Figure 8 noseband and use in lower level dressage

[TSWJB]

I am a Hunter Jumper rider doing dressage. I have been participating in schooling shows at DVHA. The judge gives you comments after your rides which I find almost like a riding lesson. Its great! Anyway the one judge said I should put a flash noseband on. I do not own a flash. I have another show on Saturday and was thinking I could use a figure 8 noseband. I have a lovely expensive bridle that I haven’t used since my jumper days. Anyway, would it look out of place to use the figure 8 noseband? I read the dressage rules and it says its permitted until you use a double bridle. I am a long way off from needing a double bridle. I really don’t want to purchase a new bridle for the lower levels of dressage. I know you can buy a converter but the ones I found have cheap leather on the internet and don’t think it would match my bridle.
On another note, they had a rider that did Grand Prix test at DVHA last Thursday! It was a real treat to watch and she gathered a small crowd! She said grand prix at DVHA is the same for the horse as it is elsewhere and this has the added bonus of being close to her home!

[Janet]

The figure 8 is perfectly legal.

Most "straight" dressage riders don't use a figure 8.

But lots of Eventers use a fig 8 for dressage, both at events and at dressage shows, so you won't look out of place.

I am not a fan of flashes anyway. I much prefer fig 8 or a real dropped noseband (properly adjusted).

[whicker]

There will be others who can tell you more about,style, but if the rules allow a figure 8, I would use it. It was the original noseband before the flash attachment was invented.

I used it during my competition years because I liked that my horse could breathe easily. I could make nuanced changes in tightness without having the noseband develop terminal droop and the flash becoming too loose or falling off. I did have a horse with prehensile lips and a Houdini mind. Of course, he was an eventer.:winkgrin::lol:

I had his nose crossover spot sewn in place with a bit of sheepskin, so he couldn't wiggle it to a different location.

[easyrider]

I am not a fan of flashes anyway. I much prefer fig 8 or a real dropped noseband (properly adjusted).

Agreed. I showed in both figure 8 and drop and never got a comment on it. Good luck to you!

[Brown Horse]

I used a figure 8 for a recognized HT :p Didn't get any weird stares or comments. I don't think anyone cares.