Bridle for showing

[pinkpolo]

Our new horse is a grey ID and DD wants to show him in a local riding club show at the end of the month.

She wants to enter the equitation classes and a concours class. No in hand or fun classes.

What bridle should he be in? I keep getting conflicting advice! He's in a snaffle.

I would not buy a new bridle for a local fun one off show. May of the horses may be in doubles, but if he is going sweetly in a snaffle then very few riding club show judges would penalise you, different at higer levels.

For one local show, I agree unless you have a pink plastic bridle for everyday use (!) then whatever you normally use should be fine.
Preferably a plain cavesson nose and for showing, if yours has a flash attachment, remove it and don't use a martingale or breastplate.

If you definitely want to buy a new bridle, in showing a Pelham or double bridle is correct but a snaffle is acceptable, for an ID I'd have a good quality flat plain Hunter bridle with leather browband (NOT velvet), and a good thickness, I.e 3/4" cheekpieces and a 0.75- 1" browband, 1.5-1.75" noseband and decent thickness reins.
I can recommend Fylde, Or Risley Saddlery for good quality showing bridles.
Hope that helps.

Thank you very much for the advice! I'd rather not have to buy a new one as new horse has ruined my bank account already

He's currently in a raised cavesson without a flash - would the raised be ok or does it need to be flat?

Plain brow band or plaited?

For total correctness a flat noseband but yours will be fine for a local show. No velvet or plaiting on the browband. Just plain leather.
Plain or laced /plaited leather reins if possible but if you only have rubber reins they will do..

Thank you so much for the advice.

I've found a second hand one, flat 2" nose band, plain brow band and plain reins.

I just hope it fits his enormous head!