Bit guards in dressage?

[ottblove]

e. Martingales, bit guards, any kind of gadgets (such as bearing, side, running or balancing
reins, etc.), reins with any loops or hand attachments, any kind of boots or leg
bandages and any form of blinkers, including earmuffs, earplugs, hoods, fly shields,
nose covers and seat covers are, under penalty of elimination, strictly forbidden.
However, under exceptional circumstances, fly shields may be permitted by the Ground
Jury.

Does this mean the rubber rings to protect from loose-ring bits are not allowed?

[Janet]

e. Martingales, bit guards, any kind of gadgets (such as bearing, side, running or balancing
reins, etc.), reins with any loops or hand attachments, any kind of boots or leg
bandages and any form of blinkers, including earmuffs, earplugs, hoods, fly shields,
nose covers and seat covers are, under penalty of elimination, strictly forbidden.
However, under exceptional circumstances, fly shields may be permitted by the Ground
Jury.

Does this mean the rubber rings to protect from loose-ring bits are not allowed?

You are correct. "Rubber rings to protect from loose-ring bits" ARE "bit guards", and are not permitted.

[TSHEventing]

which is the most retarded rule I have ever ever ever seen.

You mean to tell me a bit guard, which will PROTECT the horse (aka in the horses favor) is NOT allowed?

I had this problem this past week at rocking horse. my gelding has "fat cheeks" and the amount of XC schooling and jumping I have been doing has increased significantly. He got some bad rubs on one school (stop PULLING and you wont!) and when I rode him his face bled.

Only way to stop this while they heal is bit guards.

I had to warm up with bit guards and right before I went in do bit check and go in the arena. To say nothing of how this impacted our warm up, my poor boy came out of the arena with bloody cheeks again.

Poor man! We have two weeks to heal before the next one.

[Janet]

which is the most retarded rule I have ever ever ever seen.

You mean to tell me a bit guard, which will PROTECT the horse (aka in the horses favor) is NOT allowed?

I THINK the reason for the rule is to prevent the use of "bit burrs" which can look externally like "bit guards".

[TSHEventing]

true.. but can't you say that for the bits too? I mean, in bit check you get your bit checked...nothing stops you from changing the bit after that (except acknowledgement and respect for the rules) so wouldn't they be able to check your "bit guards" vs. "bit burrs" as well?

Sorry, I still find that to be a poor excuse! :yes:

[Janet]

true.. but can't you say that for the bits too? I mean, in bit check you get your bit checked...nothing stops you from changing the bit after that (except acknowledgement and respect for the rules) so wouldn't they be able to check your "bit guards" vs. "bit burrs" as well?

Sorry, I still find that to be a poor excuse! :yes:

I agree, I wasn't saying it was a GOOD reason.

It might be worth investigating a rule change on bit guards if it is important to you.

[luise]

which is the most retarded rule I have ever ever ever seen.

You mean to tell me a bit guard, which will PROTECT the horse (aka in the horses favor) is NOT allowed?

I had this problem this past week at rocking horse. my gelding has "fat cheeks" and the amount of XC schooling and jumping I have been doing has increased significantly. He got some bad rubs on one school (stop PULLING and you wont!) and when I rode him his face bled.

Only way to stop this while they heal is bit guards.

I had to warm up with bit guards and right before I went in do bit check and go in the arena. To say nothing of how this impacted our warm up, my poor boy came out of the arena with bloody cheeks again.

Poor man! We have two weeks to heal before the next one.

You can't ride him in an eggbutt, or something other than a loose-ring?

[TSHEventing]

I actually tried a couple different bits.. the bit that caused the rub in the first place was an eggbutt... I tried a smaller size, a bigger size, different bigs.. no avail.

Janet: I already emailed Sharon at USEA :)

[4Martini]

Have you tried vaseline? I've heard it works really well. When I swam in college it did a good job of keeping swimsuit straps from rubbing through armpits and shoulders. We kept a vat with a tounge depressor at the end of the lane.

Bit guard question- how much do you size your bit up to fit the bit guards?

[TSHEventing]

I did, also tried preparation H and furazone. Neither helped :(

[Noctis]

Take the time he needs off to heal?

[Couture TB]

Zinc Oxide works wonders for not getting rubs by the bit, and for treating them. As long as you don't mind a little white in the corners of your horses mouth. I put it on all of my horses when they are in full work.