Please critique my show style

[wanderinglemon]

I am going to my first horse trial in over 10 years this weekend, I have read through the rulebook and I am pretty sure everything me and my horse is wearing is legal. With that said I would love to get some opinions to make sure we are appropriately attired and that I interpreted the rules correctly and didn’t miss anything. Thank you in advance!

What I am wearing

Dressage:
White breeches
White show shirt
Black jacket - depending on heat may take it off
Black gloves
Black boots

Stadium:
Exact same as dressage

Cross Country:
Same white breeches? or should I change?
Solid colored sun shirt
Approved XC vest
Same boots and gloves

What horse is wearing

Dressage:
Black dressage saddle
Brown bridle (obviously it doesn’t match the saddle but this is his only bridle)’
White saddle pad - but my preference would be black, is this an option?

Stadium:
Brown jumping saddle
Brown bridle
Brown running martingale
Grey saddle pad
Black front tendon boots

Cross country:
Same as stadium except for the saddle pad - will be trading out for a dry one.

[initiate1987]

Everything looks perfectly legal and appropriate to me. To answer your saddle pad question for dressage, yes, you can use a black saddle pad in dressage. Also, I used mismatched colored tack for years (in my case, black bridle and brown saddle). Chances are no one will notice.

My one comment is that you may want to check the schedule to see how close stadium and xc are. A lot of places do xc either immediately following or close enough to show jumping that you won’t have time to change clothes. So you’d wear your xc gear to do stadium. Some places give you enough time, but I’d double check the omnibus/your ride times.

ETA: most people wear their whites on xc.

[Willesdon]

… or in muddy Britain, beige/tan in all three phases. Many do wear white breeches but somehow it looks especially sad when soaking wet and splattered in mud!

[leheath]

@wanderinglemon

Dressage:
Black dressage saddle
Brown bridle (obviously it doesn’t match the saddle but this is his only bridle)’
White saddle pad - but my preference would be black, is this an option?

Yes, you can absolutely use a black saddle pad for dressage (I have many times…I don’t like white on my grey horse!).

@wanderinglemon

Cross Country:
Same white breeches? or should I change?

You can wear white, and many people do, but it is also OK to change to whatever color you prefer (I go XC in purple breeches unless I’m doing more than one phase on the same day, in which case I don’t change unless I get wet!).

You don’t mention neckwear for dressage or show jumping…the rule book states (for both phases): “Shirt— of any color and design, tasteful and discreet accents, such as a collar, cuff, piping, are acceptable with stock and pin, or choker, or tie.” So you need stock and pin or choker if you are wearing a jackets and no neckwear if you aren’t wearing a jacket.

[Highflyer1]

The newer wrap collar shirts are considered an acceptable alternative to a choker, if that’s what you have. If you do ride without a jacket you must remove any neckwear and unzip/unbutton your shirt collar.

[Lusoluv]

You definitely do not need neckwear with a jacket. I use a 1/4 zip short or long sleeve technical shirt under my jacket. Have never worn anything else, just zip it up and go

[Beam_Me_Up]

Actually neckware is required with a jacket. I agree that with the wrap collars becoming more popular it’s probably easy to get away without it, but the rules say jacket–>neckware; no jacket–>no neckware

*Coat—any single color jacket will be allowed, including tweeds and pinstripes, tasteful and discreet accents, such as a collar, cuff, lapel, piping, of any color, or crystal decorations, are acceptable. Tail coats are not permitted;
Shirt— of any color and design, tasteful and discreet accents, such as a collar, cuff, piping, are acceptable with stock and pin, or choker, or tie;
*b. Competitors at Beginner Novice through Modified may compete without a jacket. In such cases, shirt - long or short sleeved with collar and without neckwear, any color and design; tasteful and discreet accents, such as a collar, cuff, piping, is acceptable, neatly tucked into riding breeches.

[trubandloki]

Don’t forget your medical arm band!

[Saskatoonian]

If you think the weather will be warm enough to ditch the jacket, I wouldn’t do white breeches and a white shirt: it’s just too much white (BTDT). Since you don’t need neckwear without a jacket, I’d just wear a conservatively colored oxford shirt or ratcatcher. One of my favorites is actually pale yellow seersucker.

Have fun!

[Gardenhorse]

@trubandloki

Don’t forget your medical arm band!

Rules changed this year. Medical armband or bracelet only required if you have a relevant medical condition.

(Assuming the OP is in the US. I’m not sure she ever stated her location).