Help me dress up my plain bay mare!

[cleozowner]

I was at a schooling show yesterday, and as I was going to enter the ring, I noticed that the center part of my browband was falling out! A friendly ring steward helped me tuck it back in, but I really would like something a little more durable...I have bigger things than my browband to worry about at a show!
This is the browband I had (I got it for free--long story--so I won't be too upset to replace it):
http://www.eqtack.com/catalog/product_info.php?pName=099-gold-chain-browband&cName=dressage-tack-browbands

I did a thread search, and I found a bunch of great links to beautiful browbands, but I just can't decide what would look best. Now I turn to you, oh browband enthusiasts of COTH forums, to play browband matchmaker and make my mare's DQ dreams come true!

My mare is a plain bay with a smaller head, so those massively blingy browbands make her look like a little girl playing dress-up with costume jewelry! The browband she had was pretty delicate, and it worked well for her. Also--$200 for a browband is not going to work for us. I have a "rainy day fund" I use for horse things like this, but something under $125 would be good. Under $100 would be great. (I could stretch it a bit for something really amazing.)
I have a gold stock pin, so if the new browband had some gold in it, that'd be nice, but I wouldn't mind spending $5 on a new stock pin if need be. Otherwise we wear all black and white, so most colors would work...except pink. She is not a pink kind of horse...or rather her mom is not a pink kind of rider!

Here is what we need to dress up. From this picture you can probably see why a plain black browband makes her look even plainer!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=36165453&l=93c73&id=12713088
(Please no critiques--I know it's not the best picture, but it does show off her cute [if plain brown] face! I also know the throatlatch is too loose--it's already up on the highest hole and I haven't gotten anyone to shorten the throatlatch itself yet.)

TIA!

[cloudyandcallie]

please brush her and wash her and send her in with a plain browband.
I was lucky to own an ottb mare with only a tiny star, but she was gorgeous, perfect conformation and a big deer eye. an I had previously always liked flashy horses.
enjoy your bay mare. nothing finer when they are blooming with rice bran or buckeye's ultimate finish supps.

[cleozowner]

I too have become a rice bran convert since getting this mare--it was the only thing that would keep weight on when she hit a growth spurt (she is now 5).

I think she is a unique girl--she actually has roan striping on her barrel and a white patch on her side--but all that is covered when she is under saddle.

I could always paint on markings...what do you think?
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=34269693&l=8413c&id=12713088
:lol:

[kahjul]

I'm no help with browbands, but I think your mare has a lovely face, and I bet with her forelock braided she's even cuter. You see so much personality in those eyes!

[Equibrit]

I am a great fan of the plain bay. It gives you the opportunity to show off your horse's gaits instead of the bling.

[grayarabpony]

She needs no dressing up -- she's gorgeous.

[MelantheLLC]

Aww. She looks just like my retiring TB. He's always worn a simple Giddons bridle I bought in England years ago. Very light and elegant; I think it shows off his nice face and others have told me the same, unsolicited.

Less can be more!

[iownapaint]

PPSSSSSSSTTTT....
Click on my signature...:cool:

[FleetwoodStarr]

I think she is absolutely stunning- certainly not plain! However I'm a sucker for sparkly things and have found that equesport browbands really seem to suit the more refined heads. I think its the fact that its more similar to bead work as opposed to jewelry if that makes any sense.

[cuatx55]

http://www.smartpakequine.com/productclass.aspx?productClassid=5759

looks better in person, only $20 and has lasted me over a year so far. I have a plain bay mare. The colors are navy and silver, they are threads and not crystals so there is nothing to fall out

[Somantu]

She needs no dressing up -- she's gorgeous.

I agree.
As much as I love to shop, I think it would be a shame to overwhelm her beautiful head. (But if you absolutely must buy bling -- keep it very understated)

:)

[__Jennifer]

I love the browbands from the link that iownapaint posted.

I also have a bay. Yours is gorgeous! I wouldn't call her plain ;)

Anyway, here's a link to people who make browbands. You can search the browbands by colour of your horse. I love these, they're simple but very elegant. :-)
http://www.equesport.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=EL&Category_Code=BAY_BROWS

[J-Lu]

Well, I also have a plain dark bay mare. She's an Anglo Trakehner with a BEAUTIFUL head. BEAUTIFUL head.

I purchased the Electra browband from:
http://www.txwarmbloods.com/store%20frset.htm

Select Red& Pink from the left menu to see the Electra browband.

after holding up lots to her forehead and getting the opinions of all of my friends (plus strangers). The stones are red but are very subtle. They "sparkle" in the ring but you don't see the color unless you are up close...they "sparkle" as if they are black from afar. There is a slight pink/salmon color to the lining that is also noticeable up close but not from afar. I LOVE this browband because it adds to my horse's amazingly beautiful head without adding lots of distracting sparkly *color* - just sparkle.

:)
J.

[JRG]

Can't help with the dressing up part, but how was the show other then the wardrobe malfunction. Is it the month for "Plain Bay TB's"? Congratulations on your training level deput!

[cleozowner]

Can't help with the dressing up part, but how was the show other then the wardrobe malfunction. Is it the month for "Plain Bay TB's"? Congratulations on your training level deput!

Well, someone's rider asked a bit too abruptly/hard for the second canter transition in training 1, causing a buck in the middle of our transition and earning us a 4 on submission. :rolleyes: The second test was much better as she was more relaxed and I was able to "read" her better.
Scored in the 50's for both...we didn't win (obviously), but we weren't last in either class, and we have nowhere to go but up, right? :winkgrin: We came home with a lot of goals for us to work on.

My trainer has been on maternity leave for the past few months, so we've been flying solo for a while. At least when we start lessons again in August, we'll have plenty to do. I can't wait!

[smurk03]

Aw she isn't plain at all! She has a gorgeous face! I don't think she *needs* a fancy browband, but one would definitely draw attention to that lovely head. I wouldn't go too sparkly, just something subtle, I would think that gold one you chose would look very nice.

[Kathy Johnson]

I would braid her mane to show off her face and neck, trim the top of her tail in a dressage cut, bang the bottom if it's not, and put a checkerboard on her rear end. None of that costs a dime, and will dress up her casual attire formal for a show. She seems to have a lovely hind end, too!

[exvet]

We have a solid brown (bay) gal too. Personally I prefer the "plain" black or dark brown self padded bridles. I think they allow the elegance to show through. Love you mare BTW. Here is are a few of pictures of ours with her plain jane look.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o253/ldarling_photos/Cosmoheadshot3.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o253/ldarling_photos/Cosmoheadshot4.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o253/ldarling_photos/Cosmo8.jpg

including a schooling show (unbraided). I agree with the others, simply braiding your mare as opposed to more bling will show her off well.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o253/ldarling_photos/Cosmocanter.jpg