Does the saddle & bridle need to be the same colour…

[Maginca7]

We’ve just bought a bay roan pony.

Found a saddle which fits nicely and it’s black. I have bought him a new black bridle but there is something about black which I don’t really like. Would a Havana bridle & martingale, which is always my preference, look ok with a black saddle? Or should I just stick with black?

Clearly I’m over thinking this…!

 

[AmyMay]

Matching for me.

 

[vmac66]

Definitely matching.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Always matching for me too. But does it really matter if it fits well?

 

[limestonelil]

Most people would match up tbh, but if you don't want to, then it's your choice!

 

[Maginca7]

I really like Havana… however the saddle was second hand and just what we were looking for and fits. But it’s very black! I had been get used to it!

 

[Barton Bounty]

Always matching for me too , however if your not showing or competing then who cares only person that will really notice is you

 

[webble]

Matching for me too. Do you know the make and model etc of the saddle could you buy it in brown

 

[Spotherisk]

Well it’s nice to have matching and I always wanted Havana saddles and always ended up with black… sometimes we matched, sometimes not!

 

[Gloi]

If you aren't showing do what you like, even pink.

 

[dottylottie]

get the brown bridle/martingale, brown girth, and stick a brown ride on cover over the saddle!

 

[McFluff]

I’ve competed (BD) in a black saddle and Havana bridle. I was borrowing a saddle while waiting for my new Havana one to arrive. To be honest I forgot they didn’t match and nobody commented (maybe too polite).
Most important thing is fit, matching colour is just the icing on the cake.

 

[Maginca7]

I’ve done the same and competed BD as my dressage saddle is black and jump saddle is Havana to match the bridle. However new pony for child which needed the kit. Looks lovely in brown bridle but sounds like I should make sure it matches the saddle… hopefully will have him for a few years so will have to get over my black tack issue thanks all

 

[Boughtabay]

It really doesn’t matter as long as it fits .. as my youngster has “graduated” through different accomplishments I’ve slowly accumulated bits and pieces that are actually his (& match his black saddle ) stirrup leathers and breastplate are yet to be replaced as they’re barely noticeable/breastplate gets left off at dressage comps

 

[cobgoblin]

Depends how OCD you are.

 

[Maginca7]

Ha! I’m not OCD which is why I’m considering rebelling and not matching…

 

[Red-1]

I rarely match! I often try for black, and now, for dressage, I do, yay!

Sadly, jump saddle is a light brown. We use the same bridle...

I don't really notice any more. Too busy admiring my beautiful horse(s).

IMO, it only matters for showing.

 

[Melody Grey]

I have one whose tack is a composite arrangement of what fits- some he came with, some I already had. We only hack and school at home, so makes no difference to me.

Always said I’d replace bits to be Havana all round but always found more important things that needed my money. Will replace any breakages/ things wearing out with Havana but can’t really justify replacing perfectly serviceable items just to match.

 

[irishdraft]

I haven't matched for years, rode my now retired hunter in a black saddle & Havana bridle . My current horse has the same but also has black reins on her bridle as I only hunt & do social rides etc I don't even think about it & no one has ever commented.

 

[Boulty]

If you’re showing or doing anything where you’ll be marked on appearance then yes it should match but if not meh who cares… totally rode with black tack and brown reins for about a year!

 

[Cragrat]

Unless its for showing, then no it doesn't need to match - far more important that it fits. I can't afford brand new everything, so I buy second hand quality in whatever colour fits. Usually my reinds match my bridle, but not always. My leathers rarely match my saddle - but who can see when your're on and moving????

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

Unless it’s showing then it doesn’t really matter.

 

[catkin]

Would go with what fits and suits the horse over black/brown always, even for the showy disciplines.
I like brown tack, I think it looks better with age if it is looked after but quite frankly I've used a mix if it was better for the horse even in the showring and dressage area and it has never been even commented on.

 

[DabDab]

If I could consistently nail it down to one colour on either saddle or bridle, I would consider myself to be doing well. I don't think the pony's bridle has two pieces that match each other - it is mainly a variety of browns but with black reins and and black surround on the coloured browband...when I put a noseband on for dressage I'm pretty sure that is black too.

And for some reason I have more brown stirrup leathers than black so my black saddles have brown leathers on them

 

[Squeak]

I have a brown dressage saddle and bridle which I use for showing and dressage and then have a black jump saddle which I use for BS and BE. No one has ever mentioned it and I don't really notice it either.

I'm the same and for some reason just don't really like a black bridle.

 

[sbloom]

I had the opposite, I had a new saddle and as I love brown it was brown. Dressage saddle. When I bought a double it just didn't look right in brown on my bright bay, so had a brown snaffle and black Elevator double. And tan jump saddle .

Even for showing they're not supposed to ding you for black tack, though non matching tack would be more likely to be frowned on as part of turnout. I think.

Keep an eye out for the same saddle in brown. When it's the other way around, with my customers, I often point out that very dark brown saddles more closely match black/piebald coats and tend to make them look blacker, as well as generally wearing better. So much black leather ends up grey or green to a greater or lesser extent.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I think If you were showing or doing anything like that definitely matching and if you’re happy with it why on earth not? I did it for a while. Bought a saddle, matching expensive bridle then a year later the saddle didn’t fit and I had to swap colour. It was over budget so the bridle had to stay. I hated it but when I eventually bought a new matching one no one else had noticed

 

[scats]

I’m currently using black leathers on a brown saddle so I’m not one to talk

 

[Snow Falcon]

Matching. I just couldn't do it otherwise!

 

[ycbm]

I’m currently using black leathers on a brown saddle so I’m not one to talk

Girl after my own heart. Black bridle with brown bit attachments and a light brown saddle with mid brown leathers here