Schooling in collared shirts

[GraceLikeRain]

Super random question.

With sun shirts becoming more popular I’ve also seen what I think are typical snap collar show shirts on people who are schooling at home.

Are these just sun shirts with a different collar or are some people opting to also wear more technical fabric “show shirts” at home?

If you or anyone you know schools in them, what do you like about them?

As we go into fall I’d like to school more in long sleeve tops but I’m not sure what is the best combination of wicking, stretch, and looking tidy. I have some collar-less long sleeve athletic tops but they are a bit unstructured and clingy for lessons.

Any direct links or brand recommendations are really appreciated. It’s a small thing in the grand scheme but if I’m going to buy some tops I’d love to get something that I look forward to using for a few seasons.

[Lexie55]

I like to school in golf shirts. There is a particular Nike style that fits me well and always looks neat. I tend to get really dirty at the barn so I stick with colors, not white, which is why I personally would not ride in a show shirt :), although another lady at my barn rides in her old show shirts. I live in a hot climate and only ride indoors, so I wear short sleeves most of the year. When it’s cold, I throw a 1/4 zip fleece over top and frankly usually end up taking it off! Anyways, I find them NWT on ebay; I have a $15 maximum budget (I only buy them if they are $15 or less). I have an auto search set up and find one every other month or so. I do have several long sleeved ones as well; some from Nike and some from Addidas.

I like the golf shirts because I sweat a lot and they stay neat and don’t get soaking wet.

A company called San Soleil makes “sun shirt” type golf shirts with the mesh underside on the sleeves in very fun prints. I haven’t found one in my budget yet though, but may splurge just for the fun print (hides the dirt better!!). Peter Millar golf also makes sun shirt type long sleeved shirts that are very well made. I bought one on ebay within my budget; unfortunately it ran very small, so I gave it to my sister who’s a size smaller.

Now if I can find breeches that won’t show sweat …

[anicolle]

I really really love those Kastel sun shirts… they use to go on sale on Zuilly allll the time. I have 4 pairs (but only wear two since I get soooo dirty at the barn)

They are expensive at 35$ a pop, check out eBay. I think mine have lasted me years, theres a navy one that I’ve been wearing twice a week for 4 years. Really flattering shape too… maybe not right now since I’ve packed on 15lbs but they are form fitting, not boxy and give you a nice shape.

Those are the only collared shirts I own for riding. I have an Ariat one that sucks and I sold all of my EIS ones since the form wasn’t flattering on me.

Every once in a while target has good 3/4 zip long sleeved shirts.

[Scribbler]

In our climate (PNW) I prefer cotton knit over technical fabric in the summer. I have a collection of polo or golf shirts, mostly Ralph Lauren or Tommy Hilfiger from the discount store. I originally went to the style because my neck and shoulders were burning in regular scoop neck t shirts. They look tidy and they stay in place. I can get find them around here in the $15 to $20 CAN range, whereas anything from real equestrian wear is usually over $60. I also have some technical synthetic shirts in this style, some from a local outdoor wear liquidator.

Around here once it starts to cool off it gets quite dank and rainy, so you go from short sleeve polos to fuzzy hoodies and a rain jacket pretty quickly. There isn’t a big window for just riding in a long sleeve top.

[foursocks]

Technical fabric immediately makes me smell horrible, so I just ride in form-fitting cheap cotton polos (or sometimes t-shirts), I find at the Goodwill, or on sale wherever. I have a few nicer ones I save for trailering out to my trainer, and a few long sleeved polos for when it gets a bit nippy. However, our weather tends to go from hot and humid to cold and rainy/snowy, so I’m either in a shirt-sleeved polo or a turtleneck with a vest (midweight or down, depending on the temperature).

I dislike spending a lot of money on a shirt that is guaranteed to get slobbered on or otherwise dirty within five minutes of me being at the barn, so my daily riding clothes are ones I don’t mind beating up on. But I like to be neat and tidy, so everything I wear is fitted. <— I think this is really the main thing. The style of shirt isn’t as important as whether or not it is flapping around, I think.

[HJdaydream]

I predominately school in Kastel’s and some essex show shirts that are colors (blue, purple, and yellow) since those aren’t really in fashion in the show ring anymore. They are all lightweight, breathable, and give a professional appearance in my opinion!

[Arabiandressage]

I love my t-shirts, but after riding in these new technical mesh shirts…I can’t go back. It’s just so much cooler, literally to ride in. Usually people fold down the collars for training and put them up for clinics.

[Scribbler]

I can see if someone was already building up a wardrobe of show shirts, preferred the microfibre tech synthetics, really wanted a sharp daily look as a pro, or was an ammie who didn’t in fact ride every day, schooling in the snap neck tailored show shirts would be a very nice clean look.

I ride every day and do my own barn work so I need ideally a dozen of everything in cotton (polo shirts, socks, underwear) to last between laundry days. Breeches go longer than one wear, but everything else is toxic after one use! Even if I preferred synthetics to cotton, I couldn’t see having a dozen technical show shirts at their typical cost, but if you showed a lot and were continually retiring your shirts, you might have some depth to your daily wardrobe!

BTW my brand name but discount-store cotton polo shirts have held up very well to weekly wear and laundry six months of each year. I don’t put them in the dryer. They are good enough,.but it is true some of the synthetic tops look much sharper. Or perhaps more accurately they are worn by people who look much sharper all around!!

[Backstage]

A few brands have shirts that are convertible show shirts/polos. I grabbed a white one when they were on sale a few weeks ago. I have not worn it yet - waiting for a clinic or something. I would not wear it around the barn regularly as its white! Otherwise, I probably would as its quite nice and comfortable.

I have some Asmar sun shirts that I quite like, as well as some athletic shirts from old navy that do the job quite nicely. I just pick things up as they come on sale!

[GraceLikeRain]

@Scribbler

I can see if someone was already building up a wardrobe of show shirts, preferred the microfibre tech synthetics, really wanted a sharp daily look as a pro, or was an ammie who didn’t in fact ride every day, schooling in the snap neck tailored show shirts would be a very nice clean look.

That’s essentially where I am at right now. I’m a horseless AA so in a sense I’m constantly trying to “advertise” myself as a potential exercise rider option for owners. I’m (affectionately) competing against the lovely willow teens who look like models in a t shirt and schooling tights. I can’t gain 8 inches of leg or my teenage frame again (love sugar too much) but I can do my best to look very professional and turn out each horse I school to the nth degree.

Day to day my $10 Champion brand technical fabric tees tucked into Piper breeches look fine enough but I’m hoping to start lessoning again. It’s been nearly a decade since I consistently lessoned so I’d like to look extra sharp in case I meet some new people. I’m willing to pick up a few new tops if looking professional sparks a conversation and leads to an opportunity.

It sounds like Asmar and Kastel are the favorites but Essex are also good as well. San Soleil … LOVE… ugh. It blows my mind how much prices jump once things are labeled as a “technical fabric”. Anyone come across lesser known or “off brands” that also have a nice fit when worn without a coat?

[HJdaydream]

Little secret- everything Kastel and Asmar I own was all purchased on a steep discount. Kastel always has tons of shirts from $25-35 on their website, and even cheaper on sites like riding warehouse (use code COTH to get an additional 20% off). Asmar sales are hit or miss but you can find their stuff for 70-80% off retail is you look around consistently. I got a polo on Smartpak for $25ish that was originally well over $100 on their website. Don’t think you have to spend an arm and a leg!

[Fig]

I don’t have any show shirts I wear to school in, but I have seen people doing that. I am a professional and couldn’t stay clean the whole day in a white shirt, even if I’m only teaching! My absolute favorites are the tailored sportsman sun shirts. I have a bunch of Kastel shirts too but I have t-rex arms and they are rather long. I also think the tailored sportsman shirts have a more flattering fabric as I am plus size. Both the tailored sportsman and Kastel shirts have lasted for many years, with only two being taken out: one by a mustard stain and the other being cut off after I severely broke my arm -_-