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

[JER]

[QUOTE=AmarachAcres;7557422]

Yet I’ve been trying to find a used jacket in our budget for months and her first show is next month. Ugh.[/QUOTE]

This is what is wrong with ‘traditional’ dress. Your daughter can ride, your daughter has a horse. Why should clothing (this is different from safety equipment) be a barrier to entering a competition.

For the money you spend on a show shirt, breeches, and jacket, just think how many more riding lessons or schooling opportunities your daughter could have.

[QUOTE=independentlyawesome;7557460]
I think the traditional dress keeps equestrian sports from being publically seen as an athletic event. [/QUOTE]

Yes, and it also prices its own main demographics out of the sport. There’s no reason why you should have to buy a whole different outfit just to ride in competition.

[retreadeventer]

Couple of points.
first of all, the new materials today while they are at times wool blends, most do not contain wool at all. Great wicking materials have made hot wool a thing of the past or just limited to winter time foxhunting. So get that out of your mind, because it’s not necessary any more.
Second, there is a reason that a uniform set of apparel rules were set up. To avoid giving the skinny, beautiful models an advantage in their stylish, brightly colored or patterned clothes. I need all the tradition I can get to cover up my fatness, uglieness, and oldness. Long live breeches and boots, stock ties and black hunt coats!

[Appsolute]

Really? You think the reason why the uniform rules were made is so that skinny and pretty would not have a leg up? I can assure you skinny and pretty still looks much better than I do in a hunt coat. Especially for those of us shaped in a way that nothing off the rack fits, and we can’t afford custome (those fabulous technical fabric coats do not come in line backer!).

And what about stadium jumping? It’s not judged, so why are the skinny and pretties asked to put a men’s sports coat on?

[kkindley]

Personally, I like wearing a jacket, and a stock tie, and white breeches. The option is there for one days to just wear a polo. And at multiple day events, on hot days, I am sure if you ask, they will excuse jackets. I love getting “dressed up” for dressage at shows. And like others have said, you are free to wear a choker instead of a stock, or tan, or pale grey, or whatever other light color breeches you would like. The option is there to wear everything you all are suggesting instead of “traditional” attire. So for those of us who enjoy it, please don’t take it away.

[Appsolute]

[QUOTE=JER;7557477]

Yes, and it also prices its own main demographics out of the sport. There’s no reason why you should have to buy a whole different outfit just to ride in competition.[/QUOTE]

Exactly. I used to event quite seriously, had the whole terrible, uncomfortable get up. I stopped showing in college due to budget constraints, found a different nich in starting youngsters and have been out of competition for years.

Now, for the first time in a long time I have a horse I would like to show (on a budget). Pulled my old hunt coat out, and low and behold a moth snacked on the back. been combing the used tack shops, but again, thy don’t offer much for line backer shoulders, and the budget brands do not either.

I have plenty of pairs of nice breeches (from the same second hand stores!), and polos galore - but the coat is a real issue right now.

And out here in California, we don’t have one day events, and coats are waived in only the hottest of weather. I am just ask info please be able to wear something I can move in without spending hundreds of dollars.

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=retreadeventer;7557577]
Couple of points.
first of all, the new materials today while they are at times wool blends, most do not contain wool at all. Great wicking materials have made hot wool a thing of the past or just limited to winter time foxhunting. So get that out of your mind, because it’s not necessary any more.
Second, there is a reason that a uniform set of apparel rules were set up. To avoid giving the skinny, beautiful models an advantage in their stylish, brightly colored or patterned clothes. I need all the tradition I can get to cover up my fatness, uglieness, and oldness. Long live breeches and boots, stock ties and black hunt coats![/QUOTE]

The sport is also supposed to be a level playing field between men and women–so there’s a reason why they wear almost the same clothes.

I call “Bilge!” on people who think it was onerous to own “the whole terrible, uncomfortable get-up.” I bought a Pikeur dressage coat on sale in 1988 for about $300.00 and wore it for the next 20+ years! It still hangs in my closet today, looks brand new, and fits better than it did then. It’s made of some lightweight material that drapes beautifully, and the lining is genuine silk. If I ever drag my bones into a dressage ring again, I’ll be wearing it. I’d say that’s a pretty good return on the initial investment . . . priced rollerblades or lacrosse sticks lately?

[JER]

[QUOTE=Lady Eboshi;7557683]
I bought a Pikeur dressage coat on sale in 1988 for about $300.00 and wore it for the next 20+ years! [/QUOTE]

If we could all only time travel to 1988. There were some damn good bargains back then.

@Lady Eboshi;7557683

I’d say that’s a pretty good return on the initial investment . . . priced rollerblades or lacrosse sticks lately?

Lady E, NO ONE has priced rollerblades since 1988. Except in France, where it remains inexplicably popular. The sport is so obscure that when my Lithuanian friend was telling me about someone’s background as a former BN inline skater, she honestly thought the sport was called ‘lawn bowling’.

(The same friend also enjoyed watching the women’s ‘shoplift’ at the Olympics. I think the shoplift would be a much better Olympic sport than the shot-put. Let’s petition the IOC. They’re good at looting.)

Also, I think it’s fine to permit the jacket/shirt/stock get-up at shows. Just allow the simple version, too.

And I don’t know why anyone’s so worried about how they look. The judge is not scoring you based on your outfit.

[Desert_Topaz]

[QUOTE=Bensmom;7556747]

Also – Desert Topaz, that stock tie is BEAUTIFUL. Do you make them for sale, or would you be willing to post pattern/instructions? [/QUOTE]
Thanks Libby My original plan was to sell them, but making it was a bit tedious and while I can sew just fine the mistakes I make would be (in my opinion) unacceptable in a product I would be selling. But, I could be being a bit hard on myself there. I’m going to keep fiddling with the design as time permits and may eventually sell a couple. My first attempt was not at all attractive

What I did, was I took a ratcatcher collar and cut out the fabric a bit bigger than it and then made the collar. Then I took a stock tie and figured out how long the arms would need to be, traced the arms, cut them out and sewed them. Then I attached the arms to the collar towards the back and attached velcro to back of collar. The black is just plain piping, found with the bias tape and quilt binding in fabric stores. I was lucky that I had remnants of some really nice satin as I think it’s the fabric that makes or breaks it.

[ake987]

I hope that skinny and pretty comment was meant as a joke… odd.

I love my coat. I spent a long time saving for a beautiful, technical fabric, super sharp looking show coat. Personally, I love the look of white stock or choker, white breeches, and crisp white saddle pad. Classic. And with a lightweight technical shirt and coat, I think it is very functional and does not restrict or alter my riding in any way.

[seabreeze]

There are some decent coats to be found in the $200 range if you don’t want to shop used and are shopping on a budget. Considering many people spend close to that on one horse’s farrier visit (if not more), I’m not sure the “coats cost too much” argument is valid.

[Sannois]

[QUOTE=spotteddrafter;7556286]
I love dressage, and I really think there is something very elegant about dressing a bit more formal for those tests. I really loved Marilyn Little’s black coat with white piping accents from Rolex this year - fabulous! But, I also love seeing the other colors - Alison Springers navy blue with yellow/cream was cool, and I’ve seen a lovely grey coat that I almost bought myself and I don’t show anymore! lol

That said, who wants to be trapped in a wool suit when it’s anything above 50 degrees outside?? Certainly there are other options that should be pursued![/QUOTE]
Thank goodness there is someone else.
I think the dress is elegant, and a great compliment to the horse.
A Polo shirt in Dressage just looses something in the translation.
Sorry I am a traditionalist!
A spandex UNITARD???:eek: REALLY?? LMAO!!

[bornfreenowexpensive]

My issue isn’t what it looks like to horse people…but to others. I’m NOT a skinny person…and I will avoid buying white breeches. These thighs of mine were never meant to be in white!!! But I’m not thinking about what is easiest for me to look good in.

I care about the athletic look for the SPORT. I want to attract NEW riders to the sport. Attract boys as well as girls…and keeping it looking modern and athletic is to me one way. Make it easy to buy the outfit, but still looking sharp. And wearing a dinner coat (no matter what the material is made of) is just strange to most people looking at the sport (weather eventing, dressage or jumpers).

[Janet]

[QUOTE=Lady Eboshi;7557683]
I bought a Pikeur dressage coat on sale in 1988 for about $300.00 and wore it for the next 20+ years! It still hangs in my closet today, looks brand new, and fits better than it did then.[/QUOTE]

Lucky you.

But most of us are not the same size we were in 1988, so the price of a jacket in 1988 is not really relevant.

[Willesdon]

Attracting new people to the sport is a good idea.

I don’t think dressing up in a particular way that is is appropriate to the sport puts people off. Look at baseball uniforms, those painted faces in football… and one thing that puts me off Western is sparkles, tight tops, bright colours.

[Lori_B]

The thought of doing ANYTHING outdoors in June in Maryland wearing clothing with multiple layers, a high neck, and a tie, sounds like the absolute worst idea in the world to me. It doesn’t matter how high tech the fabric is, there is too damn much of it.

No one would ever choose to dress in formal riding gear in hot weather if they were starting the sport from scratch, with the idea in mind to facilitate movement and look neat and neutral. Look, if I weren’t a human sweatball above 65 degrees, I might have a peculiar historical attachment to looking like Mr. Darcy on my horse. But really, formal attire requirements are impractical, expensive, make us look like we aren’t engaged in an athletic activity, and contributes to bad decisions like choosing a top hat over a helmet (IMHO).

If we want to keep the sport at least nominally appealing to youngsters, who are hard to persuade to wear clothing that covers their a$$es, let alone multiple layers from chin to fingertips; if we want to convey a more athletic image to the activity; if we want not to make people spend money altering coats that they hate; then modifying the attire for eventing seems like a good idea.

And if I have to choose some period riding attire, I would like to ride dressed as a Musketeer. (as good as I can find: http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs7/i/2005/214/6/f/Musketeer_on_Horseback_by_MistressKristin.jpg) The tunic doesn’t bind your shoulders, and what is more elegant than those gloves and boots with the tops that fold down?

[PaintedHunter]

[QUOTE=Appsolute;7555592]
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. [/QUOTE]

HULK SHOULDERS UNITE! ::shoulder bump::

[KayBee]

[QUOTE=Desert Topaz;7556402]
No matter how much people will try to convince me that stock ties are there to use as slings, bandages, etc I know the men at the time were carefully tying their cravats when they were nowhere near a horse. That their neckwear ended up serving a useful purpose in times of emergency was secondary :D[/QUOTE]

It’s kind of how men’s ties originated. Originally, they were more or less napkins worn around the neck, intended to protect men’s clothing. Then they evolved (?) into a fashionable article of clothing in and of themselves.

So, stock ties: originally functional, then increasingly ornate and evolving to the point where they lacked usefulness. Worn by the wealthy horse-owning population to begin with though, who used horses as a means of transportation.

On another note: what do dressage judges feel about attire, I wonder? Keep to the tradition, or does it make a “picture” that they find more readily judgeable, or attire that is more-or-less the same from rider to rider is really the most important factor, or it doesn’t really matter, or…

[Lori_B]

I bet dressage judges wish our horses were better trained and our tests were better ridden, mainly…

[scubed]

A surprising number of judges hate the rule that competitors can elect to not wear a jacket at one-day horse trials.

Jackets may be much less expensive than you think. See, for examplehttp://www.classicsaddlery.com/coats/coatsdressage.htm. Buy for under $100 and if you need to spend another $50 on tailoring, still not bad.

That said, I am completely anti-jacket and would vote for breeches as stated in current rules with a long or short sleeved shirt of conservative color with collar (basically same as rule now when jackets are waived).

[Appsolute]

[QUOTE=Lady Eboshi;7557683]
I call “Bilge!” on people who think it was onerous to own “the whole terrible, uncomfortable get-up.” I bought a Pikeur dressage coat on sale in 1988 for about $300.00[/QUOTE]

$300 in 1988 is equivalent to $600+ today.

@Lady Eboshi;7557683

priced rollerblades or lacrosse sticks lately?

The lacrosse stick or rollerblades are more like a saddle. Necessary to participate in the sport. I would argue a better “apples to apples” comparison would be a lacrosse jersey to a show coat. Just googled it, and a lacrosse jersey can be purchased for about $20. I am sure the team ones with all of the logos are a bit more, but I would be very surprised if they are in the three figures.

Yes, I know horses are expensive, horse shoes are expensive (although my horse’s barefoot trims are not), and that horse shows are expensive - I don’t know why that would make it any easier to pay even more on the get up.

And I personally just don’t like it! I think women dressing up in men’s formal attire to do an athletic event in the heat is silly to me. I “get it” that some people love the “dress up” aspect of it, but I don’t. I feel like I am donning a silly, uncomfortable, and expensive costume.

Lets make polo shirts optional for all phases, at all events. Want to wear your coat and tie? Fine - let me wear my polo shirt.