I’ve been watching facebook posts from some of the local trainers at various rated shows including Upperville :eek:. Since I have been out of the rated show scene for quite a while, I am wondering if they are no longer required to present a professional picture or if I am showing my age and being an old fuddy duddy :no:. I have been shocked at many of these pictures and was hoping those of you more active on the scene could clarify for me. Thank you in advance.
Vague post is vague…
Want to clarify with some details?
are you talking about polos and breeches for jumper rounds?
otherwise the uniform for hunters is as it always have been, coat ratcatcher and breeches
Are you talking about how riders are dressed, or the trainers?
[QUOTE=hoopoe;7701368]
are you talking about polos and breeches for jumper rounds?
otherwise the uniform for hunters is as it always have been, coat ratcatcher and breeches[/QUOTE]
I think she’s talking about trainers in unprofessional non riding attire. Skimpy tanks or short shorts.
Ah… my apologies. I was thinking in my head what they were. One particular trainer was in jeans, a tank top (that left little for the imagination) and sneakers. I was raised where trainers dress “appropriately”, khakis, slacks, skort, a nice blouse and often a hat (large brimmed or the style that looks like a mens derby hat-can’t recall name). When I think of trainer attire I think of classy women like this lovely photo posted by Phelps Sports:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t34.0-12/10592520_10203541319146973_653740293_n.jpg?oh=8a911ea3fb3f67ed74bd35df9e103956&oe=53E4C3AF&gda=1407527835_79d5bc529e6c2a0f44bdb37ff9f8a6b4
Here’s what I’ve noticed. The higher level trainers, the true professionals who have been in the business (whether as student, rider, or trainer) a long time, dress very professionally. Typically in riding clothes, if they still actively ride. If not, jeans or khakis, polo or nice tshirt. Some “dress up” for big classes - medal finals, hunter derbies, etc. Seeing that trainer, in the second picture, at a rated show would typically make me think “local trainer venturing to a rated show.” Personally, I don’t notice many trainers dressed like that at the shows.
I don’t think I’ve ever noticed a “trainer” dressed as the second picture at HITS or WEF or Upperville, or if they were a trainer, I didn’t identify them as such.
Also I think it’s kind of tasteless to post a picture of someone looking not particularly put together and then slam them for not looking particularly put together, especially when it’s clearly some young unknown.
I just think that’s pretty mean-spirited, like “mean girls” slam book mean-spirited.
[QUOTE=ladyj79;7701403]
I don’t think I’ve ever noticed a “trainer” dressed as the second picture at HITS or WEF or Upperville, or if they were a trainer, I didn’t identify them as such.
Also I think it’s kind of tasteless to post a picture of someone looking not particularly put together and then slam them for not looking particularly put together, especially when it’s clearly some young unknown.
I just think that’s pretty mean-spirited, like “mean girls” slam book mean-spirited.[/QUOTE]
I tend to agree that it is pretty tasteless to post that pic.
That said, even at C rated shows, my trainer wore jeans/khakis/skirt, paddock boots, with a polo and a hat.
Ahhh - this brings back memories for me. Many years ago when I was a young professional, I took some of my lesson kids to a local but nice rated show. It was sooooooooooooooo hot that day. I had worn khaki’s but by 8 a.m. was dying of heat so I scrounged around in my trailer and came up with some jean cut off shorts. Ahhh relief - however, I then ran into MY instructor (BNT) and as she was saying hi to me she looked me up and down and one look from her was worth a thousand words. I went back tot he trailer and put on my pants! I learned that my kids represent me and I represent my stable. There are no good ways to make a good first impression the second time around!
This is not going to end well.
My intent was not to be mean spirited or a mean girl. Anyone that knows me, knows that I am anything but. If my intent was to be mean, I would not post under my normal COTH ID that tells who I am and where I live. I will gladly delete the pictures. If you notice in the original post, I did not post anything, however it was pointed out that my post was vague. I cropped out the horse, cropped the trainers face and did what I could to make the photo generalized. The trainer is actually a nice person and I have nothing against them. I was just shocked by the attire and was asking about what is appropriate. My apologies to those I have offended.
I guess I was shocked because of the way I was raised. I still dress up for supper, flying on an airplane, having company over, church, etc… Then again I guess I am a fuddy duddy because I still go to the barn in collared shirts and rarely wear any t-shirts.
Have you been on an airplane lately? This is normal (but not ok with me)
If you know and like this person, why wouldn’t you instead try to tactfully broach this subject with them, rather than this public shaming?
I wouldn’t do that to anyone I described as a “nice person” I actually wouldn’t do that to mean people either.
ETA I come from a very conservative and etiquette-oriented family. I will judge you, but not publicly. I don’t think you intended to be mean necessarily, but given the public nature of the forum, it’s somewhat unavoidable to come off looking that way posting anonymous pics in order to criticize some poor girl’s clothing and appearance.
I’ve been to Upperville for years and I don’t see any glaring trainer clothing faux pas… most are dressed professionally… and I didn’t see the photo but am wondering if the “trainer” in question was not “trainer” but could’ve been a friend of rider or barn staff. Also, not to excuse a skimpy tank top but Upperville can get pretty steamy hot…
OP, would it have made a difference to you if she were a 5’10" willowy blonde? Or is it the fact that she’s a shorter, stockier girl who isn’t wearing a muumuu what offends you the most?
[QUOTE=see u at x;7701655]
OP, would it have made a difference to you if she were a 5’10" willowy blonde? Or is it the fact that she’s a shorter, stockier girl who isn’t wearing a muumuu what offends you the most?[/QUOTE]
Since when is a poorly fitted outfit flattering for any figure? Body shape is irrelevant in this example, as there is no way to confuse a tank top and jeans as profesional attire.
Simple rule of thumb: It’s far better to be overdressed than underdressed, especially if you are a professional.
Most pros are typically dressed appropriately but I will say, at the AA show I was at last week, I saw one trainer that was dressed particularly poorly. She wore baggy t-shirts, frumpy jeans (in other words torn/had holes) and flip flops! I was pretty shocked to see that she had a pretty decent number of show clients who looked pretty polished. However not surprisingly, her demeanor and training methodology seemed to match her attire; unprofessional, sloppy and unrefined. Seeing her yell “KICK HARDER!!” (to a rider that was already careening out of control) from the in-gate was almost comical if it wasn’t so embarrassing for her clients.
The well dressed trainer in the pony finals photo - could be well dressed because it IS the pony finals and often they bring in the winning rider’s trainer for award presentations… or that person might not be the trainer could be the donor of the trophy? I didn’t see any caption on that photo.
There is one trainer I see at shows who is always impeccable and I cannot for the life of me understand how she manages to repel dirt. I have seen her in a dusty schooling area in light colored clothes. and comes out looking ready for afternoon tea.
But AliCat, that it was poorly-fitted wasn’t the described problem of the OP. It wasn’t until that photo was posted, which OP has thankfully now removed, that we were aware–as you just pointed out–what the “real” problem seemed to be. And rest assured, I’d be equally upset if she had posted a picture of a competitor wearing an ill-fitting jacket or breeches that were less than flattering so we could all sit around and mock those people as well.
Again, I think it is demonstrates a distinct lack of class.
Please tell me, those of us who actually do go to these shows, who would have ever, ever thought that girl was a trainer until someone posted an awful and unflattering picture of her on a public blackboard and called her a trainer? There is nothing from that picture that says “trainer”, and I walk by lots of people at every level of show dressed thusly without batting an eye. They are grooms, or contestants, or spectators. But the difference is, this girl was clearly not one of the beautiful people, so she stuck out, enough for the OP to notice, and then take her picture off of facebook, a picture that honestly is not identifiably from a show or her as a “trainer”, she’s not standing in the winner’s circle with her student, as the “good” example is, it’s a completely candid and “unprofessional” shot. She could have been the rider’s sister for all I knew.
I think this was a legitimate question to pose and conversation to have, but the execution has left a very bad taste in my mouth.
