Am I getting too wild?

[Draftmare]

I plan to show USDF sanctioned shows this year, goal is to (hopefully) get the scores I need to qualify for Regionals at training level.

I am still trying to sort out my outfit for next year, and am currently eyeballing some things in the after Christmas sales.

Currently my set up is…
Navy coat
Navy helmet
White breeches
White saddle pad
Navy fly veil (mostly because I can’t braid forelocks for anything)
Brown dressage saddle
Brown Micklem bridle

I was trying to find brown tall boots, but had given up because I need a bigger calf size and couldn’t find anything available in the US. I started looking at brands in the UK, and one thing lead to another…and now I am actually thinking about getting navy De Niros. https://imgur.com/a/IjExZ

I am in love with these boots, but I can’t justify the cost for something that I would only use to school in at home. Should I stick with black? Go with brown? …Or go a bit wild and get the navy ones?

[Silverbridge]

My DeNiro show boots are primarily black with Navy on the tops and at the heels. You could try that, it blends the black of my tack and the navy of coat and helmet very well. And if I wear my black helmet and coat they still look good.

[Libby2563]

For me personally, that would be too matchy-matchy. I would lose the fly veil (not a fan unless there’s a functional reason) and go for plain black or brown boots or ones with subtle trim like Silverbridge suggested. To each his own though!

[hoopoe]

I would drop the fly veil. You can learn to braid forelock or leave it natural. You , or a groom, will have to remove the fly veil for every tack inspection, which seems a bother.

[Angela_Freda]

How is her stifle work and PSSM situation coming along?

[pluvinel]

@Angela Freda

How is her stifle work and PSSM situation coming along?

And what does this have to do with all the tea in china…or the color of riding boots?

[Equibrit]

The Grinch showed up.

[Angela_Freda]

@pluvinel

And what does this have to do with all the tea in china…or the color of riding boots?

LOL it doesn’t, except that the OP hasn’t posted in a while [that I’ve seen] and so this is the first chance to ask her how her horse is doing?

[Draftmare]

@hoopoe

I would drop the fly veil. You can learn to braid forelock or leave it natural. You , or a groom, will have to remove the fly veil for every tack inspection, which seems a bother.

I left it natural this year at GMO shows, but I wasn’t sure if that would be too sloppy at USDF shows. I’ve tried to learn to braid, but I just seem to have ten thumbs when it comes to braiding anything, horse hair or human! I had an instructor tell me a few years ago that if I couldn’t manage good braids, to just not braid.

http://imgur.com/9GnA4J8 the rest of her mane gets roached to save me braiding it. I’ve half thought about roaching her forelock too! A couple years ago we had an incident with burrs where I ended up having to cut some of her forelock, and it’s never really grown back quite right.

[Heinz_57]

@Draftmare

http://imgur.com/9GnA4J8 the rest of her mane gets roached to save me braiding it. I’ve half thought about roaching her forelock too! A couple years ago we had an incident with burrs where I ended up having to cut some of her forelock, and it’s never really grown back quite right.

Oh, that should be fairly easy to braid! You just need a good teacher and a bit of practice. Or you could easily find someone to pay to do it - juniors/YR’s are numerous at most every show, and I bet there’s at least a dozen who would be happy to make $10-15 for a few minutes worth of work.

Those navy Deniros aren’t really my taste, but as long as it’s legal and you like it, do as you please! Though…I think the contrast between boots & saddle might highlight any looseness or other position faults in your leg - sort of like wearing light gloves on a dark horse.

[mmeqcenter]

I’d have to see it to be sure, but I’m leaning towards:
If you keep the fly bonnet, do brown boots.
If you nix the bonnet, do the navy boots.

[Draftmare]

@Silverbridge

My DeNiro show boots are primarily black with Navy on the tops and at the heels. You could try that, it blends the black of my tack and the navy of coat and helmet very well. And if I wear my black helmet and coat they still look good.

I am looking at doing off the rack DeNiros to save money, which leaves me with either doing solid black, brown, or navy.

[Draftmare]

@Heinz 57 So should I do brown boots to match my saddle? This is my saddle…it also has hints of navy! https://imgur.com/a/iUW3B :lol:

[MissAriel]

I would stick with brown if the brown is a dark brown, like the saddle and bridle. If the brown boots are a lighter or cognac brown, then stay with black boots. The navy boots are too much, IMHO.

[Draftmare]

@MissAriel

I would stick with brown if the brown is a dark brown, like the saddle and bridle. If the brown boots are a lighter or cognac brown, then stay with black boots. The navy boots are too much, IMHO.

This is their brown: https://www.equiport.co.uk/products/riding-wear/horse-riding-boots-and-chaps/s3312-riding-boots--brown-dn30/

[Heinz_57]

@Draftmare

@Heinz 57 So should I do brown boots to match my saddle? This is my saddle…it also has hints of navy! https://imgur.com/a/iUW3B :lol:

That’s what I’d do, assuming the brown of the boots is a similar darker shade like your saddle. The navy boots are fun, but limiting, and I’d worry that they will show any scratches or scuffs pretty obviously. I think brown boots compliment a brown helmet nicely!

[scruffy_the_cat]

Those navy boots are pretty. I’m horrible with color so I won’t comment on that but pretty please will you tell us where you are finding those gorgeous boots?

[2DogsFarm]

Honest Question Alert <from one who shows hardly-at-all

Color aside, are field boots now being worn in Dressage?

[Libby2563]

@2DogsFarm

Honest Question Alert <from one who shows hardly-at-all

Color aside, are field boots now being worn in Dressage?

I don’t think you see them very often but I usually notice the horses and riding more than the riders’ outfits (unless they are either distracting or extra elegant). When I do see field boots I tend to assume the riders are crossing over from H/J or eventing. It’s just not super common in straight dressage, IMO.

There isn’t much in the rules about boots actually. Through Fourth Level you must wear “boots or jodhpur boots.” Above Fourth Level, you must wear “black riding boots” (see DR120.8). Dress vs. field is never mentioned.

https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/F3p8…ssage-division

[AZ_TD]

I’ve seen people wear field boots, but have never seen an adult wear jodhpurs and jodphur boots!