Showing - 'Correct' tack or a better way of going?

[Jumpers Bump]

At Local/Amateur Champs level would you rather see a horse in the 'correct' tack but maybe not as settled and riding as well as they could, or the horse giving the best it can but in an 'incorrect' bridle.

I'm a happy hacker/schooler with a large traditional cob. We went to our local show at the weekend and I have qualified for the Sunshine Tour. I'm not assuming in any way that we would place there but it's a chance to compete at Hickstead and a once in a lifetime thing for me.

I normally school in a Micklem, I swapped from a plain cavesson a couple of months ago and since doing so our schooling has improved by 50%. It's been a great change. At the show on Sunday I put her back in a plain hunter cavesson and she was not as happy in her bridle so didn't ride as well as she should have done.


So... performance or looks?

 

[eggs]

For me it would be performance over looks but then again I don't do showing.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Hmm now there is a choice! A Micklem really would stand out compared to a hunter bridle, could you make sure the noseband is super loose or is it another pressure point do you think?

 

[abbijay]

I would look to find a balance, also if you can find out who your judge is you might get to know how they feel about certain things.
I've done some seemingly odd things in the show ring because I knew how the judge felt about certain issues. E.g. my horse can open his mouth a bit and I've ridden under dressage types in a flash as they would rather see a horse going nicely in a snaffle and flash than opening his mouth in a hunter and Pelham. I once put on a Pelham and flash to 1) over come the gnashing and 2) I've been in the ring with the same judge and that's how she rode her horse so knew she wouldn't mark me down for it.
If it's a very traditional judge they might not like it. Is there away to adapt your cavesson bridle to provide some of the benefits of the micklem but retaining the look of a traditional bridle?
What happens if you warm up in the micklem and swap bridles right before you go in the ring?

 

[Diamore]

Miklem would be unnacceptable and would be marked down over ride im afraid.
Equally at the champs in cob classes it would be "more correct" to be in a pelham which i dont think you can do with a miklem.

I am venturing all the way down to hickstead too!
Am uber pleased at the sensible entry fee and stabling fees!

 

[Crackerz]

Hmm now there is a choice! A Micklem really would stand out compared to a hunter bridle, could you make sure the noseband is super loose or is it another pressure point do you think?

This, what is the pressure point of a normal bridle your horse reacts to that the Micklem alleviates?

Miklem would be unnacceptable and would be marked down over ride im afraid.
Equally at the champs in cob classes it would be "more correct" to be in a pelham which i dont think you can do with a miklem.

Agreed, I would want to see everything in the correct tack, a Micklem bridle would stand out like a sore thumb imo, probably for the wrong reasons.

It's a difficult one, i would never take a horse in a class in the incorrect tack because i love showing and how traditional the turnout is. It's one thing i would hate to see change.