Whenever I buy something, I like to save up and buy the best quality within my budget. My mare was at the upper limit of my budget and it took me several years of saving to buy a nice quality warmblood.
I’m so glad to hear many of you are in the same position and competing on a budget. After suffering a 3rd degree concussion after a fall, I can justify the $700 helmet LOL!
What do you guys think of this:
Show coat: http://greenhawk.com/wdItemDesc.asp?strilhID=Web&strmdNumber=DRC7637&stricSKU=DRC7637
Breech (in white): http://greenhawk.com/wdItemDesc.asp?strilhID=Web&strmdNumber=DRC7010&stricSKU=DRC7010
So much depends on how the cut fits the individual. A show coat (or tailored suit coat in general) can be elegant and smooth out many lumps and bumps, or it can bunch up and tug and gape. Fit is more important than quality since even the best jacket will look awful if it doesn’t fit. The new stretchy jackets have their ups and downs, overall they are probably easier to fit but they can do ugly things if they are too tight and across the back act more like a hoody than a jacket, in that there is no stiffness and lning as in a wool coat, to cover up bumps. Now if you have a lovely slim young body you will look great in everything . . . unless it is too loose and baggy.
Trying things on is your friend.
Unfortunately I have some baggage in the middle, typical of middle age. I may pass on the stretchy fabric.
@Chestnut_Mare When I was considering getting a dressage coat (decided not to spend $ on one since I was just doing a schooling show) and asked people on this forum for suggestions on budget-friendly dressage coats (with four buttons), they recommended these…
I’m still considering getting this one in blue or purple (and I think the blue would look great if you have a chestnut):
https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/piper-softshell-show-coat-by-smartpak--sale-15221
There is also a similar coat in more conservative colors:
https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/piper-softshell-show-coat-by-smartpak--12671
And I noticed this one on the website if you want something more dressage-y in black:
https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/elt-dressage-coat-8347
BTW-I hear ya about the middle age baggage. I diet, run, and do core work every day and there it sits, nevertheless.
A student has the Greenhawk show coat. It is good quality, but it won’t fit well if you have broad shoulders. Good looking coat with easy to clean material!
I think virtually everything is tech fabric and stretchy these days, but on the other hand the second hand stores are full of classic wool hunt coats and the like.
Thank you so much for the suggestions! It may be cheaper for me to order from the US than to buy locally.
Another question… can we wear colored coats or should I stick with boring black? I was thinking dark grey would look cool on my chestnut. Although then we are probably talking more money too.
Hijack time: (it’s what I do best)
Can someone recommend a dirt cheap show shirt for someone doing training level at recognized shows? Paying $100+ for a shirt seems ridiculous when no one sees it unless jackets are excused. And in my 15 year hiatus from showing recognized, shirts CHANGED. I don’t even understand what I’m looking at anymore!
If you’re on a budget and only buying one coat, I’d honestly go with black, just like if I were only buying one coat for hunter showing, I’d go with navy. That said, I too have a flashy chestnut, and love how she looks with a green coat 
There is an RJ coat that’s washable, but still cut a bit more like older wool coats to be a little more forgiving than some of the other stretchy stuff. That’s the coat I have in green. Not in the grey you’re looking for, but if you want to do black, it might be an option for you.
ETA: @Texarkana , I bought one of the super cheap SmartPak brand show shirts this summer, just to have as a spare, because it was like $25 during one of their sales. It’s a smidge short on me and tends to untuck itself in the back, but I’m 5’10 and long waisted. If you’re of average height, it’s a good buy. Not as nice as the RJ or Essex shirts I have, but I’ve worn it at rated shows with a stock over it and it looked just fine. I save it now for sidesaddle showing, since the apron I wear there helps keep it all contained if it comes untucked, and it works just fine
I have the Kerrits coat linked, in grey; it’s cheaper at Riding Warehouse.
I like the Kerrits coat, Horseware has a similar style in several colors.
https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/horseware-competition-jacket-11008
I have the berry one, and I like it. (Although I would have rather not worn something so not conservative at my first recognized horse trial, but my navy coat had a seamstress-related disaster!)
Also, if you did want to splurge on something nicer, you can order Pikeur coats from the UK or Germany for about half what they are here. You can even find them on sale sometimes. The exchange rate was good last time I checked.
If you are wearing a jacket, then it truly doesn’t matter what is underneath it! I can’t understand paying all that money for a shirt either. I have a bunch of these in white and light gray
:
https://www.horseloverz.com/english-riding-apparel-clothes/riding-shirts-tops/riding-shirts/irideon-radiance-icefil-short-sleeve-jersey
And honestly, you can find light weight zip neck polos at a lot of sporting good stores now - that is all you need. A stock tie covers the neck, your jacket covers the rest of it.
Watch for clearance racks at the tack store and horse shows - you’ll find these kinds of shirts for under $30.
OP - I have the Kerrits Competitor Coat in navy. It also comes in a gray/green color, as well as black. The newest models also come in royal blue. It is a super coat - I posted a link on “the other thread” on affordable coats, which include that one and the SmartPak one. And how to make them look fancier - I went to a art supply store and bought some little iron-on pearl accents for the pockets and collar. I found mine on clearance, so it was one of my “under $100” jackets. I love it. My trainer has one too - she loves hers too!
It sounds like you are NOT in the US - so most of us can’t comment on what is (or isn’t) allowed if you are following rules different from USEF rules. Our rules allow any colors that are “conservative” - and conservative follows the rules of an art color chart - which means light or dark ANYTHING is allowed - I have a purple SmartPak jacket - totally legal…
As for stretchy fabric - I showed in wool coats forever. Once the new technical fabrics came out - I could never go back. Let my rolls - roll! These fabrics are stretching and COOL! No binding across the shoulders, no so-tight in the chest I have to hold my breath, and no sweltering wool in the Summer. If you have a chance to try on jackets, do it - the comfort of the new style jackets is worth it. Reality is - those of us with middle-aged bodies will never look slim and trim - so at least we can be comfortable!
I have the Greenhawk brand (can’t remember the name… Elation maybe?) washable black coat and it’s cheap and fine. Fits a little loose on me, but very comfortable and lightweight. I swapped out the black buttons it came with for silver Celtic knotwork buttons to make it a little more stylish. I also looked at that Kerrits coat and liked it as well.
My other coat is a $15 consignment hunter green coat, probably from the 80s. I took it to a tailor to have a fourth buttonhole added, replaced the old buttons with silver knotwork ones again. I’ve gotten multiple compliments on it, including from a judge as I introduced myself before a test, and I do training/first level. I didn’t want to do anything unusual at first because I didn’t want to stand out from the crowd as a new ammy, but I think the green coat and the green ear bonnet on my chestnut horse make for a nice overall picture, and that doesn’t hurt.
My breeches are the SmartPak Pipers that are cheap and comfortable, and I have the SmartPak show shirt, which is also cheap and comfortable, and looks neat when jackets are waived. If you can’t get SmartPak in Canada, I think Ovation and Riding Sport both have cheap white collared short-sleeve shirts that are similar, cheap, and nicely breathable.
If you hadn’t noticed, I like cheap and comfortable.
Thank you! I will go try the Kerrits one one soon. Hopefully everyone is too busy watching the horse and not the rolls LOL!!
For sure! I’m all about comfort too! Thanks for the suggestions.
I posted the EC, Equine Canada, rules on post #6.
It will answer your questions. Our rules are a little different than USEF ones.
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