BE ban coloured tack

I fully agree with the rule!

Eventing is a very smart sport and I think traditional standards SHOULD be maintained! Black and brown tack looks so much smarter and less chavvy than shiny coloured tack.
To have traditionally coloured tack is not out of anyones reach so I really don't see it as snobbery - just traditional standards being maintained, which I think is an excellent thing.
 
i get that some of its about safety, someone said they dont like hairnets. but i like my hair to stay on my head. i do think standerds should be kept and i dont like bright pink tack and bright blue stuff in the dressage and sj. but have always thought that cross country has been a bit more colourful. hunting should be traditional thats half the point of it. however if someone wants to have a red tanned saddle so its slightly lighter then the normal brown so it matches their horse for dressage i dont see a problem.
 
My sister was once asked to remove here leather and copper browband in the dressage of a BE event!

And I'm sorry but too right you shouldn't be able to wear coloured tack - You wouldn't go and show in it so why would you think it's okay to event in it! Saddles for XC fair enough as you're sat on them he best part of the time (if you're lucky) but coloured bridles... at an affiliated event? Really?
 
Coloured bridles are foul. I once saw some pink over-reach boots at BE event, and they looked awful.
 
I am not traditional at all, I love nice smart saddle cloths (colours), love the new animo and equiport bright jackets (saving up for a blue one), I have deniros with some blue piping, and browbands are okay within reason but I cant stand coloured tack! It all gets a bit too much IMO.

I compete showjumping though, could you imagine watching the world cup with everyone in coloured tack, accessories and jackets. Takes away from the jumping a bit!
 
Would you see them in the Working Hunter at HOYS!? I think not!

Endurance is different - Coloured bridles are 'the norm'!

In the cross country event at a horse driving trials (which ironically are modeled on horse trials) you will see a vast array of coloured synthetic harness, including bridles! You can't tell me all those fabulous horse teams look tacky, they look epic.

BTW, if you haven't tried using plastic ( :p ) tack you should, its a revelation.
 
Each to their own and I think it could make it quite colourful going cross country. Personally - dont think I will go down that route for competition.

I thought it a bit sad that they didnt like the pink as I understood the rider was riding in the colours of the Breast Cancer Campaign. Good on a bloke to ride in pink for such a worthy cause.
 
I don't think this is supposed to be a snobby rule at all. Quite the opposite in my view. It's like a school uniform it's there so that everyone looks smart and no one should be picked on or laughed at for having different or inferior stuff.

I'm sure this was a rule in pc comps as when I was doing mounted games they brought in the rule about plain tack and we all had those blue rope reins ( I think they only came in blue) que us all rushing about trying to dye them so we didn't have to use horrid normal reins :)

If you want to express your artistic colourful individuallity I suggest entering the fancy dress class at your local show. ;)
 
Tinypony - I'm just wishing that that pink saddle and bridle came in an adult/Hippo size:p Although red, purple and blue would be even better, as already have pink hi-vis!

I'm going to have to take up endurance riding at this rate...
 
I agree with the ruling, (keeping it smart and some traditions upheld) but am intriegued by the suggestion that driving ponies wear coloured tack, anyone have a good piccy or two?

My concern about using plastic tack would be the comfort of the horse, and how do they cope with wear? Somehow I envision cracked reins more with plastic than well kept leather because you can't 'maintain' plastic but that could just be me having no experience of it! :)
 
I don't mind what sort of tack people use so long as it fits well & is good quality BUT I wouldn't use it on my boys. I like their good looks to shine through, looking classy & coloured tack would take all the attention & somehow make them look tacky. That is no reason to force people to fall in line & be old fashioned like me though is it.
 
My horses have been seen in those orange rubber reins, but only on exercise and because they were in the bargain bin at MSF.

Nothing nicer, long lasting and beautiful than dark brown leather.
 
I really don't see why it should matter for XC. I understand wanting competitors to look smart for Dressage/ SJ, but no-one exactly looks smart by the time they have finished an XC course, what with all the sweat and mud, so why not spice things up a bit with a nice coloured bridle. Mind you, I always think the endurance horses look great in their colourful bridles!
Really I think it's how you perform that matters. People might think it looks tacky or "amateurish" when someone has their horse in a purple bridle, but if that horse jumps clear, who cares :confused:
 
My plastic (or something) bridle has clip attachments so if hung up its actually much easier and quicker to dismantle and remove than buckles and those awful hook and eye things.

Yup, that would make getting it off a lot easier once it's broken the horse's neck. I think I'll stick with my leather that breaks.:)
 
My horses have been seen in those orange rubber reins, but only on exercise and because they were in the bargain bin at MSF.

Nothing nicer, long lasting and beautiful than dark brown leather.
I was only about the bright orange rubber reins of yesteryear when I was telling OH about BE coloured tack ban. Personally I think that havana leather looks nice and smart but if people want to have skybluepinkwithyellowdots then thats fine so long as its safe. BE are too far up their own a£8"$ for their own good. Stuffed shirts.
 
I find this really hard to argue either way.
Part of me likes standards and I like the fact you could always rely on these events to see people dressed smartly. I don't personally feel like brightly coloured tack IS smart, however I recognise that's personal.

Part of me says, if it's not tack/turnout being judged then why does it matter?

Part of me then starts to question why it matters in any sphere and then my mind blows up :D
 
Perhaps traditional tack and dress should be compulsory for Dressage (looks very smart) and other events over a certain level. Or rules should be brought in that specify that if the rider wishes to use coloured tack in a formal competition environment above a certain level then it should be limited to a browband or discreet detailing. Blingy browbands can look lovely on their own and maybe a coloured trim on a saddle pad but a mish mash of colours sometimes looks a bit much. It all depends on the rider's taste!

It is such a minefield, I am only just learning about showing etiquette and I think the traditional dress looks smart but gives enough leeway for riders to show individuality with the different tweeds etc. That said I would never dream of turning up to a hunt meet (that will be another first!) in anything but proper dress and I'd go as far as to contact the hunt in question and ask what they feel is acceptable so as not to disrespect them or the tradition they uphold.

Cross country is a little different, it's nice for spectators to be able to identify their favoured rider by their colours and flat horses on race tracks with the coloured Zilco tack can look smart too.

Also to encourage much younger riders coloured tack can be fun, but then they aren't generally making a living out of riding and performing as a proffesional in the spotlight.

I am guilty of making Fred a browband in the colours of Long Run though and if we try our hand at endurance I fully intend to have coloured tack and maybe those red Dublin boots :)
 
I wouldn't wear it, but then don't see the issue with people wearing it.

If you're not careful BE might start telling you you can't have coloured rugs, anything but black water buckets, and you all must have a white horsebox etc etc, where will it stop?! :p ;)
 
I guess they wouldn't like my saddle pad collection (not a solid coloured one to my name) and pink reins then.

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This one is especially awesome. It's NYC subway grafitti.

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Lots more where these came from. I just don't have pictures of all of them. That's my eventing career b*ggered!
 
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