Hanging, flapping, slack traces have bugged the crap out of me for YEARS! Part of the reason I didn't want to show in driving is because I felt we wouldn't have placed (although my horse is awesome) based on proper harnessing (no dragging traces) and the fact that my horse doesn't need a martingale and they seem to be required to "conform".
WHEW! Been holding THAT in for YEARS! That felt good!
There is no way I would go in a ring with that look. My other big pet peeve is the checks so tight the horse has to turn it's head to the side to get any type of relief. I have been told mine is too loose. From what I was told it was to keep your horse from putting it's head down to graze, back in the day. NOT to get a great head set, that should come from training in my book! But then what do I know! I am all about comfort and saftey for my horse, that will always be number 1! If I can win along they way, great, but I want my horse happy, safe and comfortable.
Well, I think you guys have two options. You can show using techniques that you know are proper and good for the horse, it's conformation, and comfort, get an absolutely awesome performance and show the "big guys" how it can be done, AND/OR
You can bring your horses to American Driving Society shows where, by the nature of the rules, you cannot use a martingale and an overcheck, and sidechecks are tolerated but really not necessary. Get some wooden wheels for your vehicle and some breeching for your harness, and the rest of your breed show turnout is perfectly acceptable (at least for minis).
Here is what we started out with at the ADS shows. (The photo was actually taken at a State 4-H show. The reason the trace is slack is because she just stopped in the gate and he is "leaning" to the right.) Eventually, we added the breeching to the turnout and lost the thimbles because we found out that judges appreciated breeching. But my sister showed in this turnout for years and did well. She was even chosen as a Finalist for the Concours D' Elegance once. (The cart's suspension stunk but my sister was young. My back couldn't take it.) Needless to say, you don't need to make a huge investment from what you might already have to show ADS.
Yes, I think there is too much "Black Beauty syndrome" going on in the horse show world, especially on horses that aren't designed conformationally to hold their heads up. And there is a lot of people doing "monkey see, monkey do". First learn what the purpose of the equipment is for and THEN learn to use it in relation to YOUR horse.
I have a friend that tells a story at clinics she gives about monkey see, monkey do. It goes something like this: "There was a trap shoot. The best shooter came out and took an unusual stance [my friend acts this out] and shoots the shotgun with one arm and hits the target. So the other participants take up this stance and miss the target. They eventually ask the 1st shooter why he uses this unusual stance. He replies, 'My hemorrhoids are killing me, and this is the only comfortable way to shoot.'.
Always find out the "why" before you decide to try something. Good job to the OP for doing this!
Myrna