White keuring bridles

If you are going to an FPS/FHANA Keuring you should know the traditional presentation of the breed. Traditionally you will show all horses 2 and older in a white leather headstall with a bit. This headstall is the brow band style with a throatlatch. There is no noseband on this bridle. Instead of reins you will have a lead attached to the bit. You can use a chain or clip to the bit but it’s usually a chain on the end of your lead. So prep your young horses to have that chain hit their chin and slide across the bit before they get to the show. You should also get your young horses used to the bit that they are going to use. They make traditional gold bits with horse shoe shapes on either side, but that is not a requirement. Any clean snaffle bit that fits your horse is appropriate. If you horse is very hard to handle and stop and the best bit for them is a curb bit then that can be an option. Ideally you will want your horse to go in some sort of a snaffle that doesn’t have a chain under it. Just remember the stud chain on the end of the lead will run through the bit and act as a curb chain.

We sell White Keuring Headstalls and Leads at http://sableranch.net/whitetack.html . We have white bridles with padded browbands, crystal browbands, Rolled leather bridles and matching leads. All of the white bridles that we sell have been used in keruings and are acceptable for keurings.

Once in a while you will see people show their horse in a black bridle. This is not against any rules. It is not traditional but you will not be asked to leave if you have a horse that wears a black bridle. It should still not have a noseband, and it should have a browband and throatlatch.

If you are showing in IFSHA the rules say traditional. That would mean white, but there are many people that show in black bridles. Not all judges are familiar with what is traditional for Friesians because they may not even have their Friesian Card for judging. Check with the Rules Official at your local show to see what they expect you to wear. It’s always safe to wear white, but if you prefer black (most people do) then consult the Rules Official. They ultimately control the rules of the show and If the judge doesn’t know then they ask the Rules Official. But Traditional is White.