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Dressage Horse Equipment: What You Need, What You Don’t
03/30/2009
Luckily, if you know the rules, dressage horse equipment is easy enough to master. Easier than the moves anyway
Our society has become so laid back that there is often a good deal of anxiety when it comes to formal attire. And with the high level of formality you see in dressage competitions, it can be nerve-raking trying to pick out the best horse equipment, especially with the amount of controversy that exists as to what’s in and what’s out. Luckily, if you know the rules, dressage horse equipment is easy enough to master. Easier than the moves anyway
Because dressage is all about the rider’s ability to control his or her horse easily and with grace, a great deal of horse equipment is discouraged. The idea is to be in harmony with your horse, not breaking it’s spirit with Draconian control. Thus, tack horse equipment is very light.
What you don’t need? Well you don’t need horse equipment like boots (that includes hoof and bell), hoof wraps, and tail bandages. You also won’t need martingales, a type of horse equipment that prevents the horse from throwing its head up. You also won’t need draw or running reigns, another kind of horse equipment which restricks the horse’s head movements. Ideally, through dressage training, you will have learned how to draw the horse’s head in without the need for horse equipment. Another kind of horse equipment you won’t need is the Gogue, which is used more for training a horse raise his shoulders properly. Many dressage competitions won’t allow to you to have any of this horse equipment on the grounds, as it is viewed as contrary to the spirit of dressage riding. You don’t need severe horse equipment like a figure eight bridle or a Kineton band. When it comes to bit horse equipment, anything that’s harsh such as snaffle bits (twisted wire, corkscrews, slow-twists, and waterfords) is not permitted. You should also avoid restrictive horse equipment like pelhams and gag bits. These severe forms of horse equipment send a message that you are breaking the spirit of your horse, and you do not know how to control your animal without major help.
What kind of tack horse equipment will you need? First of all, know that you will need black leather horse equipment and accessories, due to the formality of the event. Dark chocolate drown is seen occasionally, but you’re taking a risk. One of the first pieces of dressage horse equipment you need is an English saddle (if you’re a beginner), or a dressage saddle (if you’re advanced). With both English and dressage saddles, the saddle has no horn, so body posture is much more important, as you are not relying on your horse equipment to keep you in the saddle. Dressage saddles have a straight-cut flap which is very long, the pommel is a bit higher, and the deepest point of the saddle is towards the front, making the horse equipment more comfortable for the horse, allowing for a greater flexibility of movement. The saddle pad is usually small, square and white, lacking the thickness and size of some other horse equipment. Another item of horse equipment you need for dressage is a plain cavesson bridle, which works well for both upper and lower levels of competition. Gentle snaffle bits like the loose-ring snaffle is an acceptable bit for lower levels of horse competition, while the more advanced dressage prefers horse equipment like the bradoon and a curb bit with a smooth chain.
Remember, when in doubt about horse equipment for dressage, it all comes down to control. Less is more: you want to be able to control your horse with as little horse equipment as possible. After all, the lesson here is about trust, harmony, and elegance…not brute force.
