Showing Training Level - Show turnout questions

[Chestnut_Mare1]

I’ll be starting our showing “career” next spring at training level and am starting to think about rider/horse turnout. These are local bronze level shows at a basic but nice venue. Everyone seems to go all out on their outfits, but I’m sure there must be a few riders doing dressage on a budget LOL!

My mare is a large flashy chestnut so I don’t need to class her up at all, just clean and nicely braided should be good.

I have a pretty good idea of what to wear, but my question is this, how fancy and expensive does the show attire need to be? Would a basic black coat in the $200 (Canadian) range suffice or will it look cheap compared to other riders? I have my eyes on a Samshield helmet but $700 is pretty expensive.

My saddle and tack is older but high end, so I could just add a blingy browband to spruce up the bridle.

What are your thoughts?

[MissAriel]

If it is clean, well fitting and comfortable, you will be fine. I have a friend who shows at rated shows 4th level in a coat she bought at the thrift store. Another who shows in (gasp) a synthetic saddle. Judges don’t care as long as you are clean and tidy. If you are at all worried about the look, lean towards more traditional. If nothing else it will help keep your nerves at bay if you feel like you are dressed the part.

And since you have time - this is a great chance to hunt for bargains in closeouts on new attire, or searching FB groups, eBay or similar for used, but good quality attire.

FWIW I show in a 15 year old (but well fitting) saddle, a basic bridle, basic white pad, closeout white breeches and shirt, a used FB Pikeur jacket, a black Ovation helmet, and a pair of new boots I got on closeout because my decades old field boots needed to be resoled so I decided they were ready for retirement. I never got a comment on my attire.

[Chestnut_Mare1]

Another question… do we have to wear full seat breeches? I really don’t like how they restrict movement. My mare goes better the looser I am and the more I move with her. She is sensitive and braces when she “feels too much”.

[MissAriel]

I’m not familiar with Canadian rules, but the rule book is your friend. In the US full seat breeches are not required, and I can’t imagine Canada would require them either.

I would post a link, but I don’t know where to find the Canadian rules. Hopefully one of the Canadian members can chime in.

[Training_Cupid]

No you don’t have to wear full seat breeches. They should be light colored (not necessarily white).

[Manni01]

I never care about others. I try to ride my best and then the outfit doesn’t matter. Because I am in Florida where its hot I usually wear a nice polo shirt in schooling shows. Maybe for you white breeches and a brown or tan Polo shirt would look nice with a Chestnut. then a white Saddlepad and a blingy browband and then you are fine. I even stopped braiding for schooling shows. A nice mane looks so nice IMO…

I think at one of the last schooling shows I wore black breeches and a really cool sanssoleil sun shirt which I got on sale for $40. I got High point English rider with it… If you want to look good look for something with a kick, and it doesn’t need to be expensive

[alibi_18]

Bronze level shows are not schooling but regional shows so there are some rules to follow.

Technically, all Bronze shows follow EC rules.

ARTICLE E 4.1.4 BRONZE COMPETITIONS: WALK/TROT THROUGH FOURTH LEVEL
 A dark coloured or grey jacket or tailored dressage vest (see E.4.1.) with a long or short sleeved shirt (tailcoats not permitted). Contrasting collars, points, pin stripes and piping are allowed.
 Safety approved protective headgear
 White or light coloured breeches
 Juniors are permitted to wear jodhpurs and jodhpur boots.
 Tie, bow tie, hunting stock, or choker
 Gloves
 Dark coloured riding boots (plain, laced or with zippers)
 Dark coloured half chaps or half boots zipped over short boots may be
worn. Half chaps/boots are forbidden at Silver and Gold competitions.
 Spurs are optional. See E 4.1.8.

My favorite article! Because I don’t like riding with my lovely jacket… it gets so hot!!!

[B]

Article E 4.1.7
[/B]
: In the case of inclement weather, competitors may wear a suitable protective hat cover and a warm or waterproof overcoat that is transparent or conservative in colour. In extreme heat or humidity, a competitor may ask the steward for permission to ride
without a
jacket or vest. When permission is given, competitors must wear:
Safety approved protective headgear.
Solid colour, or pin striped, long or short sleeved riding shirt with a collar. Sleeveless shirts are not permitted
Shirt collar may be opened
Stock ties must be removed unless pinned to the athlete’s shirt
T-shirts are not permitted
A cooling or tailored dressage vest may be worn over a long or short sleeved riding shirt.
The vest colour must conform to the rules for jacket colours.

A rider has to ask the steward.
I’m usually the first in the morning to ask for jackets to be waived. Thank me! You’re welcome.

ETA: Regarding braiding, it’s optional at all levels, even at GP in CDI’s.

[JenEM]

I’ve never spent over $250 for a coat, and I’ve placed at a regional equitation finals here in the US in a coat I bought for $50 on clearance. No one is checking the tags on your gear when you walk in to the ring. It should be unobtrusive, clean, and well fitted. Judges don’t care what brand it is or whether it has sparkles (I think many might prefer less sparkles, frankly).

If you’re going to invest in one thing, invest in a helmet that FITS. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a trendy $700 hat or a $70 one if it doesn’t fit and do its job protecting your head. From C, the judge can’t tell whether that matte black hat at X is a Sammy or a OneK or an Ovation–buy the one that fits you.

I do know folks in the US who show in kneepatch breeches instead of fullseats. I find whether or not I like fullseats to be highly dependent on the breech. If they’re white, no one’s going to be able to tell if they’re fullseats or not, and most kneepatch today are cut with a euroseat anyway, so they look pretty similar from a distance. Buy what you ride better in, unless Canada has some weird attire rules against nonfullseats.

[dressagegirl123]

eBay is the best tack shop in the world. Except for helmets.

[alibi_18]

@JenEM

Buy what you ride better in, unless Canada has some weird attire rules against nonfullseats.

No, we don’t.

I posted the rule on the thread already.

OP, judges don’t care about what you are wearing and even less how much you paid for!

Even if, as as a scribe, I heard comments about riders outfits and tack, I NEVER felt it made a difference on the scores. Some win, some lose. What counts is the riding. Wear whatever, within rules, you feel most comfy in.

Have fun!!!

[Scribbler]

I think as well, there is a propriety in not looking like you are putting the tack ahead of the actual ride.

I actually wouldn’t think about “blinging up” for a very first show. Wait and see how you do, if you are planning on showing more, before you invest any money in anything you won’t use on a daily basis.

If someone is a trainer bringing along multiple horses, shows a lot, has expensive gear appropriate to their position in life, and goes into a training level test on a green horse with a $1000 helmet and $1200 custom dress boots, that’s fine. That’s what they’ve got and they’re also riding Prix St. George on their older horse after lunch :).

For a first show for a low level ammie, though, I think it’s more appropriate to be modestly but correctly turned out. You can even find an appropriate coat at the thrift store (a blazer with two back vents) and change up the buttons. You can get one of those frilly stock ties that clip on with velcro, and cover up the throat of any shirt you want to wear underneath. Make sure everything is clean, your boots polished, everything tidy.

[right_horse_at_the_right_time]

@Scribbler

I think as well, there is a propriety in not looking like you are putting the tack ahead of the actual ride.

I actually wouldn’t think about “blinging up” for a very first show. Wait and see how you do, if you are planning on showing more, before you invest any money in anything you won’t use on a daily basis.

If someone is a trainer bringing along multiple horses, shows a lot, has expensive gear appropriate to their position in life, and goes into a training level test on a green horse with a $1000 helmet and $1200 custom dress boots, that’s fine. That’s what they’ve got and they’re also riding Prix St. George on their older horse after lunch :).

For a first show for a low level ammie, though, I think it’s more appropriate to be modestly but correctly turned out. You can even find an appropriate coat at the thrift store (a blazer with two back vents) and change up the buttons. You can get one of those frilly stock ties that clip on with velcro, and cover up the throat of any shirt you want to wear underneath. Make sure everything is clean, your boots polished, everything tidy.

Appropriate for their “position” in life? What pray tell should I wear based on my position in life? Can you tell me what exactly mine is?

Lol!!!

OP, wear what YOU want to wear within the rules. Have FUN!

[kcmel]

I posted a link to this $30 dressage coat in the eventing forum. I ordered it and I like it! It’s not as baggy as it looks in the picture, although not super fitted. But it would probably not be expensive to have it taken in a little, if you desire.

https://www.horseloverz.com/english-riding-apparel-clothes/english-show-clothes/show-coats/eous-olympia-dressage-coat

[mmeqcenter]

I don’t think I’ve ever spent over $150 on a jacket. What is this obsession people have with how much things cost? Like the school equitation (IEA/IHSA) world today acting like it’s an unforgivable sin to not wear Tailored Sportsmans.
Buy the jacket and helmet and whatever else you like.

[MysticOakRanch]

I show at large rated shows, and I don’t do $$$ purchases. I’ve shown through 4th level, and have shown at Regional Championships, and always on a budget. I will admit, I have more then 1 jacket, but none of them were expensive - 2 of the 3 were under $100! No one has ever marked me down for my attire. As long as it is clean, neat, fits, and meets the rule requirements, you are golden!

This year at Championships, I saw a gorgeous jacket - maroon with embroidered trim - I was SO tempted to add a 4th to my collection. Until I saw the price - $999 - swear to god! For a short coat!!! WHO has that kind of money? Never mind, I don’t need to know…

Don’t worry about the cost - there are a lot of us out here showing on a budget. I figure the only places where money makes that big a difference are (1) paying for good training, (2) buying a fancy horse.

Go out, have a good time!

[phoenixrises]

My horse has a custom saddle and a very nice bridle. I make do with what I can find 2nd hand (except my helmet but then that’s just a nice looking ovation). FB pages are a life saver, seriously you can get some great deals. Then tack of the day (not sure if they ship to Canada) and many other cost savings sites, my stuff is cheap. My FAV breaches are the knit mid rise pipers with silicone. I have like 9 pairs and they come in white now, they’re a whopping $80 if you don’t get them on one of the many sales.

I swear to you no one who matters cares.

[Scribbler]

@right horse at the right time

Appropriate for their “position” in life? What pray tell should I wear based on my position in life? Can you tell me what exactly mine is?

Lol!!!

OP, wear what YOU want to wear within the rules. Have FUN!

Poor choice of words on my part

I meant that someone who has been confidently showing Grand Prix for years on multiple horses has probably upgraded their show gear over the years, as this has become a bigger and bigger part of their life and of their public image. I meant that ammies just starting out at training level shouldn’t feel pressure to have colored coats with piping and custom dress boots and $1000 helmets with rhinestones right at the start, just because the local BNT wears these to ride a green horse in training level.

[right_horse_at_the_right_time]

@Scribbler

Poor choice of words on my part

I meant that someone who has been confidently showing Grand Prix for years on multiple horses has probably upgraded their show gear over the years, as this has become a bigger and bigger part of their life and of their public image. I meant that ammies just starting out at training level shouldn’t feel pressure to have colored coats with piping and custom dress boots and $1000 helmets with rhinestones right at the start, just because the local BNT wears these to ride a green horse in training level.

ahhhhh. Entirely different than I thought you meant, LOL!
I would agree that no one should feel pressured to do that.

In all honesty, I have a very expensive coat that I got on sale. I absolutely love wearing it, and it makes me feel like I’m in the Olympic ring. And I’ve only ridden through second level. But the coat is magical ;). It really is ;).

It’s funny, I’m sure there are people who think it’s overkill for the level I was riding when I bought it. But interestingly, I think I rode with more confidence. Whatever it takes, lol!

[Chestnut_Mare1]

@Scribbler

I think as well, there is a propriety in not looking like you are putting the tack ahead of the actual ride.

I actually wouldn’t think about “blinging up” for a very first show. Wait and see how you do, if you are planning on showing more, before you invest any money in anything you won’t use on a daily basis.

If someone is a trainer bringing along multiple horses, shows a lot, has expensive gear appropriate to their position in life, and goes into a training level test on a green horse with a $1000 helmet and $1200 custom dress boots, that’s fine. That’s what they’ve got and they’re also riding Prix St. George on their older horse after lunch :).

For a first show for a low level ammie, though, I think it’s more appropriate to be modestly but correctly turned out. You can even find an appropriate coat at the thrift store (a blazer with two back vents) and change up the buttons. You can get one of those frilly stock ties that clip on with velcro, and cover up the throat of any shirt you want to wear underneath. Make sure everything is clean, your boots polished, everything tidy.

“appropriate to their position in life”

Wow! So low level ammie, make sure you don’t dress as well as or better than us because even though I don’t know you, I’m sure I’m in a much higher position than you in life. LOL are you serious!?

[Chestnut_Mare1]

@kcmel

I posted a link to this $30 dressage coat in the eventing forum. I ordered it and I like it! It’s not as baggy as it looks in the picture, although not super fitted. But it would probably not be expensive to have it taken in a little, if you desire.

https://www.horseloverz.com/english-riding-apparel-clothes/english-show-clothes/show-coats/eous-olympia-dressage-coat

Thank you for the link!