Attire/turnout for local show?

[scruffy_the_cat]

@Dark horse17

Widely varied, for sure. Here in New England, a Schooling show is seen as practice for a Rated show. Even in Intro, horses are braided, riders are in full turnout (think conservative-- limited bling, nothing super fancy/flashy), but dark coats, stock ties, white pads, polished up boots and tack etc. are the standard. You would absolutely be out of place in tan pants with a sun shirt and an un-braided horse. I think, most of the competitors relish in the opportunity to shine up their horses for the day, and, of course, practice up for the rated shows.

Disagree. I am in New England and absolutely tan breeches are fine. Plenty of half chaps, bling, and no braids around as well. And they still win. If you want to dress up, great. But feel no pressure other than to be clean and tidy (within the rules).

[alibi_18]

@Dark horse17

Widely varied, for sure. Here in New England, a Schooling show is seen as practice for a Rated show. Even in Intro, horses are braided, riders are in full turnout (think conservative-- limited bling, nothing super fancy/flashy), but dark coats, stock ties, white pads, polished up boots and tack etc. are the standard. You would absolutely be out of place in tan pants with a sun shirt and an un-braided horse. I think, most of the competitors relish in the opportunity to shine up their horses for the day, and, of course, practice up for the rated shows.

I’m not saying one should not.
I’m saying one should not be pressured to.
The OP can buy any stocktie, white breeches, and gloves… But her trainer should talk to the OP about the rules so the OP could make her/his own choice.

I see quite some bling at CDIs… and horse don’t even have to be braided. It’s just a convention, it’s not in the rules book.

As for being polished in general, that obviously shows the horsemanship and it is what is the most important, yet it still does not reflect on the score.

Lot’s of people are complaining about the cost of dressage shows and the way it is seen… elitism and snobbery comes to mind…

Well, if for a start we would stop being ridiculous with all those fluffy unescessary stuff… especially at the lower levels, maybe it would be deemed more accessible.