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.
“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)
