Showing help please?

[myheartinahoofbeat]

I’ve entered the veteran class at a local show. It’s our first attempt at showing. My horse will go nicely in a Pelham but I don’t have two sets of leather reins. Are rubber reins acceptable or will they negate wearing a Pelham from the point of view of the overall picture. Is it better to just stick to a snaffle bit instead and use the leather reins on that?
Thanks from a showing newbie

 

[Mari]

Just use whichever but your horse goes best in.

 

[Nonjumper]

I used to use a Rugby Pelham with two sets of leather reins on my normally snaffle mouthed mare, when showing, a) because she went well in it and b) it looked more like a double than a Pelham without her needing an extra mouthpiece as she was part Arab and had a very small mouth.

As this is your first time and if this is just a local show and not a qualifier then you can use the rubber reins, but if you enjoy showing and want to do more then I suggest buying another pair of leather reins. I used to use the ones with rubber on the inside so you had the grip of rubber but the look of plain leather.