I figured the H/J group are the most qualified to answer this question. I’m considering buying a brown pinstriped coat. Would that look horrendous on a lighter chestnut horse? What colors would look better/best on a chestnut? Thanks!
What level of shows will you be competing at? Per the rules (quoted below) no coat color is expressly forbidden, but I wouldn’t personally get too adventurous. If you are doing local shows where it is the norm to wear slightly different color coats, then go for it and have fun. If you are doing A shows, I would stick to something more traditional.
Personally, I think a brown coat could like nice on a light chestnut, but I don’t know that I’d recommend it. A dark green is much more accepted in the show ring at all levels of shows and would also look lovely with a light chestnut.
HU107 Attire
2.Conventional attire following the tradition of fox hunting is encouraged and preferred. It is further recommended that the rider’s attire does not distract from the performance of the horse and rider. Judges shall 846 © USEF 2020 not eliminate a rider for inappropriate attire except for safety (see GR801). Shirts must have a choker, similar collar or tie. Breeches may be buff, canary, tan, rust or white. BOD 1/12/19 Effective 12/1/19
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I had a beautiful chocolate brown wool coat with a lighter brown pinstripe in the early 2000s and wore it on my chestnut, it looked AMAZING if I do say so myself. But, this was back in the day when something other than Navy or Green was acceptable in the hunter ring.
I think it’s fine, especially since it isnt against the rules, but be wary you will stand out in a sea of navy!
It’s for eventing so not sure it would be acceptable for the dressage phase. The more I look at it though, the more I like it. Blondewithchrome - the one I’m interested sounds identical to yours.
Just checked the rules and brown is okay.
Just a heads up, eventing rules are as follows: Coat—dark color or tweed, tail coats are not permitted. If a TD reeeaaally wanted to, they could fuss about a light tan or light grey coat. What shade of brown are we talking about?
I have worn a tan coat in stadium jumping on my chestnut paint - it looked great and the TD did not eliminate me 
I probably wouldn’t try it in dressage.
It’s new to the rules at least for the lower levels that black, brown, or dark blue. Brown was in a red font so that leads me to believe it’s new. It’s chocolate brown with tan pin stripes. Also, bling on the collar.
If it is for eventing, perhaps ask on the eventing page.
I like it.
You will stick out a bit in dressage in a brown coat. When you deviate from the norm, you’d better be good because the judge will remember you! (as a local show judge from time to time, I most certainly notice the differently attired!). I’d post over on the eventing page to get a more nuanced and discipline specific opinion on that-- that’s pretty blingy! But…yeah, brown looks awesome on a chestnut!
Now Eventing showjumping is a wide open arena, if you’ll pardon the pun! But in a sport that has more ways to eliminate than any other, I’d be darn sure before I pulled the trigger on that.
Eventing and dressage have their own specific rules regarding coat color. You’d do better to ask on the Dressage or Eventing forums about coat colors if that’s what you’re planning on using it for.
Like blondewithchrome, in the early 2000s, I had a chocolate show coat, with a lavender pinstriping that looked lovely with a pale lilac show shirt. Stylish at the time but would stick out in a bad way today, “legal” or not.
I think I’ll stick with basic black. Maybe I can incorporate a little brown in my attire. I checked the eventing rules and it says, black, brown, or navy coat.
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Not to hijack the threat, but is grey acceptable in the hunter ring these days? I have a grey and I just love how grey coats look.
