Best bridle for showing section A?

[Callisto]

Hi all you lovely showing people, I'm back with yet more questions.

It looks like I'm going to buy DD's section A a bridle just for showing. His current cobbled together bridle is looking a bit tatty plus I think it is incorrect for showing. He currently goes in a flash and fulmar with keepers and the bridle has rubber reins. He came with an egbutt so I have a bit, and I know it should be brown (his saddle and suede pad are both brown which helps).

So, are rubber reins correct or should I go for leather, should the bridle be very plain, like a hunter bridle, or do I need to bling it up a bit - fancy stitching/padding or even move into (shock, horror) sparkley browband territory?

I have had a look on Ebay and found this padded noseband/browband affair which is well within budget, or this much more sparkletastic one. I have also seen this one with leaf stitching which I like, but it doesn't come with reins so I will need to get matching ones from somewhere.

Thanks all.

Hunter bridle, plain or plaited reins. You can reins which have rubber on the side which help grip!! Width of the noseband varies depending on the shape and size of your ponies head!

No bling!!! Not looked at the link will do so!!

The first one is ok, just buy some plaited reins to go with it.

I always have my showing bridles custom made (well not literally but to my specifications) I tend to go with a flat cavesson noseband and bridle too just looks neater. General day to day bridles are padded.

Step away from the bling! M&Ms should have a plain, workmanlike hunter bridle with plain flat browband and noseband. We use leather reins with rubber on the inside. It's important to make sure little riders don't get tanked off with! We do also have a pink velvet browband for at home - poor chap is very in touch with his feminine side. My daughter would have him in head to toe pink if she could!

That's great thanks! I prefer plain bridles anyway so that is good (and cheaper!) and I've always liked plaited reins.

As Backinthebox says. We use a plain brown bridle with very thin leather reins with rubber on the inside only. Definitely no flash and no bling! We use a plain snaffle on all our ponies with cheek pieces on the youngster. Some people use a Wilkie on First Riddens but we try to avoid this if possible.

I appreciate this is expensive but is the sort of thing you should try and copy - www.fyldesaddleryltd.co.uk/

Forgot to say we use Fylde's plaited brown leather browbands on all our ponies. Makes them looks smart but workmanlike. Have moved away from plaited reins but the one with staggered grips are fine for tots.

Fylde are gorgeous but well over budget, plus we are just playing at showing so it isn't really worth me spending mega bucks. I have ordered a havana plain cavesson bridle with flat brow- and noseband and plain leather reins.

Thanks for the input everyone.