When coats are waived...

[katherineyyyy]

Eventer here, crossing over into the unfamiliar world of becoming a DQ!

I’m doing my first rated dressage show this coming Wednesday, and just got my ride time - 2:42 pm

I was planning on coating up to give myself all the help I can get with our overall look. Even when they’re waived, my experience scribing at horse trials has given me the impression that most judges appreciate the more formal look.

However, I think most judges would agree that 2:42 pm in Aiken, SC is an entirely unreasonable time to be wearing a coat…

Am I correct in thinking so? What type of show shirt do most people wear when coats are waived at a rated dressage show (short/long sleeved)? What’s the collar situation usually? I know no stock tie, but having it unbuttoned and pressed down seems a little informal…

This will also be my first time at a show without a trainer (these week day shows are killing me!) hence the stupid questions.

Any other advice for an eventer-turned-dressage rider would be appreciated!!!

[Velvet]

Short sleeved and slightly open at the neck. (I like it better in when we used to wear chokers in the old, old days. So I’m with you on that looking more polished.)

[Lucassb]

When coats are waived, I usually wear a vest like this one: http://www.doversaddlery.com/arista-modern-dressage-vest/p/X1-400142/

Mine is made of one of those tech fabrics, so quite comfortable even in the heat. I personally think it looks better and more polished than just wearing a shirt alone, particularly on my middle aged body, LOL. But there will be plenty of people wearing just their short sleeve show shirts and if that is more comfortable for you, it’s totally fine especially with a mid afternoon ride.

Are you going to Too Hot to Trot at Stableview? If so, we’ll be there too - come say hi!!

[BigMama1]

No tank tops or sleeveless shirts. A crisp collar or hunter style choker looks tidy. That being said, I NEVER go in the show ring without a jacket, even though our summer temps are often in the 90s with tons of humidity to boot.

I am lumpy and jiggly and bigger than I should be and it all just looks WAY better covered with a coat

[SBrentnall]

I NEVER wear a coat unless I have to. In dressage, it makes zero difference to the score. In fact, there is no place on the test where the judge could take points off for appearance even if they wanted to.

Here’s my current favorite shirt with no jacket:
http://www.dressageextensions.com/kerrits-no-fault-show-shirt/p/64689/

[Kadenz]

Rules state: “[When jackets are waived], competitors must wear protective headgear and a shirt with sleeves and collar, without neckwear, and without decoration except as described under .15 below. T-shirts are not permitted.”

and also: “If coats are waived, a solid-colored cooling or lightweight vest may be worn over a riding shirt as specified in DR120.8.”

All you really need is a plain-ish shirt with collar and sleeves (short or long).

My experience showing and scribing has been:
a) we waive jackets much more easily and with far less gnashing of teeth than in the past. It’s a sport, and we’re treating it more like one.

b) you technically can wear your coat when they’re waived, but I have personally heard judges be kind of persnickety on that count. One comment, said directly to the rider, was “You know, I waived jackets because I don’t want to see anybody passing out in my ring!” This didn’t necessarily lose the rider any marks, but I want to point out that the strategy of suiting up to impress doesn’t always work.

ETA: in case you’d like to read the attire rules, they’re here, under rule 120 and 121: https://www.usef.org/documents/ruleBook/2016/08-DR.pdf

[joiedevie99]

When coats are waived, I change into a pastel colored polo shirt, neatly tucked in, with a belt (including when I’m showing FEI). I prefer not to pass out.

[alibi_18]

A polo shirt.

Or my short sleeve show shirt with the collar open.

I’m usually the first one to ask the TD to waive the jackets.
Too bad for my $$$ beautiful jacket…

[exploding_pony]

You do not need to wear a coat when they are waived, the judges don’t care and in fact I have had several comment on how smart it is to not wear a coat in the heat.

Less of an issue now that we have technical lightweight coats, but to me the best part is removing the dreaded stock tie!!!

I was showing in horrible heat last weekend and most people wore fitted shirts of a contrasting color, with a stand up collar. Like the goode rider show shirt, but not in the patterns. Light blue/black/etc.

The ones with the stand up collar and zipper are great because you can wear with a stock tie and coat until coats are waived and then just loose the tie and coat if coats are waived at the last minute.

Saw all sorts of combos last weekend. At least half the riders went without coats.

[Lucassb]

[QUOTE=exploding pony;8782015]

Less of an issue now that we have technical lightweight coats, but to me the best part is removing the dreaded stock tie!!!.[/QUOTE]

I’m with you on the stock tie ! I don’t wear them at all anymore, ever… I got a couple of the integrated collar shirts and will never go back!!

[SillyHorse]

@katherineyyyy;8781524

Eventer here, crossing over into the unfamiliar world of becoming a DQ!

I’m doing my first rated dressage show this coming Wednesday, and just got my ride time - 2:42 pm

I was planning on coating up to give myself all the help I can get with our overall look. Even when they’re waived, my experience scribing at horse trials has given me the impression that most judges appreciate the more formal look.[/QUOTE]
I have scribed dozens and dozens of times and have literally never heard a judge express anything like this.

In fact, my experience has been like these:

[QUOTE=Kadenz;8781887]b) you technically can wear your coat when they’re waived, but I have personally heard judges be kind of persnickety on that count. One comment, said directly to the rider, was “You know, I waived jackets because I don’t want to see anybody passing out in my ring!” This didn’t necessarily lose the rider any marks, but I want to point out that the strategy of suiting up to impress doesn’t always work.

[QUOTE=exploding pony;8782015]You do not need to wear a coat when they are waived, the judges don’t care and in fact I have had several comment on how smart it is to not wear a coat in the heat.
[/QUOTE]

A polo always looks nice.

[MysticOakRanch]

I have a lightweight vest that I wear when coats are waived. I love the look of a short sleeved shirt and a vest. Usually when coats are waived (I’m in an area that is HOT during the Summer - often 90 to 105 during our summer months), I see a combination of people wearing vests, cooling vests, or just shirts (of various colors, but most often white shirts).

The rules do say - if you don’t wear a jacket, you don’t wear neckwear - no choker, no stock tie. Also no t-shirts, and no sleeveless shirts. There are so many NICE shirts out there now.

[mjhco]

And if it is REALLY hot, those cooling vests are a real blessing!

[McVillesMom]

I had a judge today that sent someone to tell me after my test that my collar was supposed to be buttoned up all the way if coats are waived. Uh, no. Show me that rule, lady!

[Silverbridge]

[QUOTE=McVillesMom;8782959]
I had a judge today that sent someone to tell me after my test that my collar was supposed to be buttoned up all the way if coats are waived. Uh, no. Show me that rule, lady![/QUOTE]

Well, that is interesting.

I have posted about this before: At an AZ show I rode in at which coats were waived, the judge called a friend of mine down and asked WHY she, and so many others, had their short-sleeved riding shirts buttoned all the way up.

My friend replied that she thought she was supposed to, for neatness. The judge said, no, the reason ties are not allowed when jackets are waived is so that your throat is open and not constricted. She said this is for riders’ comfort and safety. She didn’t want to see all these riders with collars closed around their throats, and was disappointed that so many riders in such a hot climate are not understanding the purpose.

It reached 103 that day, and the judge was from a much cooler climate. Our coats are waived at probably 90 percent of the dressage shows in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson.

Anyway-- there is apparently no rule either way, collar open or collar closed. The only rule is NO neckwear. But it’s interesting (as always) when what one judge sees as correct is seen by the next judge as wrong.

[Arabiandressage]

This is one of the reasons integrated show shirts with collars have become so popular. Just unbutton and go. They work really well if you have a morning test and then an afternoon. You don’t have to change shirts unless you really want to because it works under or a jacket or alone.

[Daisyesq]

If I did not wear a coat, I would wear a darker color (not white) polo shirt or a show-shirt (not white).

However, my middle jiggles - because well, two kids and I’m almost 50, and so i promise to always wear a show coat, even when jackets are waived.

[J-Lu]

If coats are waived, feel free to not ride with your coat. Judges will NOT CARE.

That said, I currently show in the NC heat in a Kerrits light-weight show jacket and honestly, it keeps me cool and evaporates sweat very well. I generally wear a short sleeve tech-fabric shirt under it but I’ll also contemplate wearing a white tank with my very light stock tie.

[rjr]

Most people wear a “show shirt” with short sleeves - i.e. one of the ones in technical fabric with a little zipper at the top in front. Polos are also completely fine. I am starting to see some of those technical long-sleeve shirts that are made partly of that mesh stuff that looks opaque when you put it on. I.e. Kastel Denmark – they look classy, but ridiculously expensive. For the people who worry about their middle looking bad, or lines visible through white breeches: some choose to wear a cooling vest. I hate them - I thing they are heavy and feel clammy, but others swear by them and they are legal. I am also starting to see “competition vests” like this: (just in case you haven’t already spent eoungh money on your dressage wardrobe): http://www.aristaequestrian.com/collections/show-vests/competition-vests

[SarahandSam]

Jackets were waived at the show I went to this weekend, pretty much right away. I figured I would wear my coat for my first ride each day and then go without for the later hottest rides, and both days when I showed up to the warm-up with a coat I had multiple officials remind me, “You know, coats are waived,” so I think they were really pushing for it. I saw a lot of coats still for the earlier tests (mostly the higher levels) but very few later in the day. Most people were in short-sleeved white competition shirts with collars, one or two in colors. A couple of riders were about to go into the dressage seat eq class with collars buttoned and they were instructed to unbutton the collars before going in.