Schooling Show Attire - Guide or Enable Me!

[Risuena]

Fluff post alert!

My horse needs MILES, lots and lots of miles. I now have several schooling shows in my calendar, mostly dressage, a couple horse trials, and there are usually a few jumper schooling shows in my area in the fall.

I did a dressage schooling show last weekend, and planned on wearing a white short sleeved technical shirt with my blue-grey breeches. The morning of, I discovered a big stain on the front of the shirt and also realized I had only ever worn it with my show coat…with no coat, not only could you see my sports bra, you could read the logo! On went my ancient blue show coat and I didn’t realize how monochromatic we were until I saw some pictures. No big deal, but it’s justification to beef up my wardrobe. I do have a general idea of what’s appropriate for schooling shows, but because one night my husband and I were about to go out, and he said, “Are you wearing THAT?”, and he was right, I have some questions:

(Oh, it seems that some schooling shows in my area have a lot of people in show coats, and others mostly without)

Any recommendations on hot-weather, white shirts that aren’t see-through?

I like this shirt: https://www.doversaddlery.com/tredst…/p/Z1-201460A/ but I’m confused by the white collar with colored body. Can this be worn alone? Or meant to be beneath a coat with a stock tie so only the white collar shows?

I have a bright chestnut horse. Just found a hunter green show coat that I love. ON SALE!! Yes??? Or no?? What say you about grey coats? Could those also work in rated jumper shows if I end up there in the future, or should I stick with navy?

What else do I need to know?

[MissCoco]

I think the contrast-collar shirts would look dressier than a regular collared shirt if worn without a jacket, and I like the look with or without a coat, but I have no idea what the cool kids are wearing these days

And as for the green show coat . . . do it!! I found a hunter green show coat I loved this spring, did not at all need it for my local schooling shows, but it was soo on sale, and I love green coats.
I bought the coat, and wearing it makes me smile. If you can afford it, I don’t think there’s any reason not to buy it!
Plus, everyone knows green suits a chestnut :yes:

[MissAriel]

The shirt can be worn for dressage either with a coat and stock tie or without a coat and no stack tie. Some schooling shows don’t expect a coat, some rated shows waive coats in very hot weather.

i personally think dark green is the best color for chestnuts. And perfectly fine for dressage.

[atr]

I have several beautiful show coats. I’m seldom get to wear them more than once or twice a year–as soon as it gets hot around here, jackets are waived and they need to be. The solid body and white collared shirts are a really nice alternative for a polished look, so I’d say entirely suitable for a schooling show—and there’s all sorts of colors at our local recognized shows, too. Just remember that you must have some sort of sleeve if you are jacket-less, and a long sleeve sunshirt style is a good idea if you a burnable, palid blonde like me.

I have a friend who wears a solid black long sleeved sun shirt with a white collar, untucked, over her white breeches, once coats have been waived. She looks very smart and has never had an unfavorable comment.

If I have to wear a coat for some formality reason in the heat of the summer, I have one of those FITS Zephyr coats that is made out of two layers of stretchy mesh, and I wear a Kerrits sleeveless shirt under it that is pretty much mesh, too, and has a magnetic clasp stand up collar, so no stock tie either–the magnets aren’t quite strong enough, so as you go down centerline they gently release themselves and hover slightly but apparently unnoticeably open, which is kind of wonderful when it’s 95 degrees out… It’s actually a really (physically) cool combination which tidies up the general middle-aged spread appearance quite nicely.

[EVneo]

Just like with the nude undies for white breeches, I found some nude and light grey sports bras that are just for showing under white shirts - just in case coats are waived. Honestly though, for schooling shows, I just put together a tidy combo of grey breeches with a navy quarter zip or navy breeches and grey quarter zip - like those Kastel ones, but Target brand. I grew up being told that if you’re wearing a jacket, you’re braiding. And who actually likes to braid if they don’t have to…

[Pennywell_Bay]

I have a schooling show this weekend. They already waived coats (which makes me a little sad because I have a bit of a muffin top I’d like to hide… but I digress).

I won’t be in a jacket, it’s going to be 96 and 106 Heat index. So I’ll be in tan breeches and a black polo. I’m Pig Pen so white just won’t cut it for me since I’m solo.

[SonnysMom]

A few years ago I did an unrecognized dressage show with tan breeches and a darker peach technical polo. I have shown in the technical quarter zip shirts- I have them in a ton of colors.

Last show was a CT. Dressage I wore white breeches, blue show shirt and grey show coat. But for this particular show I know most people tend to dress up a little more.

[FlaxenChestnut]

I think it depends on your area. I have done lots of dressage schooling shows and I always braid, wear white breeches, shirt and stock tie, and a black coat. My coach is traditional and expects us to be turned out to the best of our abilities, even at schooling level.

If you are attending a variety of schooling shows and are thinking of updating your wardrobe to fit them all, I would get a pair of light-coloured breeches (beige or white preferably), a light-coloured show shirt with sleeves and a wrap collar, and a lightweight dark coloured coat. You would be set for both dressage and jumping rings, whether or not coats were excused, and could move into rated shows.

I do love green on a chestnut! It also happens to be my favourite colour. I have a dark green AA MotionLite coat I wear in jumper shows that is really breathable on hot days and looks beautiful with my chestnut. Tbh, I wouldn’t wear it in the dressage ring, because I also have a black coat. I have really only seen black, navy, and the occasional grey coat in the dressage rings around here. I would wear a dark coloured shirt, like the one you linked, alone in the jumper ring, but probably not in the dressage ring unless it was under a coat.

All that being said, if it’s legal and you like it, go for it!

[Janet]

@atr

I have a friend who wears a solid black long sleeved sun shirt with a white collar, untucked, over her white breeches, once coats have been waived. She looks very smart and has never had an unfavorable comment.

I do not know what discipline your friend competes in, but in Eventing the rules are very clear that, for show jumping, if you are not wearing a coat, your shirt must be tucked in.

[FatCatFarm]

At the schooling shows I’ve attended, which have been quite a few as there are 3 venues within very easy driving distance, pretty much anything goes. I’ve seen people showing in tank tops in the heat – not that it was very classy, but no one seemed to care. It’s a schooling show. Having said that, a polo in whatever color or sleeve length, technical shirt in whatever color and sleeve length and breeches in whatever color are all fine. Make yourself happy and comfortable. I have shown in everything from a technical shirt (both long and short sleeved); polo both long and short sleeved; button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up in whatever color or pattern - usually conservative; to white breeches, tan breeches, grey, black, and plaid. I always tuck my shirt in and wear a belt and tall boots with my hair tidy. Some trainer/coaches do insistent their students dress for a recognized show including stock tie and coat, but as an adult, not me and definitely not in the heat.

If you want to get fancier without a coat, wear a vest: https://www.doversaddlery.com/romfh-bling-vest/p/X1-400550/
That one’s quite pricey. A few more reasonable: https://www.equetech.com/equestrian-clothing/womens/waistcoats

[ambar]

@MissAriel

Some schooling shows don’t expect a coat, some rated shows waive coats in very hot weather.

And just to add, if a rated dressage show waives coats, you MUST have sleeves on your shirt. Short sleeves are fine, sleeveless are not.

[2tempe]

For schooling shows and jackets waived, think about a lightweight vest over the show shirt. I’ve even been known to wet the show shirt and then cover it w/ vest. Helps a bit in the Fla heat.

[the_sandiest_shoes]

Similar topic - I assume polo wraps and bell boots are ok for schooling shows?

[OutsidersOpinion]

As a professional on the jumper side of things, I always wear tan pants and a white show shirt (short sleeve or long sleeve) even with heat indexes reaching close to 110 in the south at some shows. The show shirts with the white collars and colored bodies are in style and I have bought one in light grey, but think I’m keeping it for Tuesdays at the shows.

Beige or white pants are the only thing I allow clients to show in, even when at schooling shows in the jumper ring. Sun shirts are okay, but stick to basic colors. Think about how clean your pictures will look in neutral colors instead of all different colors, on an already bright horse! (I have a bright chestnut so I DO think about this A LOT)

[JenEM]

I wear beige breeches for dressage schooling shows, white for recognized only (unless it’s raining, in which case I’ll wear beige then too!). I’ve worn both blue and hunter green coats at dressage shows.

The Essex show shirts can be pricey but are pretty opaque—I often wear a pink sports bra with mine, though not when showing sans coats. If only investing in one show shirt, I’d also go with long sleeved. I’m the new technical fabrics, it’s likely to keep you cooler, because it will keep the sun off your skin.

Re: boots, if you mean for dressage shows, I assume not. I’ve never seen a booted horse in the ring at any type of dressage show. For schooling and even recognized jumpers, totally fine.

[the_sandiest_shoes]

^^^Thanks, yes I meant schooling - I’m doing one this weekend and haven’t been to one in decades. I’m used to dressage shows where we take off the boots but would like to keep the young horse booted up if I can!

[Ruth0552]

For a schooling jumper show or the jumping phases of a schooling combined test/trial, I don’t think much about colors. You must have a collared shirt with sleeves tucked in for x-country/stadium, so I’ve always applied that to jumper shows as well.

For dressage in the heat in the summer, I think a white short sleeve technical top, no stock tie, with a beige breech is the best look. If the white top has some color accents I feel that’s ok since it’s likely covering sweat stains/marks. I would NOT wear a colored top in a dressage test unless I was desperate and it was a pale color. I dislike the all white look that often happens with a white top and white breeches when jackets are waived.

In the fall/spring, when people are actually wearing jackets, you really just need the white collar, and who cares what color the shirt underneath is. Most people wear white breeches, but since I’m of an age where I like to hide certain blemishes, I still wear beige, and believe white breeches should be burned at the stake. BUT, I also refuse to pay to go to rated shows.

[Texarkana]

If you don’t find an opaque show shirt you like, I have good luck with wearing nude or white shapewear tank tops or camisole’s under my show shirt with a nude sports bra. I certainly can benefit from a little extra compression to keep things from jiggling.

[Risuena]

Thanks everyone! Didn’t take much to convince me, green jacket is ordered and on it’s way. It was so cheap it worried me, but if I don’t like it or if the fit is funky I’m able to return it, so no risk. @FlaxenChestnut - the AA MotionLite coat got on my radar somehow a while ago (probably a thread here) and I have it saved to my wish list. Looks like a wonderful coat!!

I really appreciate everyone’s input and sharing what you wear! Funny thing, the idea of wearing anything but a white shirt under a coat never occurred to me, but it sounds like that’s not uncommon and now the shirts with the solid color and white collar make even more sense to me. Glad that they’re also ok sans coat, I will likely invest in one. Hearing what other people wear or what they think looks nice really helps!

[Risuena]

@the sandiest shoes

^^^Thanks, yes I meant schooling - I’m doing one this weekend and haven’t been to one in decades. I’m used to dressage shows where we take off the boots but would like to keep the young horse booted up if I can!

Just to clarify - I’m not sure if you meant schooling before your test or a schooling show. I believe you should assume you need to take off your boots before your test in a dressage schooling show…I definitely wouldn’t wear them in the ring without checking!