How many people have show tack and everyday tack??

[Cowgirl Lindz]

What the title says.
explain why or why not

[ExJumper]

I have a show bridle and martingale. And, of course, extra polos and boots and such that live in my show trunk so I don't have to remember to pack them all the time.

Many people have a separate bridle for showing, but I can't think of anyone who has a separate saddle. A good saddle gets BETTER when it's broken in, and no one wants to show in something too new.

I know that some pony club/4 H types have whole different sets of things, because there are classes that are judged on how clean your stuff is, and it's easy to keep things clean if you don't use them, but I'd say that is NOT the norm for H/J.

I guess I don't know about western. Do those saddles "break in?" I think western riders may have "show saddles..." But not us H/J folk.

ETA: I guess I read "tack" as meaning just saddle + bridle. If we're considering ALL equipment as "tack," I also have extra paddock boots, 1/2 chaps, and a show helmet that stay in my show trunk.

[Quartergirl]

I do, but I did not initially. I have collected it over the years. Since I am not a jewelry fan my husband gets me one big item or several small ones every year for the holidays. I have a separate tack trunk, bridle, shipping halter, lead, helmet, girth, boots (horse), paddock boots and half chaps for schooling, crop and other little items. After every show I clean everything thoroughly and put it in my trunk then the trunk goes back into the trailer. When we leave for the show, all I have to remember is my saddle and horse.

[forestergirl99]

I was actually wondering about this today. :lol: As for me, my schooling tack is the same as my show tack because I'm poor. hahaha. Everything just gets a good scrubbing, and it's ready to go. I only use my tall boots for showing, but I don't know if that really counts as tack or not...

[PonyHunterz]

I have double of everything (except saddle), one for shows and one for everyday use.
Everything is clean and ready to go and since I don't use my show stuff everyday, it looks like new.:D

[findeight]

Well, when I showed Western I had, like, 1500 in the bridle and reins and another 350 or so in a "semi custom navajo" blanket. NO WAY I was going to school in that midsummer or leave that bridle hanging around any tack room. And I quickly got sick of having it in the car and hauling it back and forth to the barn and the house. So, for 50 bucks or so, I got something that was not so pretty but worked just as good. Something that would not walk off as well, or get "borrowed".

When I switched to hunt seat, I did the same, got the pricey Jimmy plus an under 100 HDR to leave hanging in the tackroom. Works the same, there all the time.

You DO need to work in that show bridle enough to be really comfortable with it but, otherwise, cheap is just as good as long as it does not get all stretched out.

Only thing I never duplicated on the cheap were my saddles.

[Peggy]

Snaffle bridle and martingale - different
Pelham - use same for shows and at home, but only use it 1x/week at home and clean it after
Saddle -same for both
Saddle pad - different
Horse boots - have a leather show set, but ended up using the T-boots when I did an eq class at the last show

[SprinklerBandit]

I use the same tack at home and at shows, but I keep a couple pads clean and white for show use only. Leather I can clean, but once white gets dirty...

[Calhoun]

I'm a dressage rider and used to divide my tack, including sheets/blankets between schooling and showing. Now that I'm older . . . who wants to clean all that stuff! I use my Passier bridle everyday, ditto on the saddle. I do have 2 special saddle pads I use only at shows.

[RugBug]

For horse I'm currently showing:

One schooling bridle: figure eight with a fugly brass clincher browband
One show bridle: Figure 8 for jumpers (was set for everyday use but I can't find the right bit. (If someone can tell me where to find a KING dee slow twist in 5 1/4", I'll be your best friend. :D Racing dees need not apply)
One show Bridle: Regular cavesson for Medals.

Saddle is the same for both.

A few show girths: I use the synthetic fleece girths and keep a couple for shows on so they stay white, white, white

Pads: I do use is wool wither relief pad for everyday but always with a square pad under. When I show eq, it is by itself (and I use it as a test to see how well I bathed him. :D)

Other horse has a show halter (and a shipping halter) and similar 'show and schooling' items as above.

[JumpWithPanache]

I have a separate bridle and pad for shows, but that's it. Everything else gets cleaned up to go!

[Across Sicily]

I have a separate show bridle and breastplate, and of course show pads.

Growing up, a friend of mine had an english show saddle... never could figure that one out.

Lots of western peeps have western show saddles - all that silver!

[smid2]

I have separate schooling bridles for both my horses, but they share a show bridle (since I don't show them at the same shows or at the same time). I also have separate breastplate/martingales and girths. Saddle is the same for all. Show pad separate as well. Polos for schooling, boots for show if allowed.

[virtus02]

I mainly just have a second set of nicer, clean pads and boots for my horses at the shows. Leather, for the most part ages well if its taken care of and as long as it is free of any obvious repairs/damage, and cleaned then it doesn't matter to me. My exception is tall boots. I wear tall boots every time I ride and I don't always clean them properly. Therefore, I invested in nice show tall boots so that i can scuff up my old ones on a daily basis. A lot of people use different bits at shows or have special horse boots or martingales that they don't usually use at home. In that case I think it is common to have a second show bridle.

[*Liz*]

I have basically a complete set of show tack with the exception of my saddle and my tall boots (which I ride in every day.) This is an accumulation of many years though.

I have show bridles (snaffle and figure-8), show girths (fluffy leather for hunters, belly-guard for jumpers), show pads, show halters (leather and fluffy types.) All this stuff lives in my closet clean, oiled, and ready to go.

Then I have schooling bridles (snaffle and flash), schooling girths (fluffy and leather), schooling pads, daily halters (break-away and nylon), etc. I don't use martingales on my horses these days, but I own a standing and a running of mid-grade quality that are essentially schooling tack but decent enough to show with.

[paint hunter]

Well, being a tackaholic, I have multiple bridles. However, I currently school and show (well the trainer does) in the same one (Dover Wellington, plain padded raised). I will occasionally bring out a different one to use for a while.

Some people collect antiques; I collect really nice english bridles. However, Imelda Marcos I am not. One pair of sneakers, one pair of boots, and one or two nice pair of dressier shoes.

[dogchushu]

I use the same saddle and girth for shows (you're not getting me to ride in anything but my nice, broken in saddle). Everything else has a show version.

I do ride in my show bridle, martingale, and saddle pad at least once before a show. I learned the hard way the bridles stretch, usually on the day you don't remember to bring a hole punch to the show. :cool: And I don't like surprises.

[tBHj]

I have double everything except the saddle. Well.. I guess I do have 2 saddles as of yesterday! :D

[horsegirl123]

Every animal that we show have everyday and show bridle, bits,martingale, breastplate, girth, saddle pads, bell boots, splint boots etc. The show items for the most part stay in the trailer and are cleaned after each use whereas the everyday items are cleaned weekly.

[valencia]

I have a show bridle and a schooling bridle just because my show bridle is an Edgewood and I don't want to ruin it by using it everyday.

[Wizard of Oz's]

I have two separate sets of tack, everything except for my saddle. I have a bridle, martingale, saddle pads, half pad, Eskadrons, and girth just for showing. I do it because I saved my money to get all of my nice show stuff, and I don't want my every day routine to ruin my show tack. So I have another set of tack for my everyday riding that's decent but I don't mind if they get a few scratches and such.

[NEHunter]

I have a show pad and bridle. I use these items when I clinic or if I school off of the property, which has not been much lately.

[MCarverS]

I have a show bridle for the Hunters because I'd prefer not to ruin the stitching or scratch the raised/ padded fancy Hunter bridles with frequent use and cleaning. For the jumpers, nope. Although I only use the belly girths when jumping big at home (not frequently) and at shows. I also tend to use washable girths at home and leather girths at shows, for convenience more than anything.

[kellyb]

Used to have two sets of tack when I showed western, but not since I started showing hunters exclusively.

I use the same bridle/breastplate/saddle to show in as I do to work in. I do have saddlepads I use just for show. I'm kind of funny about tack though, if I were to try and show in a 'nice' show bridle with stiff new reins, it might throw off my mojo for the day. :D So, my daily stuff it is.

[Sunny Side Up]

I haven't done any huge shows, but on the pony I have a show bridle I use. Idk about the horse I might lease (doubt it).

[Lucassb]

I show my horse in different bridles depending on whether we are doing the hunters or the eq... and at home I have a couple more - one set up with a plain loose ring and one with a two ring pessoa. This is mostly because I am too lazy to swap out the bits, LOL, but also because I really love bridle shopping and will take any excuse to buy another pretty piece of tack.

I use the same saddle regardless of where we are or what we are doing.

Other stuff is reserved for shows mostly because I am kind of a minimalist at home. I use a plain white baby pad with a Mattes half pad on top - both can get tossed in the laundry with no problems so are easy care. I save my nice white fitted pads for showing; they get laundered immediately after each show and packed back in the show trunk.

I don't normally use polos or boots at home but have a couple pairs of nice leather boots for the eq ring. I finally broke down and bought the T boot Luxes which have the removable, washable liners which have been great given the monsoons we have been showing in lately ;)

[vxf111]

I've got "show tack" and "schooling tack." Other than the saddle, I don't use anything on an everyday basis and then use it for showing (generally). I school in a schooling bridle (and martingale if appropriate), square/all purpose saddle pads, mattes pad, fleece girths, and Eskadron/Woof boots. For shows I have separate bridles, separate mattes pads and/or white fleece pads, leather girths, and leather boots (which I never use, but anyway). The horses have everyday halters and nicer leather show halters. I like to know my show stuff is always clean and ready to go. The night before a show, all I have to clean is the saddle.

[LSM1212]

If someone can tell me where to find a KING dee slow twist in 5 1/4", I'll be your best friend. :D Racing dees need not apply

Let me check w/ my local tack shop. I swore I bought a 5 1/4 Dee Slow Twist from them... and then when I switched to Mylers... sold it on E-bay!

ETA:

Here you go... though it's a Hunter Dee... but it's still the "bigger" Dee... and they have a 5 1/4 option.

http://hitchingposttack.com/product_info.php?cPath=6_39&products_id=1012

[Ozone]

I do. The only thing that is universal schooling wise to show wise is my sadde of course. Otherwise I show in all other tack even bit, clean with when show time is over, store it in their bags and boom - ready for next show. I always bring double of everything to shows too (all show tack).

[LSM1212]

Oh, and to actually respond to the OP.

Yes, I have seperate show vs schooling stuff. I even have a 3rd set as I also dabble in Eventing so I have that stuff too (but only one set).

The only thing that stays the same is my saddle. :)

[sansibar]

I have show tack and schooling tack (but only one saddle) only because I am too lazy to clean it up prior to a show. :P .

[LetsRide]

For horse I'm currently showing:

One schooling bridle: figure eight with a fugly brass clincher browband
One show bridle: Figure 8 for jumpers (was set for everyday use but I can't find the right bit. (If someone can tell me where to find a KING dee slow twist in 5 1/4", I'll be your best friend. :D Racing dees need not apply)
One show Bridle: Regular cavesson for Medals.

Saddle is the same for both.

A few show girths: I use the synthetic fleece girths and keep a couple for shows on so they stay white, white, white

Pads: I do use is wool wither relief pad for everyday but always with a square pad under. When I show eq, it is by itself (and I use it as a test to see how well I bathed him. :D)

Other horse has a show halter (and a shipping halter) and similar 'show and schooling' items as above.

I have one. I 'think' I ordered it from Canada a couple of years ago. I found it via google. :)

[RugBug]

Let me check w/ my local tack shop. I swore I bought a 5 1/4 Dee Slow Twist from them... and then when I switched to Mylers... sold it on E-bay!

ETA:

Here you go... though it's a Hunter Dee... but it's still the "bigger" Dee... and they have a 5 1/4 option.

http://hitchingposttack.com/product_info.php?cPath=6_39&products_id=1012

It's officially, Linda's my new BFF. :winkgrin: Let's Ride gets honorable mention.

I'm so excited that I will no longer have to use the icky brass clincher schooling bridle. Horse does a few lessons during the week and I didn't want my good bridle being used by lesson kids but I didn't have a bit for my bridle. Well, now I will...or at least in 5-7 days. :cool:

[akhunterrider]

I used to have show tack and schooling tack, but I rarely show anymore, so I just use the same tack for everything.

When I leased horses, they all had their own bridles, so I would use my Beval for shows.

[DMK]

yes, but when i was younger and po', no. now old show tack is schooling tack and someday my current show bridle will meet the same fate. it took the last one 15 years though, and that was primarily because the schooling tack was really old and i was looking for an excuse to get a new show bridle.

ultimately my plan is to get a new saddle, send off my old one to have the seat/billets/etc. replaced, then relegate the newer saddle to showing until the old one is worn out. pity i don't really have the $$ to at least get the saddle rebuilt right now -i'm out of commission for 2-3 months, and the saddle's kind of bored these days.

[chawley]

I have an everyday bridle, saddle pads, girth, and boots (horse). My show stuff is expensive, and I can't afford to replace it every few years because I wear it out.

[fordtraktor]

I have several bridles, but not a "show" bridle. I use them for different purposes/bits, though. One of my horses has a flatwork bridle and a jumping bridle. The other has two bridles -- one nice one and one I pieced together from the Arc de Triumph spare parts bin at WIHS. It cost me a total of $15, but doesn't have unnecessary things like, oh, a throatlatch. They have different bits as I like to switch it up periodically.

I like using the bridles I buy -- I don't show enough to make it worthwhile to even have them if I didn't. I might as well enjoy them.

I actually think they look a lot better having some use. You only really get that fabulous glowing patina with time, use, and consistent tack cleaning.

I have two saddles, one for each rideable horse -- they have very different backs. The only thing that I save strictly for shows are my fancy leather jumping boots. So pretty, but too much of a hassle to clean on an everyday basis. I practice in Thinline open-fronts/ankles or polos.

[Seven-up]

Nope. Never have. Too broke to have another one of something that I already have.;)

[paintlady]

I have a seperate show bridle, pad and girth. I only have one saddle - it's a custom Albion, so there is no way I could afford two. I just clean it up before the show.

I also have show tall boots and a velvet helmet. For schooling I just wear paddock boots, half chaps and a vented plastic helmet.

[JinxyFish313]

I think its silly to have two sets...if you buy quality equipment and care for it, it will look just as good as a "show only" piece. All of our equipment gets thoroughly cleaned every time it is used. The only exception is horse boots - we school in the plasticy Eskadron boots and show with gel/fleece-lined leather ones. The only reason for not using these at home is that they are difficult to clean on a daily basis and half of the horses that use them just go in polos at home anyway.

I also HATE seeing people with stiff, barely broken in tack at shows. Its....tacky. No pun intended.

[EqTrainer]

I have lots of show bridles and show halters.. coolers... dress up things.. but everything else is used daily. I cannot imagine showing in a different saddle than you ride in everyday.

[BridalBridle]

Each horse has it's own show bridle, martingale, girth and saddle pads. Then they all have everyday schooling bridle, girth, saddle pads and whatever (since martingales arent' in the schooling plan). THEN they have schooling bridles, girths and whatevers special for EACH DAY of the show. SO they have 3 each of bridles and assesssories....It's a Barbie Doll thing. It works the same way with the blankets..show..home..and to the ring blankets..and they all match. They are probably humiliated by it all.

[touchstone-]

Yes, it makes life easier, saves on packing time, and preserves my expensive tack.

Plus, my horses school in different bits/nosebands than they show in, so it saves me having to switch setups.

My schooling bridles are generally second-hand models or amalgams of spare parts, so I feel less guilty if I don't have time to clean them every day. I also use the washable nylon/fleece girths at home.

Show tack is clean, bagged and waiting in my trunk for the next show.

I also ride at home in paddock boots and half chaps for the same reason--it saves my expensive boots so they'll last longer and look better when it counts.

[crazyhorses]

I use my schooling tack as my show tack (aside from saddle pads! they get too dirty). But I keep my stuff Really clean... so that when it comes to show time, it's not that hard to clean and make it look all purty.

[HunterJumper106]

I have a different set of everything for schooling and showing--bridle, martingale, and bit. My schooling stuff is cheaper so that everyday wear and tear doesn't matter as much and if anything happens to it it is not AS big of a deal to replace. The show stuff is really pretty and more expensive. I ONLY use it to show so that it says really clean and pretty and is less likely to get banged up. Another good reason to have 2 of everything is if anything happens to one set at a show you always have another to fall back on. It might be more expensive to have 2 of everything but in the end it will work out better all around.

[meupatdoes]

Lately I have been using exactly one schooling bridle on all three of my horses because I just can not be bothered to clean three bridles rather than simply adjusting the cheekpieces in between.

That bridle cleans up nice and is my hunter show bridle as well.

I do switch out the laced reins for a cheapie pair of jumper reins for schooling, because again with the cleaning and not being able to be bothered in the lacing department.

My two other bridles are 1 super fancy dressage bridle that fits one of the horses, and another less fancy dressage bridle that fits the other two.

I am however the anti-tack hoarder.

For years I owned:
3 horses
1 bridle (I would switch bits in between if necessary)
2 hunter saddles to accommodate different horses
1 girth
1 set of stirrups that I moved between saddles (no, really)

I have now expanded to owning one bridle per horse, plus a dressage saddle and dressage girth as well (and I even sprang for a set of stirrups for the dressage saddle too!)

So I will probably not be buying a whole separate thing of tack just for horseshows anytime soon... :D

[DMK]

Yes, it makes life easier, saves on packing time

no kidding, nothing's easier than loading up grain, saddle, a horse and possibly hay and and heading off for a show knowing everything's already packed and ready for show setup.

i wouldn't necessarily say go out and do it as soon as you get into horses, but if you have spent a few decades accumulating stuff, this is a particularly efficient use of your resources!