Solid color coats with patterns woven in--- legal?

[mvp]

[QUOTE=UrbanHennery;8515976]
So let’s say I have a budget of +/-$300 for a coat and I’ll be showing training level on a 15hh bay QH, black saddle. Where would one shop for a coat (aside from local tack shops, which I will also visit)? Bear in mind that I used to be a reiner so the idea of a boring black coat is abhorent to me.[/QUOTE]

I’ll maybe try to sell you one of my black ones below.

But before I descend into total self interest, here’s my take: You won’t be out of place in the dressage ring if you have well-fitting black coat. Traditionally, dressagists wore frock coats-- 4 buttons, usually silver, a fitted top and a longer skirt with a single vent.

Front:

http://www.equinenow.com/store-item-127109

Scroll down to see the back seams above the waist that make it so fitted on top.

http://www.equus.co.uk/products/equetech-ladies-hunt-frock-coat

The purpose of this coat (besides its being the original style imported from the hunt field), was to accentual the rider’s slim body (with the fitted top) and to hide all the movement in the hips required to sit on the horse. The single vent lets the back of the coat open down the sides of the rider and saddle from the center. It’s a great design for riding done primarily sitting.

Someone with pretty equitation (and a long waist) riding in one of these looks nice. IMO, they look bad unmounted. And they won’t work for shorties/short-waited types like me unless you get one tailored for you.

So some of us have taken to wearing the shorter, blazer-like hunt coats. These have three buttons, an hour-glass shape created with darts and is double vented in the back. (The central flap in the back could be a PITA if you get on and happen to sit on it; I don’t think that’s usually a problem when riding.)

If you want this coat to do double duty in the hunter ring, you might to well to get a midnight color blue one. That’s darker than navy. Navy is more or less a safe, standard, timeless look for the hunter ring, though you could wear black as well.

I’m not a fan of technical fabrics because I think they are too light and clingy… for all but the stick-figure people. So I’d buy a light wool coat with a lovely cut, fit and drape before anything else.

And I have done that: I have a couple of black Grand Prix ones that I bought off the interwebz in these black patterns. They are light wool. If you can wear a 14R in those coats, I’ll sell you one of mine cheap… as I got them cheap… because people want to wear tech fabrics now. (I believe they will eventually recant.)

Hope this helps!

[mvspencer]

I’ve actually noticed that people are wearing shorter “hunt coat” style jackets for dressage more and more frequently. Infact, the fitted top-long skirt look might be considered dated pretty soon A lot of people are buying the technical fabric coats in black or navy. And those tend to be designed for the jumper ring. I saw a really neat one from Tredstep Ireland recently. The buttons were reversible. On one side they were plain and black, and on the other side they were silver with some type of celtic emblem on them in black. Its hard to describe, but it was pretty sharp.

http://www.tredstep.com/solo_pro

Shads are getting really wild. There are unusual colors, lots of rhinestones, contrasting piping. I even saw a jacquard one not too long ago. It was very dark, but even from far away I could tell what was going on with the fabric. I doubt that close up, there would be anything “conservative” about that particular shad. But someone let her in the ring and gave her a score, so maybe times are changing. I saw a magenta shad with black rhinestones on the collar and buttons on display one time. It was probably made just to be an attention-grabber by the boutique, but still, it was breathtaking. A girl can dream!

[lorilu]

[QUOTE=hoopoe;8514029]
YES co9nventional hunt cut coats are permitted. do not confuse convention with a rule. The FEI has set down color guidelines for non-black coats. the USEF rule says conservative, I doubt anyone would blink at olive[/QUOTE]

The USEF rules also refer tot he FEI color guidelines further down…

[lorilu]

I am also short waisted and wear a Skarrlet. I had it tailored. I love the way it does not bunch up on my thighs as I ride - the longer coats always did. You might look at the coats made by Southeast Sporthorse : https://www.facebook.com/SESportHorse/?fref=nf A few friends wear them and they look very nice. She has a nice selection of fabrics and her design is flattering to many shapes.