Help me outfit my self for Western IHSA

[CR_Gorge_Girl]

[QUOTE=Joyrider;5085535]
Thanks all. Our region/zone is just beginning Western. This will be the second year. We are in Mass. at Mount Holyoke. Our college is ramping up a bigger program and we have purchased 4 Western horses and tack. However, our HOTY ex-junior hunter warmblood, Chandler, is THE BEST at it out of all of them. No kidding. He is quiet, smooth, slow as molasses but responsive and …gorgeous in Western tack. I could lope all day on him - so comfy! Anyway…I am new to Western and I do appreciate that in some regions I would be very out of my league in alum as they are so competitive. I want to do this just for myself for fun and to support our program and Western in general in our region.

Oh, I loved the Youth winner. I may go ahead and forego bling! She was stunning. But do tell me about the second video link posted showing severl if not all riders using two hands with curb bits??? I too thought two hands only for snaffles and bosals. One hand for curb bits. What up with that?[/QUOTE]

LOL… I go to the school in that video!! and was there(and competed in…lol I can hear my last years coach coaching people in the background noise) for that show last year. The reason two hands are allowed on curbs is because our horses are, for the most part, NOT western horses. They don’t neck rein. VERY few are actually in curbs(most of the horses that are in curbs in the video are not our school horses, but individually owned horses that were borrowed for the show), the majority were in snaffles. And if they are in curbs, they’re broken curbs. It’s up to the owners discretion whether or not to allow two hands. One school that we compete at, RMC in Billings has AMAZING western horses that can go one handed, but you still have the option of riding with two.

The outfits are pretty much the same?? Blingy-esqe shirt with collar and cuffs, belt and chaps.

I will admit that my shirt is over the top…but really, it was pretty much my only choice. Went home for thanksgiving for a week, had to get a show shirt for a show in early december.

[bugsynskeeter]

[QUOTE=enjoytheride;5085069]
This really isn’t horsemanship, it’s an under saddle EQ class and a pattern class so the clothing is different. In IHSA you draw a horse out of a hat, and without a warmup ride you do your class.[/QUOTE]

Horsemanship is the western version of equitation. Equitation = english, horsemanship = western.

To quote AQHA’s definition of horsemanship (emphasis mine):

The western horsemanship class is designed to evaluate the rider’s ability to execute in concert with their horse, a set of maneuvers prescribed by the judge with precision and smoothness while exhibiting poise and confidence and maintaining a balanced, functional, and fundamentally correct body position.

I agree with the previous posters, NO GLOVES! Gloves were in last decade, not so much now. I recommend browsing places like PleasureHorse.com and AQHA for show result pictures to get a feel of what is in style. If you aren’t showing actively in western events, there is no reason to spend $800+ on something like a shirt from ShowTime. Look for used clothes websites to find something affordable.

And please, get you hat properly shaped. There is nothing quite as distracting as a poorly shaped hat. I show in felt year round, but that is a personal preference.

Go a blingy as you want, but remember this: if there is any weak spots in your position, do you REALLY want bling spotlighting it? If you hands aren’t very steady, stay far, far away from cuffs that are a different color from your sleeves. My middle was always my weakest point, so my shirts were always black in the bottom to blend seamlessly into my chaps.

[Twisting]

Is there any way to do the western thing on the cheep without being embarrassing? Our local show association is having a trial western show at the ranch I board at, to see what kind of turnout it gets. (We’re pretty far from the major horse area) If they get enough people they will consider holding hunter shows there in the future. Not having to trailer an hour to shows would be nice.

I’m looking to enter in the baby walk/trot eq classes to help show support. I’ve never really ridden western and although my horse was started western it’s been a few years. I’m borrowing a saddle and my horse is still young enough to be allowed to go in a snaffle. I’m not really looking forward to buying all the stuff for one show, but I want to be respectful to the other riders. It’s a local show, so a bit more relaxed than the big stuff.

[sahqueen]

Twisting: A simple classic look is a good fitting, starched dress shirt and matching scarf. Shirts can be a solid, strip or plaid.

Coordinate a saddle pad with one of the colors in the shirt for a pulled together look.

Jeans should be western fit (ie long enough to ‘stack’ and not ride up when in the saddle, not low rise, etc) and starched and creased.

Your hat should be the best you can afford for a possible and as others have said shaped to fit your face. The better you treat your hat while wearing and storing the longer the shape will last. Of course you can go the helmet route if that is more comfortable for you.

Most likely some folks will be wearing chaps, but for a simple green horse class you are better off putting your money into an otherwise well thought out outfit. If you decide to continue to show western then you would want to invest in a pair.

Boots can be a pair of paddock boots at this level of showing. A simple belt can be worn that blends with what you are wearing.

With careful shopping you can do the shirt, scarf, jeans and saddle pad for less than $100. There are lots of web-based consignment businesses out there (including mine) that have some really great deals, especially this time of year as the season is winding down in many parts of the country.

[RubyLink]

[QUOTE=CR Gorge Girl;5085599]
LOL… I go to the school in that video!! and was there(and competed in…lol I can hear my last years coach coaching people in the background noise) for that show last year. The reason two hands are allowed on curbs is because our horses are, for the most part, NOT western horses. They don’t neck rein. VERY few are actually in curbs(most of the horses that are in curbs in the video are not our school horses, but individually owned horses that were borrowed for the show), the majority were in snaffles. And if they are in curbs, they’re broken curbs. It’s up to the owners discretion whether or not to allow two hands. One school that we compete at, RMC in Billings has AMAZING western horses that can go one handed, but you still have the option of riding with two.

The outfits are pretty much the same?? Blingy-esqe shirt with collar and cuffs, belt and chaps.

I will admit that my shirt is over the top…but really, it was pretty much my only choice. Went home for thanksgiving for a week, had to get a show shirt for a show in early december.[/QUOTE]

Are the shows no longer being held at La Cense? I bet it is so much easier at her facility (I won’t name any names) than hauling them all to La Cense.

[CR_Gorge_Girl]

[QUOTE=RubyLink;5087320]
Are the shows no longer being held at La Cense? I bet it is so much easier at her facility (I won’t name any names) than hauling them all to La Cense.[/QUOTE]

Yup, shows are now at her facility. MUCH easier I’m sure. This is my second year on the team, so I wasn’t on it when the shows were at La Cense. This year we’re hosting 3 english shows one weekend, and then 2 more english shows +regionals a couple weeks after that. Our horses are more suited to english shows anyways, so I’m happy about that. Hopefully the weather will be good so we can leave the jumps outside, and not have to drag them inside!! lol.

[MunchkinsMom]

For those of you starting into the Western show ring on a budget, I highly recommend Rods Western Wear, their stock chaps ($90) fit well and are inexpensive, and you can get a decent show shirt for under $50

http://www.rods.com/Sale-Chaps-and-Show-Clothing.html

[enjoytheride]

Everyone will be wearing chaps, and you can’t do anything about saddlepads since it’s IHSA.

Half the horses I rode I did two handed. Half of those were probably TBs. Try sitting the “jog” on those!

I definetly wore cowboy boots but paddock boots or even tall dress boots aren’t a problem. Again, I wore breeches under my chaps since they fit closer.

[Movin_Artfully]

Spend your money on a well- shaped hat, chaps, and LESSONS :yes:

Some typical beginner mistakes: No blingy hat bands. No gloves. No pointy toed boots. No straw hats.

You don’t need a saddle pad- it is provided with the horse.

[katarine]

There are scads of pics here from the 09 Congress.

http://www.pleasurehorse.com/2009Congress/PhotoAlbum/3400/index.cfm