

I trust that what you've read so far has been informative. The following section should go a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may remain.

A rider competing in the lower levels of dressage should make sure their horses tack follows the same simple guidelines as the riders apparel. Before entering the competition the horses coat should be clean and well groomed. Long before leaving for the show the rider should have pulled their horses mane and on the morning of the show they should have plaited the shortened, thinned mane into several tidy braids, if they have a horse with a nice steady head set they can wrap the braids with white adhesive tape, at the lower levels of competition braids are not actually required but they are a sign of respect. The tail should be left upbraided. The horses hooves should be polished with either clear or black hoof polish. The horses bit should be a simple snaffle, curb bits are not acceptable in dressage competitions, the bit can not include any copper. The bit should be attached to a plain leather bridle. On the horses back their should be a leather saddle. At the lower levels of competition the rider can choose between a black or brown colored saddle and they have the option of using a dressage saddle or a dressage saddle. Under the saddle their should be a saddle blanket, the blanket can be black or white and be either a square cut or can be shaped to follow the line of the saddle.

Once a rider has reached the upper levels of dressage competition their are a few subtle changes in their show attire. FEI rules require that they wear a pair of white britches. Hunt coats are no longer allowed, riders are required to wear the longer, more elegant shad belly. Although their is no rule banning the wearing of a helmet most riders choose to wear a derby style hat. Black gloves are replaced with white gloves.

Just like the riders show clothing there are some changes made in the horses tack. The bridle must be made of black leather, in the horses mouth their should be two bits in the horses mouth, a snaffle bit and a curb bit. A whip is no longer allowed in competition. The horse must be braided. The saddle must be a dressage style cut and be made of black
leather. Some riders have chosen to add a jewel encrusted brow band to dress up a plain horses head.

When word gets around about your command of horse blankets facts, others who need to know about horse blankets will start to actively seek you out.







Menu


More...

Horse Blankets And Dressage, You Ask?
When Do You Need Horse Equipment?
About Horse Saddles And Horse Blankets
Equine Dermatophilosis
Horses And Sunburn
Are Horse Blankets Really Necessary?
Saddles And Horse Blankets
What Is Western Tack?
What's That Under Your Saddle?
Horse Blankets And Horse Boots Do Have Their Purposes
Caring For A Pony During The Winter
The Various Types Of Horse And Blankets And Sheets
Horse Tack-Purchasing A Western Saddle Blanket
Choosing Tack For The Dressage Horse
The Different Types Of Fly Sheets
Why Horse Blankets Are Handy With Splints
Hail, Ye Olde Horse Blanket!
Ponies Are Adorable
Equine Lordosis
Why Leg Wraps And Horse Blankets Are Handy
What Is A Horse Blanket?
Do You Show Your Horse Love In The Winter?










More...


Horse Blankets And Dressage, You Ask? For someone unfamiliar with horses and anything associated..


About Horse Saddles And Horse Blankets Horse saddles and horse blankets are something people usually..


Caring For A Pony During The Winter Most horse owners have started out the same way... loving and caring for..


Are Horse Blankets Really Necessary? Physically the horse is a thing of incredible beauty and unbelievable..



Related Videos:

Related News:

 
A Horse Trainer’s Rough Ride - New York Times

    

New York Times

A Horse Trainer’s Rough Ride
New York Times, United States - May 12, 2008
He had a cot, a microwave, a refrigerator and a two-horse barn. “He hung his clothes up right next to his horse blankets,” said Sanford Goldfarb, ...



After the Finish Line® - SFCPressPoint (press release)

    

After the Finish Line®
SFCPressPoint (press release), FL - May 12, 2008
After the Finish Line® also gave two new horse blankets to Second Chance Ranch. With the rainy weather in Washington State these blankets will be put to ...