your local GMO newsletter / FB
Ask a local trainer if they have a student new to showing.
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Yup, I bet my coat is a portable sauna
YES, I am a size 12.
And YES!!! Make it into a dress coat for yourself! How cool!!! You will stand out from your friends with a cool new coat design that others don’t have.
I can trade you for a smaller navy hunt coat that I showed in that I’ll never fit into again. I think it is size 8? Very well cared for.
My bones aren’t a size 8.
My coat is yours if you’ll pay the postage! I’ll even throw in a gorgeous old fashioned stock tie—with instructions!
PM me if you’re interested.
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PM on the way.
I think I’ll take your lead and post my coat in the H/J forum.
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COTH is being weird. Please let me know if you DIDN’T get my PM.
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I personally would. I despise the short coats. They look like Hunter type jackets. They look like a shirt, hardly go past the waist band. And the material is gawd awful. No shape, no tailoring. I don’t show, but if I did, I certainly would wear a classic black four button with two buttons in the back.
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I agree, the stretch mesh ones are unflattering for a mature figure and have the unfortunate habit of conforming to the shape underneath them rather than offering a bit of structure. However there are some nice modern fabrics that are cool and don’t do that.
I have an RJ Classics navy 4 button that is long enough to be kind, without being so long as to get caught up under my seat so its trying to strangle me mid-test.
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Did you get my PM?
Yep.see mine!
Thank you! I’m inspired to give away my hunt coat on the H/J forum. I’ll honestly never fit into it again and it is nice.
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No, body shape is. I have a long torso and the shorter coats look AWFUL on me. They stop right at the widest point of my hips and are just about as unflattering as it’s possible for a coat to be.
I don’t understand this discussion. According to 2023 USEF Dressage Rules,
DR120 Dress
1.2 Coats and Jackets. A short riding jacket or cutaway coat (modified tailcoat) with short tails is permitted at any level of competition. A tailcoat is permitted in all classes above Fourth level, in the FEI test for 7-year old horses and in tests for FEI Juniors. Any single color jacket or tailcoat is permitted and may have subtle pin striping, checks or tweeds. Striped or multi-colored jackets or coats are not permitted. The color of stretch and/or breathable underarm or side of the body panel in a jacket may be black or the same color as the garment fabric.Tasteful and discreet accents, such as a collar of a different hue, modest piping, or crystal decorations, are acceptable. Only riders competing in Level 1 dressage competitions or in Opportunity classes are not required to wear a riding jacket or coat. BOD 1/14/23 Effective 2/1/23
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I started the topic not because I thought my coat wouldn’t be show-legal, but because I wondered if there was any market for it if I sold it. The thought of it hanging around a Goodwill store unloved made me sad. As a result of this thread, I’m happy to say that it has found a dressage home! 
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The discussion is about changing styles. Longer wool frock coats are somewhat out of style as the more modern look is a shorter coat made with lighter fabrics.
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I’ll post it here, too.
Does anyone want a size 8-ish “The Tailored Sportsman” dark navy dressage coat? It will comes with a white striped hunt shirt and collar.
I once fit into it, but I will never fit into it again. It is in great condition and was cleaned after every show. I got my bronze medal in this jacket and a Reserve Regional Champ at Third.
More importantly, it could be a fabulous blazer-type coat for someone for formal or casual wear.
I’d love for it to go to a good home.
OK. I did not know there was a dressage fashion.
Every equestrian discipline has styles and fads unique to them and those trends are fluid and ever changing. Any participant should familiarize with the current trending things if competing.
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I have not had a coat made of wool since the late 70s early 80s, A beautiful Pytchley in a lovely soft bluish gray tweed, I wish I had not given it away.
I think the fabrics of RJ and other coats were perfect for showing, They tailored crisply and were machine washable. I will admit that I took them to the cleaners for washing and pressing, TLC I never gave to my regular clothes. It almost never got hot enough to call the coat rule. I agree that some of the modern fabrics just dont tailor up crispy and can show flaws. My body has never been a single digit size, even at its skinniest, and sharp tailoring goes a long way to paint a clean and flattering picture.
My Mom was a sewer and I remember her repairing my first hunt coat. Bought for 4 dollars at a barn tack sale, it had cigarette and moth holes. It was probably somewhat bespoke coat with a maker label I don’t know ( New York) She exclaimed about the tailoring and fabric quality. It is still in my closet, I cannot part with it. Truth to tell, if I were to ever show hunters again ( not going to happen) I would proudly wear this 70+ year old coat
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I agree if the “trends” impact to how the rules are changing with regards to their interpretation.
Maybe I’m too literal, (or maybe it’s because I’m cheap…er, thrifty) but if the attire complies with the rules, why does it matter? I have been known to buy a black men’s dress coat at Goodwill to show. Judge didn’t comment about it.
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A good judge doesn’t pay attention to such things. But there is the concept of presenting a polished look so you want to wear something that presents that polished look. Some believe that involves following the style of successful riders.
