H&H Asks: bibs
BELGIAN show jumper Judy Ann Melchior was seen riding her stallion Levisto Z at European shows with an unusual attachment to the underside of his noseband extending under the jaw. H&H decided to find out what it was for.
What is it?
ACCORDING to Lucy Nicholas from The Saddlery Shop in Devon, a bib such as this is more commonly used on horses with a tendency to grab or chew rugs around their chest.
“When it is used on a horse under saddle I would think it is to stop horses getting the martingale in their mouth — a common problem with stallions,” says Lucy.
“I had a friend whose stallion used to try and do this a lot and ripped his mouth by getting caught up in the attachments.”
Who uses it?
SHOW jumper Judy Ann Melchior uses it on her stallion Levisto Z.
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“Levisto is very playful and always tries to grab on to the reins,” says Judy Ann.
“That is why he wears this bib, but only when he is ridden. I actually designed this one myself so it causes him no bother while he is jumping.”
Is there an alternative?
LUCY Nicholas also suggests the use of a bib martingale.
“It does a similar job to the bib as the solid leather insert means the horse is less likely to be able to get the martingale strap hooked over a tooth.”
Information
The Saddlery Shop www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk
This Q&A was first published in Horse & Hound (28 December, ’07)
