Breastplate question for hunter shows?

I have a chestnut colored saddle and I need a breastplate to match it but i cant find any in that color that stretch. In a hunter show will it matter much if I have a chestnut saddle/bridle and walnut breastplate? I want it to stretch because I'm going to use it in jumper classes too and I will definitly feel better if it was a stretch. I can only find like dark brown and walnut colors. Anyone know where I can find a good chestnut colored one?

Breastplate question for hunter shows?
A "stretch" breastplate is NOT appropriate for a hunter class... in all honesty breasplates in general are not "traditional" in a hunter class and will, therefore, catch the judge's eye and may distract from the over-all impression.



If you saddle slides back (which is what a breastplate is for)then you can put a standing martingale on (which is VERY typical in hunters) which, by being attached to the girth, will at least HELP with the problem... however a saddle which reguarly slides back is a sign that the saddle does not fit the horse properly so you should definetly look into what the REAL problem is, not just the symptom.



To answer your actual questions yes you "can" use tack that is slightly mis-matched however it will not look great and if you turn in a round that is very similar to another rider's it may be just the thing the judge uses to 'break the tie'....



Hope This Helps!
Reply:A quick search and this is the closest I can find:



http://www.horse.com/products/sku-AFA20....



It looks like you can remove the running martingale part and just use it as a breastplate.



Otherwise, go for the walnut color. I do not think the hunter judges would mind, but I am not completely sure - a lot of that is subjective.



EDIT: I missed the D-ring attachment. Um, Bit of Britain has one:

http://www.bitofbritain.com/Nunn_Finer_H...



It comes in black and havana-not exactly sure what color havana is, unfortunately I think it is a darker brown.



You might have to just go with a darker brown if you want elastic on your breastplate.
Reply:You could always get a lighter colored breastplate (close to the color you want) and then test the leather in an inconspicuous place with shoe polish or even neatsfoot oil to darken the leather. I've done this before in a pinch (with mixed results!)



Try Dover if all else fails...they have a lot of lighter colored tack pieces there, but for whatever reason chestnut tack is usually more expensive. Go figure!
Reply:skttl is completely right with her answer, u can prolly get away with it in a jumper class but it's absoulty a no go in a hunter class at anything above a C level show. A definte fau paux.

Hunters and Jumpers a typically two completely different divsions or classes because of the rules.

In Hunters it's all about the look, the picture the horse and rider make togeter, the smoothness and grace of their round, it should look effortless and graceful beyond belife the horse should be well turned out and suited to his task and the rider should be well matched to the horse and complete the team. Such things as equitation, stides between fences, lead changes and use of spots is judged in hunters.



Jumpers pretty much anything goes, as long as you stay on course and clear the fences in the time allowed that is what is scored. The class is base on a point system for knock downs, refusals and time. All clear rounds go to a seperate jump-off and then this shorter round is based on being clean and fast. Jumpers are free to attire their horses in whatever helps them get around safely, and aren't judged so much on style/appearance but on the precision of their jumping the prescirbed round.
Reply:I have a black saddle and bridle and I use a dark brown breast collar because I couldn't find a black one, and it does not look that bad.