Showing....Would I get marked down?

[Seahorse]

If I used a black synthetic saddle? Its a Wintec Isabel.

 

[hati]

depends on the level. For county level yes you would be marked down. Showing is still in many respects very traditional (espcially when comes to tack),

 

[bracken1]

defo at county level. Good tack counts well

 

[Seahorse]

Thanks I thought as much, I will have to go out and treat myself to a new leather saddle, what a shame........

Sam x

 

[hati]

if you are buying a new saddle for showing, is should be brown (no black for county level showing! another traditional quirk)

 

[Seahorse]

Thanks, I would have bought a new brown saddle anyway but I just wondered if you would actually be put down in the line up for having the 'wrong' saddle even if your horse was good in every other way. Probably didn't make myself clear enough in the first place.....
I won a Riding Horse class last year with my Wintec Saddle, but I was painfully aware the it was incorrect. This year I am doing some PBA Qualifiers (Cherif) so its a bit more serious

 

[hati]

depends on the judge, technically if your horse goes correctly and is the best then you should not be put down. But showing is alikened to a beauty contest! and in many cases the wrong tack can work against you. Fact of life in the showing world, i'm afraid, hence I now prefer evening (more action!!!)

 

[conniegirl]

also a good showing saddle is the correct shape to show off you horse to its best. very few synthetic saddles have the shape to show off a good shoulder on a horse.

 

[icemaiden113]

Black is acceptable! My friend has black for her show horse and is awlays in the ribbons and HOYS!

 

[Emily99]

Black is normally ok nowadays.. depends on the judge really.
But the thing with dressage saddles and horses is if the judge has ridden 3/4/5 horses in showing saddle then gets on your dressage saddle. They'll feel uncomfortable if they're not used to it and may not give you a fair mark.