Tack and turnout for M&M showing classes

Mountain & Moorland ridden classes

Bridles should be plain and workmanlike.
Plain browband – metal or clincher are permitted but some judges don’t like them (NB: brass was traditionally for stallions)
Either no numnah or one which is discreet and matches the horse and saddle
No boots or bandages
Brown or black tack – brown is preferred by traditional judges and is always correct in the show ring
Snaffle bridle for novice classes
Double bridle or pelham for open classes
Straight cut or working hunter saddles show more of the horse’s shoulder and movement, so are preferable to GP saddles
Manes, tails and feathers may be pulled/trimmed in some breeds, according to the breed society’s specifications
Quarter markers are not correct for native ponies

Shetlands
Connemaras
Exmoors
Dartmoors
Welsh Bs
In-hand bridles can be used for youngstock and broodmares
Pony that compete in ridden classes can wear riding bridles with normal reins or in-hand bridles with couplings. Novice ponies should wear a snaffle. Open ponies a pelham or double bridle. NB: It is not correct to wear a riding bridle with a coupling and lead
Stallions should wear bridles with bits once they are over two years
Yearling colts can wear bits but are usually led off the noseband
Two-year-olds can wear nylon (training) bits but once they are 3 (esp large breeds) they are expected to wear proper stallion bits on an in-hand bridle. Small breeds often stick with a smaller bit so it does not draw attention away from the face
Some breed societies state that stallion harnesses must be worn on horses over 3 years olds

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