My shadbelly is wool, too short, hot, uncomfortable and 16 years old. (How time flies!)
I tried to find a new one. When I’d exhausted the stock at the local tack shops, I ordered an Ovation shad online. Size 18, thought it fit well enough until I saw the photos :eek:. It’s like a crop top. Soooo short in the bodice. I realize they aren’t supposed to be long in front but I think there was more shirt than jacket showing.
My build is more Clydesdale-like than the average dressage rider. I’ve got huge shoulders “well sprung ribs” and a long torso. Pikeur makes size 18 but every one I’ve ordered has been on back order then eventually cancelled. Three in a row from 3 different sellers. One shop was in England!
I have tried a custom short coat in the past but what I learned was you can only have a custom coat if you are skinny. It was an ugly mess. (So bad!)
Help?
I would recommend RJ Classics. They are cut longer in front, and for broad shoulders. They also make up to size 24 - although the tack shop will likely have to order that size from RJ for you (an extra week or two ship time, but not custom).
With all the custom options out there for reasonable money, I’m sure you can find something that fits you perfectly. I love the coats coming out of http://sesporthorse.com/custom-show-coats-tailcoats/ There are some riders in my area who wear them and they are absolutely lovely.
I had a tack shop go through the RJ Classics catalog. It only went to 14 (which they ordered for me anyway, it was an inch and a half from closing in front)
scruffy the cat, your link is who I already tried for a custom coat. They ARE lovely but really didn’t work for me.
This will sound strange but as someone with DDD boobs no coat ever fits! But I did take one I had to a local tailor (mens) and had one custom fit for me. That would be my suggestion. A good seamstress may also be able to make a good coat but that is why I went to a menswear specialist 
Good luck!
FoxyandFritz, I thought about doing that. Did it work out well? I’ve been hesitant since I’d be spending $800ish on a coat and if it didn’t tailor well I’d be out a lot of money. Pikeur and Cavallo both have nice coats.
Asmar Equestrian has gorgeous ones and they go up to XXL
It worked for me. I let him have the old coat that didn’t fit just because riding coats are shaped different then normal suit coats. It fit like a glove. The other nice this was he put a stretch/breathable fabric in the armpits to let my arm move and some air circulate lol It may take going to a couple different tailors to find one who will work with you
Distribution of RJ Classics seems a little weird; some sizes are hard to find unless you deal with them directly. If it’s of use, the web site (rjclassics.com) shows through 18 regular and 18 long for the classic black shadbelly.
Actually, maybe it’s not that weird, since I also have some Charles Owen stuff in sizes that tack shops insist don’t exist. Presuambly there are distributors in the middle that only want to handle the middle sizes that they can move a lot of.
I have an Asmar shad - I am a 34F bra size and the L fits me comfortably.
Call them directly. The size chart still lists all the size: http://www.rjclassics.com/k/size-chart. I only bought mine a year ago - I bet tack shops just aren’t stocking them.
Thanks for all the help!
I ordered an Asmar from Smartpak then a week later they called and said they didn’t have anymore and would no longer be carrying them. I’ll try again with another store.
Awwwww, crap. I’d finally found a Pikeur size 18 not on back order. If I stand on my toes and suck in my belly I can pretend to close it. :no:
Asmar is ordered but I’m not optimistic.
2 months until regionals. With a metabolism like mine I’ll have to just stop eating entirely to fit into a coat!
The Asmar is discontinued but still available. I got mine on eBay.
I had a coat that fit my shoulders perfectly, but wouldn’t button (would have to remove all my ribs - these things are designed for twigs!). I took a set of buttons that matched the coat color and sewed them to the very edge of the inner flap (the one that goes to the single button on the inside.) When buttoned with the new row of buttons, this gave me a third row of buttons in the middle that gave me enough room to close the coat and doesn’t really stand out. All you really see are the two rows of gold buttons that came on the coat. The vest points are a little farther apart than usual, but it doesn’t look bad.
I made my own. SuitAbility has a pattern - like you I wanted longer in the front --I was tired of looking like an Oreo Cookie! I added 2" to the front length, 4" to the tails, and made it fit my chest. It is a little big in the waist, but I fox hunt and don’t show --so more “suitable” than form-fitting was good for me. The pattern is not difficult. Might see if you can locate a “dress maker” --not a tailor —this pattern is way too simplistic for a tailor. Buy the pattern and show the dressmaker your Shadbelly and the pattern --see what the dress maker says. My fabric was $40 —but I put 35-40 hours into making the coat --it wouldn’t take me that long on a second one, maybe 10-15 --main slow-down is the hand sewing (six hours) —but it fits ME and is long enough --finally! Oh, and I made custom points in my hunt club’s colors! Could put your own addy out there --need experienced dressmaker to do custom sewing. See what happens --FYI, ask to see samples of their work —ask for client references --don’t pay for it before you are satisfied . . .
Hmm…some good ideas!
I’ll look into a local dress maker. It might be my only shot.
I’ve thought about moving buttons and making my own points. I can sew enough to make points, not enough to make a whole coat. (My sewing projects are usually VERY homemade looking :D)
I have a show in 2 weeks. Asmar XL sort of fits enough but it’s not at all loose. It will do but I need to lose 10 lbs to make it look good. The coat is discontinued so no XXL available. And I’m stuck with grey because that is the only XL left anywhere.
I got all excited and found the Pikeur Jersey Shadbelly in size 20. I called Dressage Extensions when it said “back order” as I tried to check out.Turns out it’s also discontinued. And an employee’s search of the DE inventory didn’t come up with anything that will fit.
In street clothes I shop in regular stores. Size 14 jeans, XL shirts. Anyone want to start a show clothing line for people who don’t fit the normal horse show clothes? I can’t be the only FEI dressage rider who isn’t a toothpick.
Personally, I love Equiline clothing.
How about this? http://www.royalequestrian.co.uk/product/equiline-cadence-shadbelly-tailcoat/
Or how about ordering a men’s model and having it altered a bit? http://www.royalequestrian.co.uk/product/equiline-mens-shadbelly-tailcoat-canter/ or https://justriding.com/products/equiline-canter-mens-tail-coat-shadbelly
http://www.royalequestrian.co.uk/product/equiline-shadbelly-tailcoat-marilyn/
You could also message the store. I had a question about DeNiro boots at one point and they answered very quickly.
Have you tried looking on eBay? And if you found the Pikeur Jersey at one point, try googling for it? It might come up in another store.
From a quick google search:
UK 20 in both colors https://www.equineandcountry.com/eu/pikeur-ladies-dressage-jersey-tails-shadbelly-71878.html
Some more:
https://www.amirashop.co.uk/acatalog/Pikeur-Ladies-Dressage-Coat-Jersey---Shadbelly---52--AE617707.html
https://www.calevo.com/cgi-bin/calevo/process/locale/en_US/page/2060212s14.html
And then you could look up Shadbelly in German and search on German sites, too 
Personally, I love Equiline clothing.
How about this? http://www.royalequestrian.co.uk/product/equiline-cadence-shadbelly-tailcoat/
Or how about ordering a men’s model and having it altered a bit? http://www.royalequestrian.co.uk/product/equiline-mens-shadbelly-tailcoat-canter/ or https://justriding.com/products/equiline-canter-mens-tail-coat-shadbelly
http://www.royalequestrian.co.uk/product/equiline-shadbelly-tailcoat-marilyn/
You could also message the store. I had a question about DeNiro boots at one point and they answered very quickly.
Have you tried looking on eBay? And if you found the Pikeur Jersey at one point, try googling for it? It might come up in another store.
From a quick google search:
UK 20 in both colors https://www.equineandcountry.com/eu/pikeur-ladies-dressage-jersey-tails-shadbelly-71878.html
Some more:
https://www.amirashop.co.uk/acatalog/Pikeur-Ladies-Dressage-Coat-Jersey---Shadbelly---52--AE617707.html
https://www.calevo.com/cgi-bin/calevo/process/locale/en_US/page/2060212s14.html
And then you could look up Shadbelly in German and search on German sites, too
