Helmet thread spinoff - how do you think we should be dressing for competition?

[Sticky_Situation]

I have read quite a few comments on the ‘top hats in dressage’ thread in which the poster said that they didn’t like the wearing of top hats not only for the obvious safety reasons, but also because they don’t really convey the image of a serious athlete in action. I tend to agree with this stance … Although I can appreciate the traditional reason for what we wear to compete, I think it is a little silly to dress up like Mr. Peanut and expect athletes from other sports to take us seriously!

That said … If not top hats and jackets (shadbelly or otherwise) … What do you think we should be wearing to compete? Polo shirts, breeches, and helmets? NASCAR-style suits with sponsor logos plastered on every square inch (flame resistant material optional)? Or do you want to keep the jackets and white gloves and all, and only substitute the helmet for the top hats?

This is meant to be a fun thread, but I actually do hope that some day in the not too distant future I won’t have to sweat my butt off in a wool jacket that cost a few hundred dollars when I’m competing in 90 degree weather!

[Highflyer]

I think jackets are fine if the temperatures are reasonable and add a touch of class for the big stuff. Otherwise a polo shirt in a reasonable solid color (white, black, gray, navy, hunter etc) looks decent. Of course, those are already legal at one days anyway and are pretty much the norm in summer around here.

Personally I think that sponsor logos in dressage (or any subjective sport like gymnastics, figure skating, hunters, etc.) would be both inappropriate and distracting.

[JFCeventer]

We should be wearing things that are functional. I don’t know about anybody else, but I personally think I ride better in a polo shirt than a stuffy jacket and stock tie when its 80 degrees. So a neutral polo shirt, gloves because those are functional, helmet because that’s common sense, light colored breeches with a belt, and tall boots or paddock boots with half chaps. I still think that would be a very professional look and it would help to create a more ‘athletic’ picture for outsiders.

As far as sponsorships go, I don’t mind a logo on a polo shirt sleeve or a small logo on a saddle pad but the huge printed words down the rider’s leg and the big saddle pad logos (such as WFP’s ‘Jeep’ logo) tend to be distracting.

[Lady_Eboshi]

I’d like to see the rules relaxed to allow more (tasteful) color combinations. The all black-and-white does tend to have a penguin-ish look. Stock ties are absurd and should go. Also, I’d wager the vast majority of women, heck, riders, would prefer not to wear WHITE breeches as that is the most impractical color ever conceived of for going near a horse.

Helmets are common sense, and I feel worse exposed than naked without one. However, I’d like to see more the traditional, solid-velvet understated type than the increasingly “blingy” or metallic ones becoming popular. We should not be confused with bicyclists.

There is no reason with the new “technical” fabrics why jackets cannot stay. I strongly feel that in order for THE HORSE to be the focus of spectators, and for the sport to retain its understated elegance, “athletic” clothing must be flattering.
Few “kids” are riding competitive dressage seriously; most are middle-aged women and shrink-wrapped cellulite and boobs banging around to a WB’s big sitting trot do not enhance the landscape. I see no reason why everyone can’t “suck it up” and wear the jacket for 6 minutes of the test. Your DH, DD, or groom can hose you AND your horse down afterwards!

Do it for Tradition, and to lend beauty and style to the picture your horse presents. :yes:

[Beam_Me_Up]

Beyond helmets, I would like to see us go with the more athletic/sports look–polo shirts when hot, raincoats when wet, warmer jackets when freezing. Sort of like golf. I would like to see the “light colored” polo/breeches requirement relaxed–imo it doesn’t add to the aesthetic and it’s harder to keep clean all day.

[Highflyer]

Personally, I don’t have a groom, DD, DH etc. I go to events by myself, and my horse is 17 hands. There is not a chance in hell I am fooling around with getting off to put a jacket on just before going in the ring. Minimizing my boobs is why I wear a sportsbra. Then again my horses are TBs so maybe I don’t need to worry anyway.

[QUOTE=Lady Eboshi;7555525]
I’d like to see the rules relaxed to allow more (tasteful) color combinations. The all black-and-white does tend to have a penguin-ish look. Stock ties are absurd and should go. Also, I’d wager the vast majority of women, heck, riders, would prefer not to wear WHITE breeches as that is the most impractical color ever conceived of for going near a horse.

Helmets are common sense, and I feel worse exposed than naked without one. However, I’d like to see more the traditional, solid-velvet understated type than the increasingly “blingy” or metallic ones becoming popular. We should not be confused with bicyclists.

There is no reason with the new “technical” fabrics why jackets cannot stay. I strongly feel that in order for THE HORSE to be the focus of spectators, and for the sport to retain its understated elegance, “athletic” clothing must be flattering.
Few “kids” are riding competitive dressage seriously; most are middle-aged women and shrink-wrapped cellulite and boobs banging around to a WB’s big sitting trot do not enhance the landscape. I see no reason why everyone can’t “suck it up” and wear the jacket for 6 minutes of the test. Your DH, DD, or groom can hose you AND your horse down afterwards!

Do it for Tradition, and to lend beauty and style to the picture your horse presents. :yes:[/QUOTE]

[Appsolute]

Boots, Conservative breeches and conservative colored polo shirts + helmet. Polo players, tennis players, golf, etc seem to do just fine in polo shirts.

[QUOTE=JFCeventer;7555524]
We should be wearing things that are functional. I don’t know about anybody else, but I personally think I ride better in a polo shirt than a stuffy jacket and stock tie when its 80 degrees. [/QUOTE]

:yes::yes::yes: I will always remember blacking out with heat stroke in my black, wool hunt coat during stadium jumping at Woodside in 1994. They didn’t pull coats back then, and well, it was a crappy way to get eliminated. Add the fact that I have GIANT shoulders, and can’t afford custom gear - I can never find a hunt coat that I do not feel like I am wearing a straight jacket it in.

I know for a FACT I ride better in a polo shirt.

I thought the riders at the Jr. Dressage championships looked just fine, and like athletes in their polo shirts. THIS and THIS

[west5]

As long as nobody wants lower level riders to wear a spandex unitard/bodysuit I am good

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=Appsolute;7555592]
Boots, Conservative breeches and conservative colored polo shirts + helmet. Polo players, tennis players, golf, etc seem to do just fine in polo shirts.

:yes::yes::yes: I will always remember blacking out with heat stroke in my black, wool hunt coat during stadium jumping at Woodside in 1994. They didn’t pull coats back then, and well, it was a crappy way to get eliminated. Add the fact that I have GIANT shoulders, and can’t afford custom gear - I can never find a hunt coat that I do not feel like I am wearing a straight jacket it in.

I know for a FACT I ride better in a polo shirt.

I thought the riders at the Jr. Dressage championships looked just fine, and like athletes in their polo shirts. THIS and THIS[/QUOTE]

Right, spiffity-do-dah for JUNIORS. Put a 165-lb., 48-year old woman of Northern European descent in that riggin’ and tell me it’s “harmonizing the picture.” :lol:

[Janet]

I see no reason why everyone can’t “suck it up” and wear the jacket for 6 minutes of the test. Your DH, DD, or groom can hose you AND your horse down afterwards!

Surely you jest.

I do not have groom or a DD, and my DH rarely comes to competitions.

Furthermore, it is very unusual for there to be a water supply with a hose. Usually we are limited to the water we bring with us.

[Inclined]

[QUOTE=west5;7555596]
As long as nobody wants lower level riders to wear a spandex unitard/bodysuit I am good :)[/QUOTE]

Jim Wofford actually suggested something like this in a Practical Horseman article a year or two ago. I respect Mr. Wofford very much, but I have to disagree on this point. Now that I think about it, was it said tongue in cheek? I don’t think so, because there was a LARGE photo with a rider in said outfit.

[Sticky_Situation]

Hmmmm I don’t think spandex leotards would be my first choice either! But I think polo shirts are tasteful and athletic looking, and could be flattering on people of a variety of shapes and sizes.

[gr8fulrider]

This.

Edited to include a still shot.

[fooler]

[QUOTE=Inclined;7555678]
Jim Wofford actually suggested something like this in a Practical Horseman article a year or two ago. I respect Mr. Wofford very much, but I have to disagree on this point. Now that I think about it, was it said tongue in cheek? I don’t think so, because there was a LARGE photo with a rider in said outfit.[/QUOTE] It was tongue-in-cheek, but done to make people think and discuss. There were several folks wearing different colored/styled breeches in the early 1990’s. I personally knew one fellow who wore, for a few years, navy breeches with lighting bolts.

[FitToBeTied]

I think the whole wearing of a coat of any style looks unathletic. Just chuck the ancient wear and let people wear things that are comfortable.

[kookicat]

I would love not to have to wear a wool jacket/shirt/tie combo. It all just feels restrictive to me. Polos are smart and sensible.

[staceyk]

Some of the new technical jackets have a traditional feel but awesome stretchy/sporty material. I think this strikes a nice balance, plus I love the touches of color I’m starting to see in the regular old dressage ring.

[FitToBeTied]

Actually we could follow the lead of figure skating who got rid of the school figures and just chuck dressage in its entirety. Nobody likes doing dressage anyway and its about as exciting as watching paint dry. You would also have the benefit of lowering the cost of competition. Win-win-win!

[kookicat]

[QUOTE=FitToBeTied;7556168]
Actually we could follow the lead of figure skating who got rid of the school figures and just chuck dressage in its entirety. Nobody likes doing dressage anyway and its about as exciting as watching paint dry. You would also have the benefit of lowering the cost of competition. Win-win-win![/QUOTE]

I like dressage!

[Angelico]

I hate getting away from the traditional attire, but we absolutely must escape black wool sweat suits. Getting sick from the heat is one of the worst feelings in the world, and so preventable. I never thought I’d like it, but last year’s NAJYRC dressage changed my views on polo shirts completely. Those kids looked awesome. The looked comfortable. They looked like athletes.

Please though, please keep the white breeches. I think what holds the polo look together is the white breeches. You can stay clean. It is entirely possible, I promise. Different jackets and polos look catchy, everyone is slightly different, but lets keep a few things the same.

I loved Ayden Uhlir’s gray shadbelly, it looks like some sort of technical fabric, not sure what. It didn’t cling to her but it looked very neat and pressed.

Lastly, remember, this is dressage, not barrel racing. Sports bras are not an optional piece of clothing. Please keep them down ladies.