Need help. First time dressage competition!

[PonyApocalypse19]

Everyone in my group still wears stock ties unless the shirt has an integrated one. I think part of it is we bought them before the rules changed so we’re going to use them! Same with breeches. We all have good white breeches. Maybe once they need to be replaced we’ll branch out to other colors!
If you have dress boots, you’re good. Some brands now have softer ankles but stiff outer panels above, so they’re stiff, but breaking them in won’t make your ankles bleed.

Black gloves can be used at the lower levels, but mostly everyone above 3rd uses white gloves.

After years of showing, I’m always a promoter of comfortable understated elegance. Keep the colors simple and you and your horse’s turnout neat. Pick clothing you will be comfortable riding in in either cold or warm weather. I have enough chrome on my horses that I don’t need a super blingy browband or helmet. I want my horse to be the center of the judge’s attention. And honestly no one cares what brand you’re wearing unless they like what you’re wearing and want to know what it is. I have found that everyone is very supportive at shows and we wish each other good luck or have a good ride as we pass by each other going into the ring.
But definitely check the attire rules and bits and equipment rules. If you have a specific question that’s not clearly covered in the rules, you can email USEF before your first show.

[atr]

You may find that well fitting stiff “dressage boots” vs “dress boots” will help you to gain and maintain a steadier, quieter lower leg and a more correct hip angle than something with a soft shaft and wiggly ankles. Some people love them, some hate them. There’s no requirement for them. They aren’t inexpensive, however, and will be something you will want to ride in every day if you want to ride in them at all.

Good luck with your endeavors! I would suggest that if you have the opportunity, you go watch some shows of the type and at the level you are planning to compete and see both how the competitors ride and how they are dressed. Some places are more casual than others.

[outerbanks77]

@triplethreat

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?

Your dress boots are totally fine! When you go to some dressage shows, you’ll notice the pros and upper level ammie’s boots. They are often blingy, and you can kind kind of see how they are harder in the shaft than a jumping boot. They’re usually custom or semi-custom, so when you’re up for it, do the research and pick a brand. I personally am happy with my Celeris boots, which are made in Portugul, and are more affordable than some of the other brands, but there is a lot to choose from.

Sun shirts - for smaller shows with coats waived, yes. Generally solid color. I think white shirt and breeches looks weird without a coat, so I’d either do dark top/white breeches or vice versa. For bigger rated shows, a show shirt with a crisper collar and long or short sleeves is common around here (I’m in Idaho, so I can’t vouch for what’s normal on the coasts/bigger dressage areas.

For me, no I never wear a stock tie. I might force myself if I go to regionals some day, but until then, it’s extra hassle, and while I admire how they look on other people, I hate how they look on me. Again, the judge doesn’t care as long as its within the rules.

[Equibrit]

@triplethreat

a standard loose ring bit.

There is no such thing. CHECK THE RULEBOOK!

https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/96D17lSsaCo/annex---bits-saddlery-equipment

https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/F3p8pgrWgAo/dr-dressage-division

[joiedevie99]

@outerbanks77

For me, no I never wear a stock tie.

I always show in a stock tie, which means you can’t see what show shirt I’m wearing. Sometimes I have a legit show shirt on, sometimes a random sun shirt, sometimes an old navy t-shirt. Doesn’t matter.

I have started showing in the AA MotionLite shads, which are made of mesh, to stay cooler. To me, those look better in professional photos when I wear a dark shirt underneath.

[Janet]

@PonyApocalypse19

Everyone in my group still wears stock ties unless the shirt has an integrated one. I think part of it is we bought them before the rules changed so we’re going to use them! Same with breeches.

What “rules change” are you referring to?

The 1991 rule book (when it was still AHSA) for Training through 4th level says “with tie, choker or stock tie”. The only change over the years is adding in “integrated stand-up collar.”

For breeches there was no color requirement tor Training through 4th in 1991.

Sometme before 2008 they changed the britches to “white or light colored” for Training through 4th.

Same (for both neckwear and breehes) in 2010, 2015, 2020.

[PonyApocalypse19]

The integrated stand up collar portion. I do have show shirts that are almost 10 years old lol!

[JumpWithPanache]

Hello from a fellow hunter princess! I’ve started dipping into dressage as well and my only attire change was the white breeches. I had bought the dressage saddle because I couldn’t really sit his canter effectively with my jump saddle in the early days… and my dressage coach roped me into showing! It was super weird to see people actually not wear coats when waived… I couldn’t bring myself to do it, lol. I’m trying to get into the matchy-matchy trend. So far just adding dressage pads that will match/compliment my hunter coats. Bright and blingy is still a little far for my hunter-self to go, but getting there slowly.

[annabelleob]

Yes! I showed last season in light pink/navy, but thinking about branching out to green and maroon this upcoming season!

[Zevida]

@JumpWithPanache

It was super weird to see people actually not wear coats when waived… I couldn’t bring myself to do it, lol.

On the other hand I don’t understand anyone who still wears a coat when they have been waived! The judge truly does not care and I prefer to be comfortable.

(I might have a different answer here for shows like Championships. I also wore a coat once when I paid for photos during the class.)

[albytb]

@JumpWithPanache

It was super weird to see people actually not wear coats when waived

I felt the same way until I did dressage shows in Georgia in brutal humid summers!! Prayed for waived coats most days

[SillyHorse]

@Zevida

@JumpWithPanache

It was super weird to see people actually not wear coats when waived… I couldn’t bring myself to do it, lol.

On the other hand I don’t understand anyone who still wears a coat when they have been waived! The judge truly does not care and I prefer to be comfortable.

(I might have a different answer here for shows like Championships. I also wore a coat once when I paid for photos during the class.)

There’s a reason for waiving coats. Show management doesn’t want people suffering heatstroke.

[JenEM]

@triplethreat

I’m sruggling to wrap my head around this…Sunshirts?? That’s so casual! In color or white??
No stock ties? Ever?

IMO the local recognized dressage shows are a LOT more casual attire-wise than even the local HJ schooling show series are. I’m sure that varies by location, but the local HJ turnout is basically like an A show; the recognized dressage shows feel a lot more casual to me. For the big summer show, I have absolutely seen folks in sunshirts or polos–I’ve showed in them myself. At the local GMO dressage schooling shows, it’s about 50-50 coats vs no–they’re not required, and unless it’s cool or I have someone with me to video or take pictures, I usually skip it, and sub in a green sunshirt for the green coat.

I almost never wear a stock tie for dressage, except for our local GMO championships. I would say from what I see around here, more people wear one versus not. Usually I wear the same white RJ/Essex show shirts I use for hunters. I’ve also used the same coats for both hunters and dressage, and the same dress boots as well, for showing through 1st.

[PonyPenny]

Thank you. The photographer took this random picture at the show. My daughter is in the background. She told me there is no way she is wearing her hair in a bun, even though most of the riders did their hair that way.

[Badger]

Since white breeches became optional instead of mandatory I’d quit wearing them. Actually I’m avoiding them like the plague. Even at FEI. No need to go buy a pair to show.

[JumpWithPanache]

I also can’t not do Hunter hair… I do it every ride so it’s just a habit now and nothing else feels quite right

[lintesia]

@triplethreat

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?

How will you know if they’re stiff? Trust me, you’ll know. Especially coming from the H/J world. You will have rubs behind your knees that will take years to resolve into callouses. They will force your lower leg to function as a single unit when giving a leg aid. In the dressage world, this is good. Coming from the H/J world, it can be an adjustment.

My humble advice – stick with your H/J dress boots. You’ll be the envy of many!

[exvet]

I transitioned from hunter/jumper to dressage more than 35 years ago. Fortunately my size, except during pregnancies, has not changed. When dressage coats started getting shorter and more tailored guess what? I pulled out my old hunt coats - I had a black one, a hunter green one and a brown one. Yes, they only have 3 buttons but I changed the buttons to typical ‘dressage buttons’ - silver or gold depending on the coat and added buttons to the sleeves/cuffs. Cheapest and best idea I had. Certainly doesn’t lower my scores and I often get comments like ‘elegant pair’. Also, with the brown coat I wear tan/beige breeches, again I usually get compliments.

I do wear my hair in a bun usually but have on occasion worn it in one braid down the back. I’ve never had a bad comment about that either but I don’t like it bouncing on my back. Even at 61 I still have thick, heavy hair.

As for braiding my horses, well I don’t but I do keep my horses’ manes roached. After decades of high volume spay-neuter and other surgeries, I simply can’t suffer through braiding. I am also the queen for speed and efficiency when it comes to hauling to shows and getting on ‘ready’ to go; so, having roached manes eliminated so much of the stress of show prep for me as well as the physical pain (plus I don’t incur costs to pay someone to do it). I have shown horses with roached manes for many years (including an Arab at the big February Arabian show in Scottsdale in dressage) and have never been marked down for it. Of course in addition to the Arab the others are all Welsh Cobs or Morgans who are born with lovely necks. Most don’t realize the mane is roached until I’m off the horse and talking to them. I’ve even shown them at FEI with roached manes (will be in Indio showing third and fourth level with the current stinker pony who is sporting a roached mane). I find it’s far less stressful to show in dressage than hunters - you know exactly when you’re riding, can plan your prep efficiently and in the end as long as your attire and tack are within the USEF rules few really care - clean, neat, tidy and not distracting is the way to go.

[skydy]

I’m all for roaching, especially for horses with thick manes. They look great if they have proper neck musculature, there’s no mane pulling or braids to annoy them, and of course it makes grooming much easier.

I kept my at home hack roached, and I’ve always wondered why more people don’t roach for the show ring. As you mentioned, most people don’t notice a roached mane until they’re very close to the horse.

[Fior]

I won a regional championship at third level in hunter breeches and a navy hunter coat. Judges don’t care what you’re wearing. Roaching has been my go-to for about 2 decades. It helps me see the muscles they use when going. Quite a few people I know do the same thing.