At my very first dressage show, albeit a schooling show and showing intro level, I wore an old black Ann Taylor suit jacket – one of the ones out of the no-wrinkle type material. It actually looked totally fine!
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That’s basically my situation. The trainer would’ve gone if I’d asked. And if I’d been on a young horse or riding a higher level test, I would have wanted to have her along. This time it was just me, riding two Intro tests on a horse that had started competing PSG before stepping back due to injury. He had been a pro’s horse in his youth & could still be quirky, but took his job seriously & was never dangerous. And we trailered with another boarder who was very knowledgable.
I’m always happy to help out complete strangers at shows (and have done so many times.) The only time I ever worried was when someone asked us to hold what was clearly very $$$$$ pony at an AA hunter show during the lead line so she didn’t have to weave through the crowds at the rail with it. Had to have been the most expensive horse I’ve ever handled & I was sweating bullets! 
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Couple of things to consider - if your coach is officiating/judging, they are going to be too busy to spend any time with you, along with if your coach is judging, you will not be allowed to show in a class that they are judging.
The reason that many coaches charge an extra fee for a show is a)the income they are giving up by not being at home for a day of lessons and training sessions and b)the expenses incurred if they have to hire extra help to cover work and horse care at the barn while they are with you.
While in theory I was not charged a coaching fee if I was in full training (and it was a long time ago that I was in full training), if I was the only one at a show, she often would not come even if it was just a local show. And like I said earlier, when I was the only one going to a show that was a overnight stay, I certainly could not afford to cover all her expenses myself.
I’ve made good friends I still have by being on my own at a multi day show. One of my best friends now is a woman who was at her first show hat I was stabled next to - with a trainer, but trainer was at the ring with another rider - and she was having a bit of a meltdown over losing the keeper for her flash noseband. I could hear her stressing, took over a couple black braiding rubber bands and secured the tail for her.
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So black breeches are a go? Please say its so!
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Not yet.
From the USEF website:
The deadlines to submit proposed rule changes to be considered by the Board of Directors at their 2021 Mid-Year Board of Directors meeting (“Standard Rule Changes”) are:
- September 1, 2020 for members;
- September 1, 2020 for committees and affiliates for proposed rule changes to the General Rules; and
- March 1, 2021 for committees and affiliates for proposed rule changes to the Breed and Discipline rules.
So, nothing is decided. I did speak about this a few weeks ago with someone “in the know,” and she said it will probably happen. Yay!
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I am all for a uniform too! The uniform I would like to see is breeches with a polo or sun shirt, not a jacket. We don’t have winter shows here, but for a winter show, you could wear a long sleeved polo or riding shirt with a sweater over it, a vest or some kind of approved jacket. I’d like to see it recognize the athleticism. I wouldn’t even mind if they sold approved attire and limited the choices so that it truly IS a uniform.
Additionally, I think the current costumes add weight to a rider (so does the riding position). I’d rather see people wearing darker clothes than feeling like they have to wear spanx during the summer under all that stuff.
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How would this work? Some particular brand gets a contract for the official approved uniform?
(This question is being asked by someone who does not fit well into some of the more popular brands.)
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British dressage does this to address the spectrum of colors/logos/bling, items are approved for BD competitions. That said it’s definitely not limited to one brand.
What does “so does the riding position” mean? is there some other way to sit astride on a horse that doesn’t “add weight” to a rider? I can’t make any sense of this entire paragraph.
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I would mind. A lot. Monopolize retailers of show outfits, so they can jack the prices up to the moon? No.
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I have to agree. In theory it’s a fine idea, but in practical terms I don’t see how it could work.
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Weight as in visually? Or literally causing the scale to go up?
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I feel like the white and black traditional look is effectively a uniform, and one you can put together affordably enough if you try. Everyone seems to like however the idea of opening things up to a range of colors which then requires you to actually think about your outfit.
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Why can’t it be the way they do it now: give a color palette, prescribe articles of clothes (breeches and polo shirt, for example). The uniform could be determined by color: black, navy, tan or white, for example. Why does it have to be more compicated than that: black helmet/black boots, and black gloves. There. Done.
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Visually. Riders on a horse in the sitting position with thighs flattened out and white pants–very unflattering. Skinny people look normal sized; normal sized people look chunky; chunky people feel the need to wear spanx, which is not healthy. Visual is part of the overall impression. Why not promote a visual that is flattering to everybody?
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I did not mean a monopoly. Allow a uniform to be sold or copied by the rider, like breeches and a polo shirt in a limited range of colors. Keep the look neutral and the focus on the riding and training, and let the riders be as comfortable as they are in every day training.
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Which, as I understand them, is just what the rules have always done. It is competitors who have come up with white breeches - fashion choice - and black jacket- fashion choice, such that the combination has become an unofficial uniform.
Personally, I don’t like breeches that highlight every bulge, lump and bump as well as being impossible to keep clean, so white is definitely not a sensible choice for me.
On the other hand, I really don’t like to see riders in screaming pink with glitter stripes on their breeches as that does tend to distract ones eye from a horse, regardless of rider skill. Actually, to be fair, those riders are usually aged about 8!
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I’m just laughing at “spanx are not healthy” while they might not be comfortable (for some people, anyway) you’re not shaving years off your life wearing shape wear for an hour if it makes you feel better about the way you look.
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I am willing to admit that the mental image of this (mine included an adorable very wise aged grey pony and a rider with braids with bows) made me smile at the cuteness.
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Even it the rules are relaxed, which they probably will be, there will be nothing preventing anyone from wearing the black and white outfit.
There’s a large gulf between “dark breeches” and “screaming pink with glitter stripes.” It’s not a serious argument against relaxing the dress rules.
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