New show clothes...

[SarahandSam]

I’m going to be attempting my first rated show or shows this year. For schooling shows, I’ve worn my hunter breeches, shirts, and coats, though at least I do have a dressage saddle and bridle now as well as dress boots. For training level, what should I focus on buying to fit in and look like I know what I’m doing, at least until I ride?

I have a navy hunt coat. Got a white competition shirt with stock loop for Christmas, so I assume I should acquire a stock tie. White breeches? Must they be full seat? Any colour faux pas with the patches? Should I get a coat if the rest of me is looking less hunter-y and more dressage-y?

Sorry to do another fashion thread, but it’s too cold to ride and I’m dreaming of summer.

[soloudinhere]

[QUOTE=SarahandSam;8528129]
I’m going to be attempting my first rated show or shows this year. For schooling shows, I’ve worn my hunter breeches, shirts, and coats, though at least I do have a dressage saddle and bridle now as well as dress boots. For training level, what should I focus on buying to fit in and look like I know what I’m doing, at least until I ride?

I have a navy hunt coat. Got a white competition shirt with stock loop for Christmas, so I assume I should acquire a stock tie. White breeches? Must they be full seat? Any colour faux pas with the patches? Should I get a coat if the rest of me is looking less hunter-y and more dressage-y?

Sorry to do another fashion thread, but it’s too cold to ride and I’m dreaming of summer. :)[/QUOTE]

I wear white knee patch breeches. In the summer I can’t stand the diaper butt feeling of full seats. Contrasting full seats are fine, or knee patches if that’s your jam.

If you really want to jazz things up, a four button coat will look a little “dressagier” than the 3 button, but it doesn’t really matter. A stock tie does go with the outfit. White gloves if you feel confident wearing them.

But all this is just if you really want to…you’ll see all manner of attire in Training level even at recognized shows. Most people will wear white breeches, though.

[Silverbridge]

What are the styling details of a riding coat that differ from hunter to dressage?

Having shopped for show coats, as a man, I don’t usually see a differentiation between dressage and hunter as far as what’s marketed in tack shops in my size.

Although-- I have seen jumper-designated coats for men with black velvet trim at the collars, and of course the traditional bright red for men at the high levels of jumping is not marketed for dressage at all. But even the black or navy ones with the velvet collars, I haven’t noticed on racks in several years.

I’m just curious by what differences other riders would recognize a hunt coat versus a dressage coat.

[xQHDQ]

Legally, you can wear what you have been. But, if you want to fit in without spending a ton of money, just invest in white breeches (doesn’t matter full seat or not) and white gloves. Your coat and white shirt are fine. The judge doesn’t care as long as you look neat. Good luck!!!

[Highflyer]

Dressage coats are typically cut a little longer and have a single vent (slit) in the back vs a double vent for hunt coats. ETA: the red coats at the top levels of showjumping/ eventing are worn by men and women who have represented the US (or other countries who choose red as their color) in international competition.

[Rosie_B]

Dressage coats have four buttons and hunter/jumper coats have three.

[Silverbridge]

Interesting.

Men’s riding coats typically have three buttons, and double vents in the back.

Men’s sports coats and blazers in dept stores almost universally have two buttons, and a single vent.

I have three show coats, navy, black, and burgundy. The navy was purchased in a tack shop and marketed as riding attire. The black and burgundy were bought in dept stores, on clearance, and I’ve had the black modified by a tailor, who added a higher button. I’ll do the same with the burgundy, which I just got. ($53, down from $195).

Here is the site to the local tack shop where I bought the navy one.

http://greenwaysaddlery.com/t/show-jackets

Here is one coat they’re marketing that clearly has four buttons. They’re showing it with a white tie on white shirt which maybe indicates it’s for dressage. But the description only says, “for the show ring.”

http://greenwaysaddlery.com/products/horseware-mens-competition-jacket

I don’t remember seeing four buttons, or ever trying on one with four. I’m probably wearing a hunt coat when I’m not wearing my dept store sports coats. I wonder whether nobody notices. Or whether they do notice, but they’re being polite by not saying anything. I thought it was a dressage coat.

I’m not changing anything, it’s just interesting to know that there’re actually some differences.

[Dutchmare433]

Re: button numbers–It’s entirely possible that there are different traditions for men’s coats vs women’s coats.

For dressage, for women, a 4 button coat is more traditional but there’s no reason, especially at the lower levels that you can’t wear a hunt coat. (I think really only in the Hunters does the number of buttons actually matter.) Most people will be wearing white full seats, but you can’t tell from the saddle, so knee patch breeches are fine.

[JenEM]

As someone who also does both rated hunters and dressage, welcome

If your hunt coat is one of the newer softshell types, it will blend right in. My dressage coat is a frock, so cut longer, but most of the newer softshell type coats are shorter hunt coat length, so no one will notice. You can also buy a pre-tied stock tie, most of the DQs see out and about have frilly, sparkly pre-tied ones; I’m usually the only person to be tying an actual stock tie.

White breeches are probably the one investment to make. It doesn’t matter if you have fullseats or not, you can’t really tell once you’re in the saddle.

[SarahandSam]

Thanks all! I was wondering about the gloves, didn’t know if white was just for people with good hands who know what they’re doing.

[Beentheredonethat]

Hey, if you want to play with coats, go to a thrift store and buy a men’s suit coat. They usually work fine. You can get one that fits like a show coat and add some pretty buttons in the back if you want.

[keysfins]

SilverBridge, your first link has some great info on “How to Dress the Rider”:

http://greenwaysaddlery.com/p/how-to-dress-the-rider

[BigMama1]

IMO the longer dressage “frock coats” are out of fashion now. See lots of shorter coats in tech fabrics in the dressage ring now, so I bet your hunter jacket would look just fine. Definitely get white breeches - no need for full seat if you don’t like them. A pre-tied stock with a nice pin will loOk dressage-y and is no trouble to put on. Personally I would skip the white gloves and stick to black at the lower levels.

[Lucassb]

When I first moved from hunters to dressage, the fullseats took a bit of getting used to. However, I found that not all of them created that weird “diaper like” feeling; you just have to try a few different styles to see what suits you. Of course, if you prefer the knee patch style, it’s not a big deal at all. I would definitely get a pair of white breeches, though. They’ll be fine with your current hunt coat - as noted above, the newer style dressage coats are generally much shorter and more similar to what you’d see in the hunter ring anyway.

[Dramapony_misty]

[QUOTE=SarahandSam;8528325]
Thanks all! I was wondering about the gloves, didn’t know if white was just for people with good hands who know what they’re doing. :)[/QUOTE]

At training level, I would stick with black gloves. IMHO, white gloves are sort of earned when you get a bit more experienced and have really steady hands. But that is just me and my ideology.

[Silverbridge]

I put a picture from the Sunday show as my profile pic, wearing the burgundy sport coat with the saddle pad. Most people have labeled in Maroon.

I got many compliments on it even though I know it’s pushing the norm a little bit. I still need to have the button added at the top so it will close more like a riding coat. I wore a navy tie.

It’s blurry because it is a screen shot from a video of my ride. There weren’t any clear still photos from the day.

[Dutchmare433]

[QUOTE=Silverbridge;8533397]
I put a picture from the Sunday show as my profile pic, wearing the burgundy sport coat with the saddle pad. Most people have labeled in Maroon.

I got many compliments on it even though I know it’s pushing the norm a little bit. I still need to have the button added at the top so it will close more like a riding coat. I wore a navy tie.

It’s blurry because it is a screen shot from a video of my ride. There weren’t any clear still photos from the day.[/QUOTE]

Love it, it looks so sharp! Especially on your lovely grey! I love that color is getting more popular in dressage. I like that color in particular, but not sure it would look right on my blood bay. (The problems we must face :lol:)

[Lexie55]

Try ebay. Lots of dressage coats in every size, new and used, at all price points. I believe if you pay with paypal and there is a problem with the transaction, paypal will issue a refund. I have never had a bad experience on ebay so I don’t know if they will really do this, i’m just repeating what the website says.

BigMama1 - Good to know the frock coat is going out, thanks for the intel. Explains why there are so many frock style coats on ebay right now. I was thinking maybe I should buy this style when I get ready to show, since my fanny needs covering, but I guess I will just have to lose weight [ha, ha].

[Drsgqn]

Your navy coat will definitely fit in nicely. I just bought this jacket in navy with a grey collar. As stated above short coats are very popular in the sandbox :).
http://www.amirashop.co.uk/acatalog/Pikeur-Skarlett-with-McCrown-Collar--69--AE614463M.html#.VsdIwmko6oQ

[SillyHorse]

Unless you really want to, or feel you need to fit in to a great degree, I wouldn’t bother with white breeches. Beige is perfectly legal, and the judge will not care one whit.

White gloves aren’t necessary, either. People will tell you the judge won’t be able to see your hands if you don’t wear white gloves, but I think that’s a bit insulting to judges. Equitation judges in hunter land can see riders’ hands, which are subject to much greater scrutiny than those of dressage riders, quite well, and ZERO people wear white, or even light colored, gloves.