I recently purchased a brown hunt coat and I’m planning on buying brown tall boots, just plain dark brown and I was wondering if those were permitted in equitation?
No. Maybe unless it’s a local schooling show…Hunters the coat would be fine. Black boots, navy, black or maybe a dark green coat. No brown.
The rule book is your friend, and it’s all online.
I will say, there’s a reason that brown boots went out style, and the number one is that it’s much more difficult to get them cleaned and polished and looking sharp compared to black.
The rules for USHJA shows can be found at usef.org. There’s nothing in the equitation section that says you cannot wear brown.
However, if you’re showing at a rated show, you’ll likely be the only one wearing brown. Not that that’s a bad thing - just thought you might want to know before you go.
Brown has always been considered informal and equitation would be considered formal so black it is. Brown will be ok for hunters but anytime you against the “norm” you better lay down a great trip!
Brown is historically considered informal or “ratcatcher” attire by the hunts, and eq is generally considered a “formal” class, so avoid it unless you’re showing at rather small shows.
Brown boots are lovely, but I would not suggest them for an equitation class at a rated show.
A little off topic but a couple years ago there was an older amateur lady who did the USHJA National Derby at one of our shows in a brown shad, brown CO, brown boots, and brown gloves. I know it’s nowhere near traditional but she looked FABULOUS. Of course, it helped that she was on what was definitely a 6-figure horse and rode him beautifully, and had a devil-may-care attitude about the whole thing – she was wearing what she wanted to wear, dammit! She told me afterwards it was her first derby and she’d bought all the stuff just for that class because she was so excited to do it, which I thought was just adorable. I mean, if you have the money and it makes you feel good…
Of course, just because SHE did it in a derby doesn’t mean I’d recommend someone doing the same in the eq. But I certainly admired her gumption!
I show eq locally and won’t even wear my gorgeous brown coat/boots/helmet on my striking chestnut there.
There is no rule against it, if you don’t mind being the only one who will be wearing it. Personally, it wouldn’t bother me at all. I was a junior in the 1960s and about 50% of the eq riders wore brown (and cordovan and oxblood too) boots, frequently with beautiful tweed jackets. My trainer’s daughter rode in the finals at MSG in just such an outfit, it was gorgeous.
I wish some of the judges on this forum would comment honestly as to whether or not they would penalize someone for not wearing navy coat/tan breeches/black boots. Its such a bore to see everyone wearing the same thing.
[QUOTE=541hunter;8350028]
A little off topic but a couple years ago there was an older amateur lady who did the USHJA National Derby at one of our shows in a brown shad, brown CO, brown boots, and brown gloves. I know it’s nowhere near traditional but she looked FABULOUS. Of course, it helped that she was on what was definitely a 6-figure horse and rode him beautifully, and had a devil-may-care attitude about the whole thing – she was wearing what she wanted to wear, dammit! She told me afterwards it was her first derby and she’d bought all the stuff just for that class because she was so excited to do it, which I thought was just adorable. I mean, if you have the money and it makes you feel good…
Of course, just because SHE did it in a derby doesn’t mean I’d recommend someone doing the same in the eq. But I certainly admired her gumption![/QUOTE]
Kristin Hardin has been known to wear brown in the derby. I think she looks amazing.
As for equitation? I think I would stick with black boots.
I don’t have as much feeling about the coat, though. It wasn’t too long ago people were wearing dark brown in eq without a second thought to it and black was taboo.
Who in earth is looking at the rider!!!
^^That whole picture is lovely. Everything about it.
[QUOTE=BAC;8350137]
I wish some of the judges on this forum would comment honestly as to whether or not they would penalize someone for not wearing navy coat/tan breeches/black boots. Its such a bore to see everyone wearing the same thing.[/QUOTE]
I would not penalize attire that is allowed under the rules.
Depending on how unusual the attire is, it might make the rider stand out more. It’s up to the rider if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. 
[QUOTE=AmmyByNature;8350307]
Who in earth is looking at the rider!!![/QUOTE]
Right? :yes: I love it all. The horse is a jumper who doubles as a hunter.
[QUOTE=BAC;8350137]
There is no rule against it, if you don’t mind being the only one who will be wearing it. Personally, it wouldn’t bother me at all. I was a junior in the 1960s and about 50% of the eq riders wore brown (and cordovan and oxblood too) boots, frequently with beautiful tweed jackets. My trainer’s daughter rode in the finals at MSG in just such an outfit, it was gorgeous.
I wish some of the judges on this forum would comment honestly as to whether or not they would penalize someone for not wearing navy coat/tan breeches/black boots. Its such a bore to see everyone wearing the same thing.[/QUOTE]
I thought brown was meant to be worn with tweed?
I know dressage riders who want to go with a brown saddle typically throw in cream breeches and rat catcher, cream gloves, brown boots, and a navy jacket…
I think what you’re suggesting would be equivalent to showing up with black tack… But if you ride well enough and your horse is wonderful, go for it! I think tradition is silly, but I also like winning, so I abide by tradition so I don’t stick out like a sore thumb. I’m not good enough to!
[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8350671]
I thought brown was meant to be worn with tweed?
I think what you’re suggesting would be equivalent to showing up with black tack… But if you ride well enough and your horse is wonderful, go for it! I think tradition is silly, but I also like winning, so I abide by tradition so I don’t stick out like a sore thumb. I’m not good enough to![/QUOTE]
If you wear black field boots, you aren’t abiding by tradition anyway, so who cares? Traditionally, field boots should be brown and dress boots should be black. We’ve been bucking that tradition since the 80s.
I am (fairly) sure I wouldn’t get penalized - it’s just that I’m not sure on any given show day whether I’m going to lay down a trip that’s good enough to warrant standing out in such a dramatic way!
Great ensemble, but knowing the traditions mentioned, I can’t resolve “brown boots,” “braided tail,” and “brown shadbelly.”
Practically, I’d look at it this way. While brown/brown it is informal by tradition (weekday or cub season hunting), and there are no specific rules precluding this sort of color combo, you will very likely be the only one in your classes attired this way. Unless my equitation–particularly leg and upper body, as that’s what’s clad in brown–is near perfect, I have no desire to attract undue attention to myself. I don’t want to be “that girl in brown who has a tendency to tip forward at the canter.” Not that my position flaws disappear in navy and black, but I have to believe that they will be more memorable to a judge if I’ve made myself stand out in that way.
