Local Hunter Derby Attire

[qhaftershock]

I’m new to the hunter/jumper world (just started jumping in February, AQHA convert ), and my barn is mostly jumpers. While I love the jumpers my horse is definately a hunter. There is a local “A” show (I think?) that does low level hunter and jumper derbies (they have 2’3" and 2’6" derbies). It is supposed to be a really fun show with clinics and prizes and parties etc. I decided to go (more for the clinic experience than anything, and it sounded fun) but have a few questions about attire for the hunter derby. I was at a show yesterday with a $5000 derby and everyone was wearing shadbelly coats. I don’t have one. Do I need one? Does the amount of prize money matter (the one I will be competing at is $500)? Here is a picture of the hunt coat/shirt/breeches I do have.

(Please excuse the awful face/posture, I’m not sure what was going on there lol) Would I be able to show in this? I called and talked to show management yesterday and she said that shadbellies were not required but a dark colored hunt coat was. I am not above bucking trends (especially if I save $$ doing it, the show itself is kinda cleaning me out), I showed AQHA without a fake tail (gasp!!) but do not want to be breaking any hard and fast rules. Thanks!

[Addison]

Its not a trend to wear a dark navy or black coat for a derby, it is more of a tradition to wear dark coats for formal classes (which a derby is).

If you cannot borrow one for the class, don’t miss out on the fun…just wear the grey one and good luck!

[french_fry]

At local rated shows near me, the hierarchy is this (in descending order):

Shad
Navy/black jacket
Other conservative colored jacket

The majority are in shads but I see a fair number of navy coats and a few other colors. I think you need a white shirt, though.

Everything else looks good - just a reminder to use a regular white fitted pad and not the number pads common on the AQHA circuit.

[findeight]

Wearing a shad at a National level 5k Hunter Derby with 4’- 4’6" options is expected.

Wearing one at a local level, unrated 500 (really?) " fun" 2’3’ -2’6" derby would be like wearing a prom dress to a luncheon. Seriously overdressing.

What you are wearing in the photo you linked to is fine and quite fashionable for a summer show.

You can wear the dark blue and should in Eq. But Hunters are a little less conservative-within reason. You look fine.

BUT, lose the square pad. Fitted only, half, pommel or riser pad over or under it is acceptable. I might look for some gloves that come up higher on your wrist or wear a couple inches longer sleeve. That strip of skin showing between top of glove and bottom of cuff is getting really picky but it is distracting. We want invisible aids, not follow the bouncing ball with hands.

Good luck and have fun.

[qhaftershock]

Okay sounds good! I just wanted to make sure! And yep I have a fitted pad that I use for h/j shows, that pic was from the hunter hack at a local pleasure show. I was planning on getting a white shirt, but was really hoping not to have to spring for a new coat. As you can see from the pic, I have orangutan arms and even the longest coats with the hems let out aren’t long enough, so borrowing is really really difficult. As far as white show shirts go, could I get away with something like this under the coat?
https://www.smartpakequine.com/smartpak-cooltech-show-shirt-10474p
Or this?
https://www.smartpakequine.com/equine-couture-sportif-technical-shortsleeve-shirt-7481p
Or do I need to spend more money and get something like this? I wouldn’t think you could really see the lack of buttons from any sort of distance away, but you guys are the experts lol. The long sleeves also brings back orangutan arm problems
https://www.smartpakequine.com/equine-couture-kelsey-show-shirt-11625p

I like the versatility of the first two more and would wear them more to get my moneys worth, but if they won’t work, its obviously not worth the money Thank you!

[Dewey]

I agree with the above. There’s no need to buy a new jacket for an event like this. Your attire looks very nice. I would add to findeight’s post that you should be sure the top of your sock doesn’t show above your boot.

As for the pad, you can buy a new fitted one for a reasonable price (under $50). You might also get lucky like me: I bought an almost-brand-new one for $5 at a mobile tack trailer at a local show. Fits my saddle perfectly.

[french_fry]

I have really long arms as well and can get away with my jacket being a hair too short in the sleeves by wearing a long-sleeved show shirt that covers my wrists. Two brands I’ve worn with success are the Royal Highness Coolmax wrap color shirts (in the $40 range) and the Tredstep Symphony Futura Competition Shirt (more expensive at $70 but more on trend with the Talent Yarn, etc. shirts everyone has been wearing.)

My trainer doesn’t think the jacket looks complete without a tiny bit of the shirt cuff showing at the wrists (which I think is more of an old fashioned belief now) so none of us show in short sleeved shirts.

ETA: If you get more into the H/J world and are looking for a budget navy jacket, the Equine Couture Raleigh Soft Shell fit my long arms perfectly and is only $89 on Smartpak.

[findeight]

SS would be OK at the small shows IF you get rid of the skin showing. Shirt cuff peeking out evenly is acceptable, actually looks sharp.

You might do better looking at some of the pricier brand coats and shirts, they are more generous in sleeve length in both plus are easily altered and worth what that costs. They last pretty good and unless you get outlandish, stay very much in style.

Next time you are at a big rated, stop in vendors row. Ask them for advice, they fit the circuit riders and know what they are doing. Ask on here too, you can’t be the only rider with orangutan arms.

Just start a thread with that subject, show clothes for long arms.

Hunters are about detail and style and that is something you have some control over- we may suck over fences but we try to look sharp trotting into and out if the ring:lol:

[qhaftershock]

[QUOTE=french fry;7661068]
I have really long arms as well and can get away with my jacket being a hair too short in the sleeves by wearing a long-sleeved show shirt that covers my wrists. Two brands I’ve worn with success are the Royal Highness Coolmax wrap color shirts (in the $40 range) and the Tredstep Symphony Futura Competition Shirt (more expensive at $70 but more on trend with the Talent Yarn, etc. shirts everyone has been wearing.)

My trainer doesn’t think the jacket looks complete without a tiny bit of the shirt cuff showing at the wrists (which I think is more of an old fashioned belief now) so none of us show in short sleeved shirts.

ETA: If you get more into the H/J world and are looking for a budget navy jacket, the Equine Couture Raleigh Soft Shell fit my long arms perfectly and is only $89 on Smartpak.[/QUOTE]

That one actually looks like a good cross between the ones I was looking at. And cheap too! Do you find the shirt runs big or small? Is it also long in the torso? Finally, do you have the plain white or the herringbone (Would like the herringbone, coming from breed shows plain white shirts are so boring, but I understand I need to let that go lol). Thanks again everyone for being so helpful.

[findeight]

You don’t really gave to wear a white shirt except with a shad or in a rated Eq class. Hunters, we like a little color or discreet pattern.

Fact I showed AA 10+ years as an Adult and NEVER wore a plain white shirt except with the shadbelly. Didn’t need one for Eq either, never showed it off the local level, too old for most of that stuff.

I too prefer that little bit of shirt cuff peeking out under the coat sleeve. Looks sharp.

[french_fry]

I see pretty much all white shirts in the derbies, but I’m sure it may vary by region.

OP, I have the white herringbone and it is very nice. If I remember correctly they run large, I bought a 34 because I wanted to size up a bit for room in the shoulders and it was huge on me - I had it taken in. I am normally a US 2-4, UK 6/8 in shirts.

They run plenty long in the torso.

I am 6’ tall, 125 lbs and have a very long torso and arms if that helps.

[fordtraktor]

I don’t think you need to change anything about what you are wearing for a $500 2’6 class, however you do need a shaped pad and not the AQHA one with the numbers on the side. They are just not used at A shows.

If you want a long-sleeved white shirt that is fine but not an absolute necessity. The short-sleeved ones are only for jumpers. However, if that is what you currently have, I don’t necessarily think you need to replace it to show 2’6. Unless you want to. It would be better to have long sleeves next time you buy a shirt, that’s all.

[hj0519]

@findeight;7661110

You don’t really gave to wear a white shirt except with a shad or in a rated Eq class. Hunters, we like a little color or discreet pattern.

I’m in zone 1 and pretty much all I see is white now (except in the ponies), even in the hunter divisions.

[french_fry]

Yeah, I forgot to mention that I’m Zone 2. It’s all white shirts all the time. Not that you’d be penalized for a color, though!

OP, BTW, your horse is adorable! You two make a great pair.

[gottagrey]

If you are going in the 2’3 or 2’6" derby -IMO a shadbelly would be a bit of an overkill Findeight said it best - prom dress at a luncheon. you could be a bit of a style trendsetter and get a snazzy stock tie - not the plain white but a plaid type like many foxhunters wear for cubbing etc. I posted a link but it didn’t work

[IPEsq]

For a formal class, I think you should wear a white shirt (perhaps also a stock tie) even if you don’t have a shadbelly. A darker coat would be a plus but I wouldn’t break the bank on that one for this level of class.

[ZiptotheStar]

Apologize if this is slightly off topic - but take issue with a few comments saying that a shadbelly for a 2’6" unrated derby is inappropriate.

Not all of us will ever get to the national/international derby level or show big AA shows. Hunter derbies are traditional in their very nature, and I personally see no problem with wearing a shadbelly for a special, formal class at a local show. Just because it’s not special to you, doesn’t mean it isn’t special to the people showing there.

Doesn’t mean OP needs to run out and buy one (I think your show clothes look great with the suggestions that others have given you with shirt and saddlepad) though. Just my 2 cents as a local shower who looked forward to wearing my shad for a 2’6" local derby and proudly did so.

[french_fry]

[QUOTE=ZiptotheStar;7661432]
Apologize if this is slightly off topic - but take issue with a few comments saying that a shadbelly for a 2’6" unrated derby is inappropriate.

Not all of us will ever get to the national/international derby level or show big AA shows. Hunter derbies are traditional in their very nature, and I personally see no problem with wearing a shadbelly for a special, formal class at a local show. Just because it’s not special to you, doesn’t mean it isn’t special to the people showing there.

Doesn’t mean OP needs to run out and buy one (I think your show clothes look great with the suggestions that others have given you with shirt and saddlepad) though. Just my 2 cents as a local shower who looked forward to wearing my shad for a 2’6" local derby and proudly did so.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I’m not sure how it is out there in COTH land but at the local rateds in my zone the vast majority of entries are at the 2’6. It’s a very friendly height. If it wasn’t acceptable to wear shads at 2’6, there would be a lot of people who would never get to wear them.

Most people wear shads in my area. I don’t think it’s inappropriate - you don’t not wear a jacket because you’re only doing the short stirrup.

Again, this should not be taken to mean that the OP must wear a shad.

[dynamite0319]

There are a couple facebook pages that have English tack and clothing for sale where you might find what you need at a great price! I have gotten stuff from the High End English Tack and English Tack For Sale (I may be slightly off on the names, but that is the gist of them). I too started in the AQHA world and have had to transition some of my clothing and tack. Good luck and have fun!

[GoneAway]

OP I think you’ve received sound advice thus far. Good luck and have a great time, you and your horse look like a really nice pair.

On the shadbelly debate, while they might be a bit of overkill for a local, low level hunter derby, I agree with ZiptotheStar. If someone has a shad and they’re very excited to wear it, then no harm, no foul. However, my personal opinion is that if you’re going to break out the tails, then the horse needs to be braided. I’ve seen local derbies where the horses aren’t braided, but riders are in tails. Seems odd to me to have a shadbelly on and everything that stands for in terms of formality, and have the horse’s mane and tail not done. JMHO.