Switching from hunters. I’ve made it my goal for 2025 to get my bronze medal but my trainer said, why stop there? She has a goal for me to go PSG. Problem is, I’ve been to one dressage show ever and I was just watching. So I need any and all advice (like I didn’t know you were required to have a dressage whip and that it has to be a certain length!) and I’m also looking for relatively inexpensive show clothing. Unfortunately I have I love for all things high quality so I don’t want to start out with some cheapo just to have the insatiable need to buy something more expensive down the road. So maybe high end used? What are the current trends? What is out of fashion?! Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you.
Ok, let’s start with you are NOT required to carry a whip. If you do, it cannot be longer than 120 cm. I hope it was not your trainer who told you that you must carry a whip. . .
I suggest you read the rule book so you know what is legal and what is necessary.
https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/F3p8pgrWgAo/dr-dressage-division
Pay good attention to the bits.
Unlike the hunters, in dressage there is only legal or not legal. The judges don’t care about the color of your coat, the color of your tack, the brand of your clothing and equipment, what helmet you’re wearing, etc. Again, be sure you know what is legal.
Good luck! I think you’re going to like knowing what time you ride.
Haha no it wasn’t my trainer that told me that! Actually, she doesn’t let me ride with one so I thought it was odd that I would be forced to show with one. My horse just goes in a loose ring. I think I’m most excited about ride times!!! Haha!
I can wear any color at any level?
https://www.usef.org/compete/disciplines/dressage/rules--equipment
You want to look at the Dressage Attire and Equipment Book here. Dressage is a lot more colorful than hunters. There’s a whole matchy-matchy attire thread on here I generally do grey breeches with a hunter green coat, on my chestnut. There are still a lot of people wearing black and white because it’s what they have, but I’ve seen a lot of branching out with colored coats and fancy stock ties.
As a fellow hunter person, ride times are the best thing about dressage.
There are a few tweaks since this came out (and you really should follow the excellent suggestion to read the dressage rule book) but this should help with your attire questions.
Your hunter clothes are fine. You may want to buy white breeches, but they are not required and won’t hurt your score. My daughter did her first ever dressage show on her old hunter and received qualifying scores at 2nd and 3rd. She only took two lessons prior and off to the show. She wore a hunter green and gray coat. Her boots were her existing Parlanti boots and her Samshield helmet with hunter hair. The whip came from Dover and it was a standard length. It wasn’t measured before the show, but the length was fine. You don’t need a whip, but if you need one, go ahead. The bottom line is no one cares in dressage. If you want to buy true stiff dressage boots, a matchy coat, pad and bonnet in the future, go for it.
I like hunter hair! Your daughter looks great.
No - she just meant that within what is legal the judges do not care about fashion in the way that (we dressage riders assume) is “required” in the hunter world. So within the rules, buy what you want and are comfortable in. None of us can give you all the rules, reading the Rulebook linked above is most valuable for you.
The one unwritten rule is we all braid at USEF/USDF recognized shows. It is not in the rule. It would be very weird if you did not braid.
What you have from the hunters should just move across into dressage because conservative and good quality goes pretty much anywhere in the horse world. The dressage rules are clear and easy to follow. White breeches are not a requirement but are a fashion. As you move up the levels you can add all the fancy extras.
Make sure your mouthpiece is legal, not all are- there’s a whole appendix about different bits/bridles and what is legal and what isn’t. At USDF shows there are tack checks, so it’s worth it to make sure.
I would just like to add, while braiding is optional, most folks would rather die than show unbraided. However, the judge may NOT count off for not braiding.
Yes! Traditionally, dressage coats have four buttons, and hunt coats have three. Lots of people show dressage in three-button coats. I guarantee you that no one in dressage is counting the buttons on your coat.
You don’t even need a dressage saddle through 4th level, but you’re better off in one once you’re past 1st.
And please heed @emeraldcity’s advice re: your bit’s mouthpiece. Unfortunately, tack and equipment rules change and bits are made illegal without much warning.
Welcome! Spend your money on lessons. Your hunter show clothes and tack should all be fine while you get started and decide what you like. The one exception may be your bit, as mentioned above. Both the mouthpiece and the cheek need to be legal. If you ride in spurs or use a whip, check that those are of legal length.
If this is a long-term transition, a dressage saddle will probably be the first priority because at a certain level it is hard to maintain the balance you need in a forward seat saddle.
However, the braid style is easier than hunter braids and tails are not typically braided.
OP, I’d say wear your hunter clothes for the first couple shows and see what you like from other people’s turnouts. I would invest in some stuff dressage boots if you’re planning to show 3rd and above. They are probably the biggest signal of a “serious” dressage rider.
Also, stock ties are not required. You can wear a shirt with a stand up collar and it’s fine. Be aware that a stock is not allowed when coats are waived. Here it’s often hot at shows and people are showing in sun shirts. There are some nice show styles now with lace or mesh sleeves so they’re as cool as possible.
I’m sruggling to wrap my head around this…Sunshirts?? That’s so casual! In color or white??
No stock ties? Ever?
Talk to me about stiff boots. I was planning on just using my regular boots, which are dress boots. Never was a fan of field boots. I would like to appear as professional as possible. Where do I find stiff boots and how do I know they’re stiff?! Have I just walked right by them at Dover or do I need a special dressage tack store?
Trust me I spend plenty on lessons HAH! I have a dressage saddle and bridle and a standard loose ring bit. I will measure my spurs and don’t plan on using a whip. Thanks!
Stock ties are not required. From the rule book, which I strongly suggest you read:
1.5 Shirts and Neckwear. Shirts with tie, choker, stock tie, or integrated stand-up collar are required. Ties, chokers, or stock ties may be any color. If jackets or coats are not worn per DR 120.1.2 and DR 120.2.1, shirts may be any color, must have sleeves and a collar, and separate removable neckwear is prohibited.
No such thing, to my knowledge. What bit is it?
Yes, even if its a single joint, there are minimum thickness requirements. And while beans are mostly legal, french links with flat plates are not.