Asterix and others, thank you!
My trainer made me wear my coat at my one and only schooling show last year. It was over 90 degrees and very humid. I did what she told me, and nearly ended up with heat stroke. I felt very “off” for a couple of days after the show.
So now I don’t care what she says. If coats are waived, mine is going to stay in the dressing room. If coats are not waived and it’s that hot, I’m not riding.
[QUOTE=MontanaDun;3276834]
Trust me. No one thinks you are a hero for wearing a jacket when they are excused.
No one sits in the judges stand and says “wow, what a dedicated rider, they are wearing a jacket when they don’t have to. How professional they look.”
Does. not. happen.[/QUOTE]
Exactly. I scribed at a show last summer and the judge was a combination of amazement and irritation that people chose to wear their coats when it was a heat index somewhere in the 100’s. She wasn’t impressed in the least.
i would FOR SURE skip the coat!!:yes:
on antoher note, they really dont always care what u wear as long as u look nice in it, i rode in a Dec (schooling) dressage show a couple years ago and i wore a black zip up fleece (it was freezing!! and my jacket barely fits, i cant layer under it at all!!) with my beige breeches and got a “nice turnout” on my card, me and my horse were spotless, even in the not so perfect attire, it shows.
I know plenty of people that would suffer heat stroke from just a few minutes in a jacket in certain weather. It is not a weakness…
There is heat exhaustion and then there is heat stroke. Heat exhaustion is a temporary situation that results from being too hot. Heat stroke means your brain is being cooked. Some people never recover from it. And it can have very rapid onset, depending on your level of fitness, nutritional status and weather conditions. I don’t know anyone who truly understands what heat stroke is who would choose to wear a garment that would increase the risk of being plagued by it.
OKay… so if I should get brave, and forego the jacket, exposing all my flaws and roundness for the world to see 
I have a couple of questions:
Are logo’d polos allowed? We have beautiful team polos with small logos and our names embroidered on the chest. Usually wear them at schooling shows, but for a rated show in 100 degree heat… Acceptable? Too much?
The official rule allowing cooling vests over shirts on hot days doesn’t go into effect into 2009 (at last check), but is there a time when a TD/Judge can override that rule and allow them this year??
Has anyone had good luck wearing their cooling vest under their coats? I’m told that this works well, but I haven’t tried it, myself.
[QUOTE=honeydoozy;3280617]
Has anyone had good luck wearing their cooling vest under their coats? I’m told that this works well, but I haven’t tried it, myself.[/QUOTE]
I did and it works, but jacket might get wet a bit, just like breeches get a bit wet as well.
No t-shirts are allowed, polo t-shirts are still t-shirts.
Dressage Art, I respectfully disagree that polo shirts are classified as t-shirts and disallowed. I believe t-shirts are prohibited because they do not have a collar. A white polo with collar is essentially the same as a pricier riding shirt with short sleeves and zip up collar.
I also want to say that , for those who are saying “it’s only 5-10 minutes wearing a coat”, the issue is that when it is hot AND humid you cannot cool off quickly even after taking off your coat. No evaporative cooling, the sweat just stays there like an unwelcome relative. The issue isn’t really how long you have to wear the coat, but how hot do you get AND how quickly you can recover. Inside an air-conditioned arena, no problem. Outside in high humidity and heat, big problem.
And here is how the scenario usually works for me; I live in southern California, it is often quite hot but not very humid, thankfully. I do not tolerate heat very well. I warm up (literally and figuratively) without a coat and I am hot! My body is working to cool down by sweating and respiration. Then I put a coat on? I have to work even harder to cool down. Add some nerves, a little adrenaline spike - it is a set up for a problem.
If I can get away without wearing a jacket anytime, I will. I think a rider looks a lot more professional in a white shirt than passed out in the dirt with a coat on.
[quote=Anselcat;3276737]It doesn’t look all that professional if your face is bright red and you are flopping sideways in your saddle, babbling about how weird it is that all the arena letters are moving around. 
Heat exhaustion is a very real and dangerous thing.
[/quote]
[quote=MontanaDun;3276834]Trust me. No one thinks you are a hero for wearing a jacket when they are excused.
No one sits in the judges stand and says “wow, what a dedicated rider, they are wearing a jacket when they don’t have to. How professional they look.”
Does. not. happen.
[/quote]
When jackets are waived, it is for a reason. The reason is NOT to determine who does or does not wish to make a good impression. Having scribed at many, many shows, the only comments I have ever heard from judges on this subject were that the rider should have removed her jacket.
This is NOT a recognized show we’re talking about. Call the show management and ask them what’s allowed.
Update on coats
The ride times were posted last night and coats have been waived. Polo-type shirts in a conservative color are suggested. I should mention this show is GDCTA recognized. Thanks for all of the great suggestions!
I don’t ride competitively any more: If it is that hot is it fair to ride the horses. If you win it would be courteous to put the jacket on for the sponsorship photos to look more professional and respectful.
Again, thankful to live where the climate is not so extreme.
[QUOTE=Mary in Area 1;3279677]
I have asked several “S” and “I” judges this question as well as one “O”–they ALL agree that if coats are waived, you should take your coat off! Without a doubt, they do not think it is professional to wear the coat, they think it is STUPID.
With all the talk of safety these days, be smart. Vanity is the scourge of mankind.[/QUOTE]
Agree 100%. I have never heard a judge say “I can’t believe that they are riding without a coat.” I have heard many times “Why in the world is she wearing a coat in this heat??”
All I can suggest is don’t wear what one rider did with a tank top. I can’t understand why she was allowed in but the male judge’s eyes NEVER left her ride as that tank top slipped ever so slowly lower and lower throughout the ride.
Even the hasty quick fix when she got away with riding with one hand didn’t help. Thank God that the test finished just before the top sank down into the depths of full blow nakedness. :eek:
[QUOTE=Anselcat;3280740]
Dressage Art, I respectfully disagree that polo shirts are classified as t-shirts and disallowed. I believe t-shirts are prohibited because they do not have a collar. A white polo with collar is essentially the same as a pricier riding shirt with short sleeves and zip up collar.[/QUOTE]
You are correct. I asked a TD and polo t-shirts are allowed with open top buttons. Top buttons also have to be open with any shirt. T-shirt is considered something with out a color and buttons, like a regular t-shirt.
Also, according to TD cooling vests are allowed now, but have to be white in color.
when coats are waived
I think you had better check about the cooling vest. The way I read the rule DR120, the rule allowing cooling vests doesn’t go into effect until Dec. 1, 2008:cry:
[QUOTE=Godiva’s Mom;3276372]
I am riding training tests 2-4 this weekend at an unrecognized dressage show. I have recently moved over from hunter land and I’m not sure what type of shirt to wear if coats are waived. Can I wear a ratcatcher? I guess I don’t wear a stock tie without a coat over it. I bought a short sleeved show shirt today and it didn’t come with a collar so does that mean I just button it up and don’t put anything around my neck? I’m so confused![/QUOTE]
bump** How did the show go this weekend? Hope all went well! :winkgrin: Over here in Augusta, it was hot, but not as hot as it was earlier in the month.
And most importantly, what did you WEAR??
I handle heat very well. I am known to wear sweatshirts in the dead of summer because frankly it keeps me cooler. I frequently will bring one of my many oversized sweatshirts on trail rides and if I get to hot I will put it on. Knowing that I probably would not take off my coat. It looks more professional and it looks better.
I always wear my coat even if coats are waived. You only have to put in one right before going in the ring so even if you ride the Grand Prix test you only have to wear it 8-10 minutes.
Main reason I wear it is that it covers lots of flaws and gives a polished, neat and organized look.
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