I’m going to be taking a clinic with Gabrielle Armando - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Armando-Dressage/157869521031750 - and am wondering what participants are expected to wear for dressage clinics?
Any help would be greatly appreciated when you get a chance.
I always turn out in boots and breeches. Shirts should be comfortable, neat and tucked in If the breeches have belt loops wear one. A sweater or fleece is OK if it’s cool out. Horse clean neat with clean tack. No braids. And of course, your helmet.
Whips and spurs if you are of a level to ride with either.
I would wear breeches in a non-wild color- tan, taupe, slate grey, with belt.
Tall boots or paddock boots with leather half chaps.
Long sleeved solid colored shirt tucked in. Since I sweat a lot and it is cooler now an Under Armour top to wick away sweat would be my base.
Depending on temps- add a fitted vest, a light fitted jacket, a nice solid color sweatshirt/polarfleece or a solid color sweater. (Tasteful logo is fine).
Make sure whatever top you wear is reasonably form fitting so they can see where your waist/hips and the line of you back. I would stay away from busy prints on the top.
Understated and workman like. You want be comfortable but not sloppy. If you look through their website you can get an idea of what other people wear fr lessons to give you an idea.
I was taught by all my instructors through the years to dress conservatively for clinics.
White or black breeches
Black boots
Solid color shirt with collar, shirttail tucked in, and a conservative belt
Solid color vest if needed
White saddle pad
White polo wraps
I hate seeing riders at clinics in denim or wild colored breeches, wide blingy belts, “fashion” boots, and their horse in a wild looking saddle pad, non-white polo wraps, or sport boots.
My thoughts are that if the clinician is someone you respect enough to pay money, then you should respect them enough to dress in a classic and traditional way. It looks more polished and more professional.
agree-- what you would wear at a (nice) schooling show is usually a good start.
Black breeches and tall boots
Conservative polo in a neutral color- white, black, navy, grey. I don’t like the really sporty ones with a lot of designs-- ok, take that back, I love them just not for clinics 
White or black saddle pad
white or black polos
Fitted quiled vest or fitted jacket.
All the above advice is excellent. Be sure to ride in your chosen clinic outfit a time or two before the clinic. Be weather appropriate and comfortable, and clean. You want to concentrate on the instruction you are receiving, not how awkward you feel in new stiff gear.
If you are working on your position, black breeches may hide position faults from the instructor. Not what you want. a contrasting belt will really show if your hips are level.
Hair should be neat. gloves if apropos.
Here, 1/2 chaps and paddock boots are acceptable for clinics.
Never, ever, ever black breeches for clinics or lessons. Black blends too well with the saddle and disguises your leg and lower back. You’re not there to look good, you’re there to learn.
Dress and turnout should be clean, neat, workmanlike, and if you’re into colour in your breeches and can pull it off, go for it.
I have no issue with black breeches, Any clinician worth their salt will be able to see your leg no problem. I wore a black pair for a clinic just this week and the clinician had no trouble discerning that my issue with one of the flying changes was my less than precise leg aid.
People come on here all the time during a round of white vs black gloves and say that despite popular opinion, black gloves do not hide bad hands.
Your best bet is tidy, solid colors, relatively form fitting. Wraps of opposing color to your horse’s coat color, but also make sure that if you don’t regularly ride in wraps that you a) know how to apply them correctly, and b) ride your horse in them a couple of times ahead of time to get him used to them. Conservative, solid color saddle pad.
In warmer weather I stick with a tech fabric polo shirt. In the cooler weather, usually a cold weather tech shirt and light weight sweater or vest. I steer clear of coats unless it is just bitter out, but I get warm quick when I ride. I’m usually peeling layers off unless it is just bitter cold out.
I find a vest is better than a coat or even a fleece but I get too warm too fast…I braid for a clinic but I ride a PRE with a very long mane and braid for most schooling sessions, too. I don’t think dark breeches are a problem.
If you are lucky enough to audit the other rides, make sure your outfit is comfy for sitting around or that you take a chair and jacket. After you ride and put up your horse, you might be sweaty and need an extra layer.
Bring some extra clothes (for before - after your ride) and I always bring a sitting cushion, a blanket and a few pairs of warm gloves/socks.
I’ve done quite a few clinics and usually wore dark or tan breeches with a nice polo (color doesn’t matter.) Depending on the weather, I would add a V-neck/high neck sweater - a vest - or a fitted jacket. Paired with my boots (brown or black depending on my mood and choice of clothing that day.) and assorted gloves.
I don’t want to get cold or too hot while riding and I don’t mind removing/putting back on some layers during a break.
Have spurs and a whip ready to be used close to the ring. I once had to run to get spurs for another rider. Didn’t enjoy playing groom that day, especially since I don’t really appreciate that particular rider… I digress.
Have/Leave your quarter-sheet or cooler at arm’s reach.
As for braiding, I love braiding so I usually do but it is not necessary.
It doesn’t matter as long as you’re clean and neat.
Just rode in a vBNT clinic. He doesn’t want horses braided, otherwise I would as I love to braid. He does want polo wraps.
I was the lowest level rider there but was probably one of two fanciest dressed. Just because I like to dress up and it makes me feel good and I have two saddle pads that I don’t show in and also don’t school in, so they are for schooling shows and clinics.
I’m in a very blingy area and I have nicer riding clothes than my regular clothes. I feel good in them, and I find good sales.
Day 1: Periwinkle Pikeur breeches with some subtle bling on the rear. Very blingy belt. White polo with some dark navy trim and blingy buttons. White saddle pad with periwinkle braiding trim. very pretty and not flashy. Flashiest part was the blingy belt.
Day 2: Romfh dusty light blue breeches, white Pikeur tech polo with tiny amount of bling, same blingy belt. White pad with black and silver braiding trim.
Day 3: Navy Pikeur breeches with subtle bling. White Pikeur tech polo, same blingy belt. Same pad as prior day - black and silver braiding trim.
I had a jacket ready, along with a cooling vest, all three days. Wore my down coat in the early mornings - very chilly. I rode mid day so did not need anything warmer.
Boots polished all three days. Tack and horse well groomed. Black gloves. My arms are pale :). My clothes were clean (washed all breeches, and I rarely wash my breeches) and neat and form fitting. I wore my “show hair:” wore a hairnet and my “bun” thing with a bow as I have long hair and didn’t want the bouncing ponytail look beneath my helmet. Clean white polos all three days. Spurs and whips, both clean. Friends manning the video camera. The first two days, my breeches were definitely on the light colored side. My navy breeches are obviously darker.
I also had an entire box of sugar cubes that I put on the table on day 1 for all horses, along with a second whip if he wanted me to use one on each side. Hydrate and eat. Bring your inhaler/take your meds if you have asthma/use an inhaler. I’ve seen that go terribly bad previously.
Oh! Bring all parts to your bridle. Flash might be added (or subtracted, in our case). Oh sh!t strap if appropriate.
Clothes are far less important than listening and following directions.
At one point, I said about something that I did, “that was really bad,” and I was told that I didn’t need to say that; he said that he could see it for himself and didn’t need my comments. It wasn’t said meanly, just that he didn’t need me to point out my mistakes but just move on. It was pretty funny.
It was my favorite clinic ever and pretty much my favorite riding weekend ever. I’m still on cloud nine, but it wasn’t from my clothes. We had such amazing improvements that the audience was cheering us on both in applause and when I went by at a few key moments.
Wear what makes you comfortable in your own skin. I felt like a million bucks riding on my million dollar horse, not because of my clothes, but because I felt comfortable.
Be neat and clean, have well fitted tack and clothing. Tuck in your shirt, wear a belt, avoid crazy trendy stuff or crazy patterns. Conservative colors are safe. I never wrap my horse - I always use white boots. I have never worn white breeches in a clinic. I occasionally wear black, mostly tan or grey.
If you do that, you will be fine.
Trainers don’t care what you wear as long as you are respectful.
i love braiding so our guys are always braided for away clinics…the clincs i run at my own yard we dont braid for as they are a little less formal and also along with riding, taking pictures of everyone, looking after the trainer etc, i dont have time to do two lots of braiding!
we always do coordinating pad and wraps and depends on the clinician as to how bright and blingy we go lol but even when training with Olympic judges and Grand Prix riders i have only ever had positive comments on our turnout…the brighter colours make them smile.
Then show hat and show boots and a toning outfit for the rider. Fitted tops make it easier to see the sneakily collapsed rib cage or shoulder etc.
last home clinic i did we went for a black and burgundy pad, burgundy wraps and black glitter bell boots. Then i wore black breeches and black cotton top with a burgundy gilet on top
Thanks everyone for the great suggestions … This clinician is an FEI 4* judge and my horse has a thick, out of control mane, so I think I’m going to braid. I normally don’t wrap, but I think I will for the clinic.
As far as clothing, I have nice light-tan breeches that I’ll pair with a coordinating long sleeve shirt and plain black belt. I always ride in tall boots so I have that covered. Hair up in my Samsheild helmet and I’ll be good to go.
Wish us luck and thanks again.
I went to a two-day clinic in September.
You’ve received some great advice already. Clean and neat are the two biggest things. And don’t forget to have fun!
Give us a report n how much fun you had!
I wear colors… But solids - no crazy patterns. I don’t think black works well for clinics - especially if you are riding indoors where it is darker - just makes it that much harder for the clinician. Sometimes I wear bright blue, sometimes tan, sometimes purple breeches - and a white shirt. Vest if it is cooler. Usually my dark brown boots - they are almost black. Solid color coordinating saddle pad, and clean boots on my horse - I prefer boots to polo wraps for the protection. If I’m riding a horse with a long mane, I French braid. With a short mane, I don’t braid.
The rule is - neat and clean and not too wild. No crazy distracting patterns, and try to avoid really dark colors because it is harder to see. Make sure your tack is clean too! Otherwise, don’t worry about it!
Yeah, I felt as if the riders at the World Cup were disrespectful of those of us who paid money to watch them in the warmup for not dressing formally enough. T-shirts, jean breeches… so rude!
(Because Charlotte, Edward and Hans Peter should have been more concerned about our attitudes than preparing their horses. Hopefully my sarcasm shines through here.)
[QUOTE=netg;8399899]
Yeah, I felt as if the riders at the World Cup were disrespectful of those of us who paid money to watch them in the warmup for not dressing formally enough. T-shirts, jean breeches… so rude!
(Because Charlotte, Edward and Hans Peter should have been more concerned about our attitudes than preparing their horses. Hopefully my sarcasm shines through here.)[/QUOTE]
WTF on this one. The question was what to wear at a clinic. It has nothing to do with what people wear while warming up at shows. Interesting that you can’t see the difference.
Hey, I might be auditing that clinic (I live nearby). Good luck and maybe I’ll see you! (I am sure I will be able to pick you out in your tasteful attire!).
In response to your question, if I were riding I would probably wear a pair of conservative (grey, beige, or white) breeches, a long-sleeved technical shirt in a conservative color with a polo shirt over it or a show shirt with a nice, form-fitting sweater.
The comment about black breeches hiding the leg is an interesting one. I never thought about it; I don’t wear them mainly because I’m an oddball and don’t like the way I look in black pants, period.
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