Showing classes and gag bits - what are the rules?

[conniegirl]

People also seem to forget over 1/2 the marks should come from the conformation of the animal.

Only in Inhand classes, in most ridden classes it is 50/50 conformation/ridden performance, there are technically no marks at all for turnout, it just improves the picture

 

[ester]

Things have changed then. I remember stewarding around 10 years ago and it was my job to ensure said horse entered the ring with the correct turnout, though it more often than not meant removing brushing boots or a martingale before a ridden flat class! It was seen as a way of helping the riders as well.

Genuine question what would you have done in this situ? Refused entry assuming no spare bridle around? I might have suggested having bit on snaffle ring (although if people with pelhams/doubles not sure on that one) and removing martingale if easy to but there was obviously a conversation with the judge about it. And the rider would have had to put it all back on again for the flat element of the WH class as you have to do the flat element in the same as your jumping tack.

 

[conniegirl]

And the rider would have had to put it all back on again for the flat element of the WH class as you have to do the flat element in the same as your jumping tack.

Yes, and quite often the bit used in wh classes is a compromise between having control when jumping and going half decently on the flat, with most people erring more towards the control for jumping (after all you don't get to do flat part unless you go clear) often at the expense of how the horse goes on the flat.

 

[cbmcts]

When judging ridden classes at local level, the only difference the 'wrong' tack makes is that if it is a close run ie two equally good horses/performances, the one is the correct tack will stand higher than the other - about 5% of the marks I guess

That's the way I do it anyway!