Starting it off

[spider]

Well as you may have read on the into bit... I'm into showing have a sml show hack. ~No shows at the mo, as wagon in dock. When we do get out I shall let you know how we get on

[zara]

Hi Spider, I'm assuming that you know a fair bit about showing (read previous posts). I want to show my arab this year and wondered if you could advise re: turnout etc. As he's black i do have black tack which I know is incorrect but will only do local stuff, no big plans to conquer the world! Thanks Zx

[spotti]

Zara, what tack are you supposed to have for a black horse? I thought the point was to make the tack not stand out/blend in?

And spider, on a similar topic, if I were to show my piebald mare, what colour tack would we need? (asking 'cos we're in the middle of getting new stuff). She's quite evenly black and white...wil find a picture if it helps

[zara]

I'm afraid brown tack is generally required for showing Zx

[spider]

Zara, is correct.. Brown tack but you can lots of different shades of brown If you look at my show pics in the members section you will see my lad in brown tack. it is very dark brown.. well the bridle is, my saddle is a touch lighter. My everyday saddle is darker.. will have to see if I have a pic of him in it

[abi]

i shouldnt think it would matter that much at local, friendly shows? I used black on my black cob and nobody noticed, brown tack on a black cob just doesnt really appeal to me, must stand out a bit.

Saying that, a freind went to a local show down the road from her, and the judge complained that she shouldnt compete in a synthetic saddle! It was in decent condition and clean, its not as if we can all afford new leather, fitted saddles! miserable g*t.

[spotti]

Brown? Really? But Faith looks silly in brown...see?!

(sorry its a bit of a rubbish picture...it was a bit of a rubbish place we were in)

And is it brown for all horses? If so, whats the point in making black stuff then? Surely they wouldn't make black tack if brown was the only thing accepted in competitions??!?!?

[spider]

Black is ok for most compertitions but showing is still brown. My Boy is black but would never show in black tack I find a brown to suit him although my show saddle is a lighter brown... it still looks good on him.

you will find that even at local level most people have brown tack. ~They just want to get it right! Local level showing in some counties is higher than others and with all the RC champs about people want to get it right

[chiefsmyboy]

I have a piebald gelding and show in brown tack. It doesn't look that bad actually though I did see some people showing in black tack when we were up at the C.H.A.P.S Championships the other year and that was in the evening gala performances.